Ride with Me by Chelsea Camaron, Ryan Michele Page A

me, it’s a piece of paper, and I don’t need it to tell me that Cruz is mine. I know he is. I also get where he’s coming from, though.
    He wants me tied to him in every way possible. I just don’t see the rush. Now, if I’m pregnant, he will really be on my ass for that slip of paper, and I will do it no problem. I love him and my boy.
    How will Cooper handle being a brother? Shit.
    I shake my head just as the timer on my phone blares at me, telling me the test is ready. I look down and low and behold, a positive.
    The first emotion I have flow through me is happiness, elation. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would have this, have a real family and kids. I didn’t know what I would have, but before and during prison, I gave up on any chance of that. Then Cruz stepped in my life and gave me everything. Everything.
    My smile widens as I touch my belly. A he or she is growing inside me. My heart warms to explosion. I thought it was completely full with Cruz and Cooper, but there is more room for this baby.
    Another part of me is scared to death. I have a human growing inside of me. What if I fuck that up somehow? Shit.
    I think back to the last two months. I have drunk—not a whole hell of a lot, but I have had alcohol. Oh, fuck. Did I hurt the baby? The pit of my belly falls to the floor. Oh, God, no.
    I need to make a doctor’s appointment.
    Part of me wants to call Cruz right now and tell him, but that would be seriously shitty of me. Throwing a bomb like this on him just isn’t going to happen. I don’t want to worry him with what I have floating around in my head right now. Besides, he’s on the road, and he said he would be back late tomorrow, so I will tell him then.
    I look at the clock and curse. I need to pick Cooper up from Ma’s.
    ***
    “What’s going on with you?” Ma asks me right off the bat. I’m not sure what I look like, but I didn’t write “ I’m pregnant ” across my damn forehead before I left the house.
    “Nothing?” It comes out as more of a question than an answer. I should tell Cruz before anyone else, but my mom’s eyes narrow on me then widen. She knows.
    A smile beams across her face, and I swear she’s just stopping herself from jumping up and down like a lunatic.
    “Are you?” she asks as Coop jumps down from my lap and rushes out of the room.
    I nod, and she squeals.
    “Don’t,” I warn her. “I just figured it out this morning. Cruz doesn’t know, and I don’t want Pops knowing until I talk to Cruz.”
    She waves her hand. “He’s on a run, too. He won’t be back until tomorrow night or the next day. How far along are you?”
    I tilt my head up to the ceiling, more because of the fool I am for not catching it months ago. I then look around the room, making sure Coop is out of it. “I think two months, maybe.”
    Her look turns fierce.
    In … five … four … three … two … and one …
    “Harlow! I taught you better than that. You are nowhere near a stupid airhead. How could you not know you weren’t bleeding between your damn legs?”
    I hang my head because she’s right. I deserve this.
    “Excuses are shit, Ma. Bottom line is, I’ve been so damn busy and keeping track of days hasn’t been top on my list. Cruz, Cooper, X, family, the club …” I shake my head, furious with myself. “I’m an ass and I’ve drunk, Ma. Do you know if I hurt the baby?”
    Ma’s expression changes in a flash. It’s not disgust or anger. No, it softens as she comes closer. “You’ll have to talk to the doctor about all that. I don’t have those answers.”
    “I’m an ass, Ma. If I hurt this baby in any way …” My head falls into my hands as the fear of causing harm to the unborn baby slams into my gut.
    Ma places her hand on mine, giving me a squeeze as my head comes up. “Baby girl, you can’t worry yourself about this right now. You don’t know if there is something to worry about, so doing it now is going to zap all of your energy, which