“Jesus Christ,” he whispered, trying to absorb the gravity of the situation.
He was numb right now, but fury was quickly making its way past the haze and he decided to capitalize on the moment. First, he put the test back where he found it; then he ran back downstairs. He picked up the portable phone and called the doctor back.
“Dr. Philips’s office.”
“Sara, it’s the sheriff. Put the doc on the phone.”
“Sorry, Sheriff, he’s with a pat—”
“Put the doc on the phone, ” Wyatt said more firmly. “Now!”
“Okay,” she said quickly. “I’ll get him now.”
Wyatt ran a hand through his hair while he waited. He tapped his foot. His muscles bunched like they did right before a fight. The rage was moving faster and more efficiently than Wyatt planned.
Dr. Philips came back to the phone after only a few minutes. “Wyatt, I told you—” 244
“Listen to me, Doc.” Wyatt used his sheriff’s voice. “Jules’s life is in the shit house right now. You tell her she’s pregnant, and she’s gonna have a serious moment. I don’t think that’s all that great for her health, do you?”
“That girl’s got to go to the doctor. Her hormone levels are sky-high, and with her history she’s high risk. You don’t wanna repeat of what happened with your mama.”
“You think I don’t know that?” Wyatt barked. “You think I’m not standing here shaking just thinking ’bout it?”
“Then get her to the doctor!”
“She’s already got an appointment in Mercy.” Wyatt took a deep breath, searching for sanity. “She ain’t a drinker or a smoker. The only medicine she takes is a multivitamin. Let her calm down for a few days; then I’ll tell her personally.”
“I dunno—”
“I just don’t want anything bad to happen.” Wyatt took another deep breath, making him feel like he was hyperventilating rather than relaxing himself. “I know my sister, okay? If shock or heartbreak or something makes her lose this baby, it’ll kill her, and my mama had four miscarriages before she got pregnant with us, so don’t tell me it can’t happen. Let Jules get her shit together and calm down. Gimme a few days to prepare her.”
“Well, what the heck am I supposed to tell her when she calls back?” the doctor asked in defeat.
“Tell her the truth, that her hormones are out of whack. Tell her to call the lady doctor and—”
“Ob-gyn.”
“Whatever,” Wyatt said impatiently. “Tell her to try and move up her appointment. Give her a damn note. Call ’em personally if ya have to. Just give me a few days to break it to her lightly.”
245
“Fine.” Dr Philips sighed, sounding largely unconvinced. “But I wouldn’t wait longer than a few days.”
“I won’t,” he said solemnly. “I promise.”
“And make sure she’s eating well. No taking any medicines for headaches or allergies.”
“I will.”
“And no drinking.”
“She ain’t had a glass since we went to Vegas with Clay.” Wyatt pulled a face at the reminder of the championship fight in Las Vegas. “I got to go, Doc. I got things to take care of.”
Dr. Philips was reluctant to hang up. He kept spouting off instructions, but Wyatt was officially at his limit. Reality and anger collided inside him, making him fully comprehend that his sister was going to have a baby—alone.
And it was Romeo Wellings’s fault.
246
Chapter Sixteen
“I didn’t throw the fight.”
Romeo was sweaty and breathless as he sat on the mat in the middle of the cage.
He just couldn’t go another minute without saying it. He and Clay had been ignoring the giant elephant in the room for the past two and half hours, and it was slowly driving him insane.
“I know it sounded bad,” he went on, avoiding Clay’s gaze. “If I were in your shoes, I probably wouldn’t believe me either, but I—”
“I believe you.” Clay sat down on the mat next to Romeo. “You think I’d have called your ass at six this morning if I really thought you threw that fight?”
“I dunno.” Romeo shook his head. “I sorta thought you just wanted to kick the shit outta me. I was expecting you and Conner to gang up on me and just end it once and for all.”
“And you came anyway?” Clay asked in disbelief. “What the hell’s wrong with you?”
“I sorta wanted to let you.” Romeo ran both hands through his sweaty hair and then folded his fingers together behind his neck. He leaned his forehead against his knees as he confessed. “I’m fucking miserable over this shit.” Clay was silent after Romeo’s confession, and he finally turned his head, resting his cheek on his knee as he studied the other man. Clay didn’t seem to be leveling any judgment at him. If anything, he almost appeared sympathetic, which was certainly not what Romeo was expecting.