Breaking the Cycle (Rocking Racers Book 1) Read online

  The night Rome was beaten up was the catalyst for him and Grayson. They’re now back together and better than ever. He’s still living with the littles, although he and Grayson have plans to move in together after graduation.

  Speaking of graduation, today was my last exam and thank God for that. I feel like I’ve been studying forever, and I think it’s taken its toll. I’m always tired nowadays, but hopefully now that finals are done that’ll go away.

  I’ve just stepped into the diner when I bump into Hayley, a ditzy girl in one of my journalism classes. She hates me and the feeling is mutual.

  She’s clinging to Jax’s arm, which isn’t surprising. Since I’ve taken over PR for Ryan Racing, I’ve raised the team and its riders’ profiles quite a bit.

  Liam, Mav, and Jax all have several endorsement deals now, and the littles are taking advantage of their higher profiles, as evidenced by Hayley.

  “Oh Bria,” she coos in her sugary sweet voice. “I didn’t expect to see you here. Although, I have noticed you eating more, so I guess it fits.” She glances to my midsection, where I may have put on a little bit of weight.

  “Excuse me?” Jax says as I’m about to offer my own retort.

  “Oh, it’s nothing, baby,” Hayley replies, running her hand down his chest. “Just a girl around campus. Ignore her, she’s nothing.”

  How she can’t see Jax fuming is something I’ll never know, but it does make for entertaining viewing.

  Jax steps out of her embrace and pushes her hand away. “That girl is my sister and you can get the fuck out.”

  “But…,” she splutters.

  “Out!” Jax yells and points towards the door. I step aside to let her pass and Jax slings an arm around my shoulders.

  “Hmph.” With a flick of her hair, she stomps out of the diner.

  “And don’t come back,” Jax yells at her retreating figure.

  “That really wasn’t necessary,” I say as she drives off, although it was amusing. It always amazes me that during these moments, I feel like I've been teleported back to high school.

  “You’re welcome.” He presses a kiss to my temple and leads me over to the table where Liam, Mase, Grayson, Rome, Chris, and Mav are waiting. The other four Ryans are rushing around the diner.

  “Sis, you’re positively glowing,” Liam says as I reach the table.

  “It’s all the se—” Grayson begins but then notices Chris. “Sleep she’s been getting.”

  “Aunty Bria sleeps with Uncle Reed,” Chris says, to which I blush and everyone else roars with laughter.

  “Yes, champ, she certainly does,” Grayson says and ruffles Chris’s hair.

  “To save beds?” he asks.

  “Huh?”

  “Uncle Reed says dey shower together to save water. Do dey sleep together to save beds?”

  In between bouts of laughter, we manage to answer in the affirmative. Reed comes up behind me, resting his chin on my shoulder and pulling my body flush with his.

  “Hi,” he says, kissing my neck.

  “Hey, yourself.”

  “How’d your exam go?”

  “Fine I think, but….”

  “You don’t want to jinx yourself, I know, but we can celebrate tonight, right?” he asks, a hopeful smile on his face.

  “Of course we can.”

  “An early birthday present?”

  “What do you want for your birthday?” He hasn’t told me and I’m starting to get annoyed. As if men aren’t hard enough to shop for in the first place.

  “You, angel, just you.”

  As the week leading up to Reed’s birthday drags on, I know I can no longer get away with not seeing a doctor. I’m still tired all the time even after a lot of rest and very little stress, and my emotions are all over the place. I’ll have to ask whether it’s some kind of withdrawal from the shot. I’m also eating like crazy, putting on weight. In the back of my mind, the idea that I may be pregnant constantly drifts in and out. But I keep pushing it aside. One, it excites as much as terrifies me. Plus it seems too soon for that to even be possible.

  It Reed’s birthday tomorrow and I have no idea what to get him. When I ask all he says he wants is me. He’ll extend that to naked and off contraception, but I don’t know how to gift wrap that, plus I'm already off the other. I’ve bought some new lingerie, so I'm confident he’ll enjoy, and an ovulation kit and pregnancy test, but I still feel like I should get him something more.

