Fat Louise(51)

“Will you go away?” Jane hissed at him.

“No.”

“Jane,” Corra called to her as Jane shot Cade a nasty look. “You can go ahead and leave. Jake and I can finish up.”

“But I have fifteen more minutes.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll clock you out. Just go.”

Jane could tell she was better off not arguing. She went to the back and grabbed her purse before returning to the front. Stepping out from behind the counter, her path was blocked by Cade as he took her arm.

“Let me go,” Jane protested.

“We’re going to talk.”

“Let her go.” Rock came to her side.

“Back off, Rock. Jane has something she needs to tell me.”

Jane went white at his words. He had found out. One of her big mouthed friends must have told him about the miscarriage.

“I did have something to tell you, but now I don’t. I don’t know why you’re upset, anyway. It’s not like it would have mattered to you. You’re too busy getting laid and riding that bike around town with the brothers.”

Cade flinched at her words.

“It matters. It was my baby, too.”

“Not anymore,” Jane choked out.

Rock placed his arm around Jane, and she leaned against him for support, suddenly feeling dizzy.

“Take me home, Rock.”

“Brother, I’m giving you a warning. Take your arm off her, or we’re going to have a problem.”

“The only problem I see is a man who wants something back he threw away.” Rock didn’t take his arm away as he moved Jane so she was on his other side, farther away from Cade.

“I didn’t throw shit away. I screwed up.”

“What’s the fucking difference?”

“This is a talk me and Jane need to be having, not you and me, Rock.”

“Do you want to talk to him?” Rock questioned Jane.

“No.” Jane only wanted to get out of there and go to bed. She was exhausted. She needed to get some sleep before she had to be back at work at the hospital at six a.m.

“That settles it. Move, Cade,” Rock ordered.

“Make me.”

“Cade, stop it. I’m tired—” Jane began.

“Are you always going to hide behind someone, Jane? When are you…?”

Jane felt his words fade out as the room began spinning. The last thing she heard was Cade’s shout.

* * *

Jane moved her head on the pillow, staring at the man lying next to her. She was in her bedroom at Crazy Bitch’s apartment, having no idea how she had gotten there.

“Good, you’re awake.” Cade sat up on the bed, staring down at her.

“What happened?”

“You passed out.”

“I did?”

“Yes. Thank God Killyama came in when she did. She got the gel out of your purse. Why didn’t you tell me you’re hypoglycemic? Why didn’t I notice in Mexico?”

“Because it’s none of your business.” Then sighed seeing he expected an explanation. “I carried glucose gel in my pocket.”

“Do you know how fucking irresponsible it was not to tell me? Why couldn’t you have just told me? Why do you have a problem telling me shit I should know, like being pregnant with my child?”

Jane turned her head on the pillow to avoid looking at his face. “I was going to tell you. I had only found out I was pregnant a few weeks before I lost the baby.”

“You should have told me as soon as you found out.”

“You were kind of busy,” Jane said, tossing the covers back to sit up on the mattress. Putting her feet on the floor, she slid out of bed and moved carefully to the bathroom where she shut the door behind her.

She leaned back against the door, staring at her reflection in the mirror. She looked like crap. Her hair was limp and dull, her face was white as a sheet, and her nightgown hung on her too-thin body.

She used the bathroom before running a brush through her hair. Reluctantly opening the door, she reentered her bedroom to find it empty. Staring in dismay at her bedroom clock, she went to her closet to pull out some clothes.

“What in the fuck are you doing?” Cade asked from the doorway.

“I’m two hours late for work.”

“No, you’re not. Get back in bed. Crazy Bitch called in and told them you’re sick.” Cade placed the tray he was holding down on her nightstand.

Jane walked back to the bed, sitting down before she fluffed up her pillows so she could lean back against the headboard. After Cade placed the tray of food on her lap, she stared down at the huge plate.

“I can’t eat all of this,” she protested.

“You’re going to eat it all. I’m not leaving until you do.”