“Yeah, she’s softened a little. Just never tell her I said that.” He laughs out. “The boys did a lot of that and…” he trails.
“And?” I press him and see a proud smirk spread on his face.
“She’s pregnant again.”
“Really?” I nearly shout and he nods his head.
“Yeah, we just found out a couple of days ago. We have told no one yet.”
“Awe thought you found out about my big secret, so you will tell me yours?”
He just rolls his eyes at me before letting a laugh out. “She’s terrified.”
“Caroline? She’s not afraid of anyone or anything.” He laughs out again.
“Yeah, having twins in a bathtub up in purgatory will do that to a person.”
“What?” I nearly shout. I have to play up the shock though. I already knew this… I just don’t need him knowing that I do. At least, not yet.
“Yeah, I was out on a drop with the guys, and I got back. Billie’s waiting for me tells me to change and within like 20 mins Remy had the boys delivered. Care had been in labor all morning and didn’t think it was serious.” I can’t help but laugh again.
“Only you would find a woman who could top Billie and Lucy.”
“That’s what I said.” He laughs, shaking his head.
“Do you want to go over to your dad’s first? Or do you want to go talk tohim?”
“How about I can go to dad’s, and you can talk to him?” I tell him with a smirk on my face.
“That’s not fucking happening. You’re telling him.” He glares at me, and I sigh, looking out the window. The calls I made years ago play out in my head. Every time that the phone would ring, he would pick up, and then I would panic, hanging up before I blurted out my secret. The times his voicemail would pick up. The hesitations that I would feel. The feeling of what if he doesn't want us? What if he’s already moved on? But I already know the answer to all of those questions now. Yet, here I am, trying to protect him from his brothers having any negative opinion of him.
“I should have just stayed home, then you could have told him, and I wouldn’t have had to.” I’m not really sure how much I have to tell him. Ash cuts his eyes at me, causing me to laugh, adding, “I don’t even know how to start.” I whisper out as we drive through LA, glancing back to Jag for a second as he sits with the headphones on.
“I think,surprise, you have a son. May be a good place to start.” He laughs out.
Ash texts me an hour ago, telling me to meet him back at his house. He needs to talk to me about something. I’m kind of nervous because even though it took us a while after Ella left to get back to a place where we were… amicable, we still rarely talk. I think most of how far our relationship has gotten back to normal, or at least to the point of normal that it has, mostly has had to do with Caroline, but we’re still not where we were and I’m not so sure we’ll ever be there again.
I see his truck sitting outside as I walk over, growing closer to the cliff, and walk into the house. I’m well into the living room before my eyes adjust. All I can make out isa shadow of a person sitting at the kitchen table.
“Ella…” it comes out as a gasp when I make it to the table, and she smirks.
“Axe.” My name on her lips sounds like everything I remember it being. I can see the uncertainty on her face as she sits in front of me. “We need to talk.” She tells me just over a whisper.
“Yeah, we need to fucking talk.” I almost shout out at her. Suddenly every ounce of anger I have ever had over the entire fucked-up situation boils over, and she flinches. “You just fucking left. No note. No phone call. Not even you’re a piece of shit. Goodbye, just left.” I don’t mean to shout at her, but I do. She continues to sit at the table as she looks down, but I can see the bit of confusion on her face.
“I’m sorry,” it’s a whisper this time.
“You’re sorry,” I can’t hold in the laugh. “You’re fucking sorry? Ella goddamnit, I was in fucking love with you.”
“You were in love with me?” She snaps back. “In love… sure.” She looks straight at me. “You made your choice.” She doesn’t hesitate as she continues to stare at me. Daring me to try her.
I scoff, not really being able to argue with her but also conflicted because I’m not sure how wrong she is before snapping back to her. “Why are you even here? It’s been almost four fucking years… you come back just to say hey to everyone?”
“Ash came and found me to tell me about dad.” She trails and I look at her, confused. “Fuck,” she mutters, “I guess him and Khan are really the only ones who know. My dad’s sick.” She tells me, which causes me to sit down across from her quickly.
“Shit, El… I didn’t know.” My voice drops, and my temper subsides, briefly, as I take in the information and the understanding of how difficult it must be. While also trying to deal with my own emotions about Oz being sick.
“I guess he just found out a couple of days ago.” She shakes her head almost as if she’s trying to etch-a-sketch her emotions away. “That’s not why I wanted to talk to you.” She starts again, and she looks at me, concerned. “I assume you figured we were both here.” She speaks.