  But it’s too late for that as he drives us to a “secret location.”

  He’s been buzzing around all day with excitement. If he were Chris, I’d ban him from ever having sugar again, but as he’s twenty-four, almost twenty-five, I suppose that’s not entirely feasible.

  He drives us up to the lookout. In my four years in Booker, I admit I’ve never been up here.

  Reed shuts off the car, gets out, and opens my door for me.

  He grabs a blanket and sets it out before sitting down and pulling me between his legs, his arms wrapping around me tightly.

  “It’s beautiful up here,” I say.

  “I used to come up here a lot during all the shit with Hunter, trying to figure out what to do.”

  “I can see why. It’s very calming.”

  “Mmm.” He nuzzles my neck.

  We sit in silence for a while before the alarm on Reed’s phone goes off.

  “It’s midnight,” he says quietly.

  I turn to face him. “Happy birthday.” I kiss him.

  When we break apart he’s beaming, his dimples deep in his cheeks.

  “It’s time for you to give me my present now.”

  “But I didn’t bring them!” I say, panicked. I hadn't thought that far ahead.

  “That’s okay. Just stand up for me for a minute, angel.”

  I do as I’m told, but this is weird.

  I look out over Booker and admire the view. It’s only when Reed grabs my hand, him on one knee, that I get what’s happening. My free hand flies to my mouth as tears start to flow down my cheeks.

  “Bria, since the day you first walked through the door of the diner you’ve been a part of this family, seamlessly fitting into our hearts and our world. You’ve helped us, laughed with us, and loved us. You are one of us and I can’t wait for that to be official. I knew from that first night I wanted to make you mine. I love you so much. I want everything with you: your tears, your happiness, your children. You are my heart, my soul, and I know with you by my side we can do anything.”

  He swallows and opens the velvet box in his hand. “Bria Marie Adams, will you do me the incredible honour of allowing me to become your husband? Will you marry me, angel?”

  I’ve been nodding since he started his speech and I voice my answer, albeit shakily. “Yes.” My heart thunders through my chest. I knew he'd do this some day, but not on his birthday.

  He smiles and slides the ring on my finger. It’s a plain gold band with a solitaire diamond, I’d say, maybe a carat.

  “It was my nan and then my ma’s ring.”

  “It’s beautiful,” I say as he gets up and takes me in his arms.

  “So are you.”

  I lean up and kiss him, my hands framing his face, his hands digging into my hips.

  “I love you,” I say.

  “I love you, and I can’t wait to marry you.”

  “So how is this your present?” I ask, still confused.

  “All I want is you and by saying yes, you’ve given that to me.”

  Oh. My. God. I don’t say anything. Instead, I let the tears roll down my cheeks. My emotions are spiralling, heat and excitement dancing through me.

  “We’re gonna get married in your parents’ backyard, and soon there’s gonna be a little Ryan growing in your belly and we’re gonna live happily ever after.”

  “Reed….”

  “Future wife,” he says with a smile, and that’s all it takes for me to attack him.

  I throw all my passion into my kiss, grabbing his shirt
. Somehow we manage to disrobe and fall to the blanket.

  “The future Mrs Reed Ryan,” Reed says as he thrusts inside me.

  “Fuck, Reed.”

  “I love you so much, baby. Thank you for being mine,” he manages to get out as he moves in and out of me.

  “Mmm.” I moan as he goes particularly deep and I arch my back.

  Reed latches on to a nipple and I moan at the pleasure and slither of pain.

  “So good, baby,” Reed pants, “you feel so good.” I rake my nails down his back.

  “I can’t wait to marry you,” I say and feel my insides tightening. I reach down and grab his arse, pushing him deeper into me, my legs wrapping around his waist. He shifts a little and my clit grinds against his pubic bone, giving me the friction I need.

  “That’s it, baby, come with me.” And a few thrusts later, we’re both coming, Reed’s hot seed spilling inside me.

  He rolls us to our sides, never breaking our connection.

  “We’re getting married,” I say as I run my fingers through his hair. Saying the words aloud sends a shiver of exhilaration through me.

  “Best. Birthday. Ever!” he says and we laugh.

