Chapter Seventeen

ALIANA

“I swear, if I don’t escape this hospital soon, I’m going to lose my mind,” I grumble to Axyl. It feels like I’ve been trapped here for an eternity. I just want to go home.

The bed is hard, and the food is terrible.

“You’ve only been here a week, babe. You need to recover, and the babies need monitoring.” He tries to calm me down.

“But you get to leave. I’m stuck in this bed and I’m sick of it. I want to be in my own bed. You won’t even lie down with me.” I pout. I’ve had enough of this place.

I know my babies are the priority, but Doc is at the clubhouse. He can watch over them and me.

“Ali…we’ve been over this. You’re not leaving this hospital until I’m sure you’re healed and our girls are safe.

“You can complain all you want, but you’re not going anywhere. I’m not in bed with you because you’re hooked up to monitors and can barely move without disturbing the baby monitor.

“Do you think the doctors would be happy if you shifted over and I climbed in, causing the monitors to move? I know what would happen.

“You’d want to snuggle into my side like you always do when we’re in bed together, and you can’t do that. So, yes, I’m not in the bed, but I’m in this chair right by your side.

“I haven’t left you since you’ve been here.” He lectures. I roll my eyes and cross my arms over my chest. I’m not above sulking right now.

“Fine. You can leave any time. If you’re going to be like that.” I tell him, still sulking.

“Aliana Jean Marie Carter! Enough. I’ve been listening to you whine all week and you need to stop.” My dad chimes in.

“Daddy!” I whine at him. He rolls his eyes and crosses his arms over his chest. That’s not going to work.

“I don’t want to hear it. You’re a mother now. Cut it out.” The rest of the guys in the room chuckle and before I can reply, Doc comes in with the boys trailing behind him.

“Mom would let me leave if she were here. Don’t you guys have a club to run?” I ask.

“We’re managing just fine from here. Who else would annoy you? Mom wouldn’t let you leave any sooner than necessary, and you know it.

“Besides, she’s at the diner running it.” My brother chimes in.

“I’d ask how you’re doing, but considering your mood, I don’t think I need to. I do have some good news though.” Doc says.

The boys climb onto the bed, careful of all the wires and tubes. Despite Axyl’s protests.

“Can I go home?” I ask, hopeful.

“The babies are doing well and you’re healing nicely. Your nose still needs to heal completely, which should take a few more weeks since you had surgery and it had to be reconstructed.

“I’ll still be checking on the girls every week to monitor their progress. We’ll do that until I’m sure they’ll make it to full term.” He rambles on.

“But can I go home?” I ask.

“Yes, Aliana. You can go home, but you’re on bed rest for the first week,” he says and I groan.

“I’ve been on bed rest for a week! I swear, my butt must be flat from all the sitting I’ve done,” I tell them and the room erupts into laughter.

I glare at them all before turning back to Doc. “Can you get this stuff off me so I can go home and lie in my own bed? Maybe take a shower.

“At least I’ll be more comfortable than I am in this so-called bed.”

“I’m sure the doctors and nurses will be glad to see you go. You’ve been giving them a hard time since you woke up.

“I’ll get this off,” he says before turning to the boys. “You two need to get off your Mama so she can go home.” They both cheer and hop off the bed so Doc can start unhooking me.

“Well, I’m not sure I like many of them either,” I mutter while Doc unhooks me.

“You’re all set. We’ll meet you back at the clubhouse,” Doc chuckles. Everyone leaves the room except for Axyl and the boys. Calvin tried to get them to go with him, but they weren’t having it.

They wanted to go home with their dad and me.

“Come on boys, let’s get the truck ready for mama while she gets dressed,” Axyl ushers the boys out of the room and I wiggle out of bed to get dressed.

By the time I’m done, Axyl and the boys are back and we’re heading out the door. “Ready to go home babe?”

“More than ready,” I tell him. He wraps his arm around my shoulder and pulls me closer to his side. “You know what I’m most excited about though?” I immediately refuse the wheelchair they tried to make me sit in.

No way. I haven’t used my legs in a week. I need to stretch them.

“What’s that?” He asks. “Boys, slow down!”

“Being next to you…in our bed…naked,” I whisper, just loud enough for him to hear.

“Really?” I nod, and he helps me into the truck after getting the boys settled. “I can’t wait.” He hops into the truck and fires it up. We pull out of the parking spot and hit the road, heading for the clubhouse.

“Daddy, I’m hungry!” Danny’s voice rings out.

“We’ll eat when we get to the clubhouse, Danny,” Axyl answers.

“But daddy, we could go somewhere, just the four of us,” I suggest. Murdock and Danny both chime in agreement. “Three against one…looks like we win.” Axyl shakes his head, chuckling.

“Guess you do. We’ll stop at the diner down the road,” he concedes. We drive a few more minutes before turning onto the street where the diner is located.

“Remember when we used to come here when we were kids? I think this is the place where I first fell in love with you,” I reminisce.

“Yeah, I remember. It’s where I gave you your first kiss,” I recall that moment fondly. We were waiting for my brother and his girlfriend, who were running late.

I was upset because I’d just had a fight with my dad about something so trivial I can’t even remember what it was.

“If I remember correctly, you kissed me just to cheer me up.” He was sixteen, and I was fourteen, I think. He looked at me and said, ‘I know what will cheer you up,’ before leaning in and kissing me.

I was stunned. It was my first kiss, and it was with the boy I had a huge crush on.

“You thought that, but I liked you even back then. You just captured my heart later in life. Or, so I thought,” he confesses. God, I’m blushing just like I did back then.

We pull into a parking space, and everyone tumbles out of the truck. Well, the boys do. Axyl insists on helping me out.

“I love you,” I tell him, pressing my lips to his.

“I love you too, baby girl. Let’s feed you five and get you home so you can rest,” he suggests.

“Well, I am pretty hungry.” He sets me down on my feet, and before he can take my hand, the boys each grab one. “Well hello, my loves.”

“Hey, mom,” Murdock responds. “How are you and my sisters feeling? Do you need anything?” This boy is going to be a real gentleman when he’s old enough to date.

“I’m fine, sweetheart. Don’t you worry. I’ll let you know if I need anything, okay?” He nods, and I turn to look at Axyl. I love this man, and I love these boys.