  “And it’s not even mine.”

  “It’s okay, angel. I’ll look after you, forever. For the rest of our lives.”

  “Mmm, that sounds so good,” I say sleepily as I rest my head on his chest.

  “Are you still tired, baby?”

  “Mmm.” I nuzzle further into his strong chest, his musky, manly scent calming me.

  “Baby,” Reed says and pulls back so he can look at me, “you need to get checked out. You’re going to be a Ryan wife, and bullshit or not that puts you at risk for bad shit happening.” His voice breaks. “I can’t have anything happen to you. You’re my whole life. You know that, right?”

  I reach up and cup his face. “It’s okay, honey. I managed to get an appointment for today.”

  “Thank you.” He kisses my forehead. “Come on, let’s get back to our bed. I want to make love to you all night and I don’t think the early morning fitness freaks would appreciate a show. I certainly don’t want my fiancée on display like that.”

  Reed is true to his word and makes love to me all night. The only reason he let me out of bed this morning is because of my appointment. I make the short drive to the doctor’s office.

  After a few questions, she takes some blood and a urine sample and then we wait for my results.

  She comes in after a few minutes.

  “So I have your results….”

  Chapter Forty

  REED

  I’m now officially engaged and I can’t wipe the smile off my face. I made love to my fiancée all night and would’ve kept going all day too, if not for this doctor appointment. The thought of Bria being sick scares the shit out of me. I only just got her; surely fate wouldn’t be so cruel as to take her away from me already?

  My phone rings and I see it’s Bria. I swear my heart’s beating out of my chest as I answer, praying she’s okay.

  “Angel?”

  She sniffs and my heart breaks. “Can you get down here?” she asks, and I’m already out the door.

  “I’m already on my way, baby. Everything’s going to be all right. We’re gonna get through this together, okay?”

  She doesn’t reply, just sniffs again.

  I talk to her the whole way, the phone at my ear. “It’s gonna be okay. I love you and I won’t let anything happen to you. Whatever you need you’ll get, okay? Whatever we have to do, we’ll do it. Between my family and yours, we’ve got this covered. Don’t worry, I’m almost there. I’ll be there soon.” Thank God, the office is only a short drive away.

  “I love you, Reed Ryan.”

  “I’m just pulling in now. I’ll see you soon, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  I park haphazardly, not giving a fuck if I’m blocking anyone, and burst into the office. A moment later, I'm led into an examining room.

  Bria is lying on the exam table, her shirt pulled up, the doc squirting some gel on her belly.

  “Here he is,” Bria says, a smile on her face.

  What the fuck? She was crying just a minute ago.

  “Angel?” I ask, going over to her side.

  The doc starts moving this wand over her belly, and a loud thumping fills the room.

  “What—what’s going on?” I’m so fucking confused. My head is spinning.

  “I thought you’d like to be here for our first sonogram.”

  “Our whatogram?”

  “We’re pregnant, Reed. We’re having a baby.”

  “Baby?”

  She nods excitedly and holds out a hand. I automatically take it and squeeze it tight.

  “But you were crying.”

  “Happy tears.”

  “Happy tears?”

  She nods, her grin never slipping from her face.

  “You’re about ten weeks along,” the doc says. “The heartbeat is strong and everything is measuring on track.”

  “Heartbeat?” I ask. My head is still trying to process that Bria’s okay.

  “Yes.” The doc hits a button and loud thumping fills the room again.

  “That’s our baby’s heartbeat?” I ask.

  “It certainly is.”

  “And you’re not sick?” I ask Bria.

  “Nope, just growing a human.”

  “Our human,” I say, and kiss her forehead. Our human. The knowledge nearly knocks me on my arse.

  “But ten weeks? How did this happen?” I ask, my brain still struggling to catch up. I think I left it at home in the rush to get down here.

  “The antibiotics I took for my leg made my birth control ineffective.”

  “Huh.”

  “If you’ll look at the screen, that’s your baby,” the doc interrupts.

  “Holy shit,” I breathe, and tears stream down Bria’s cheeks. “That’s our baby.” I squeeze her hand.

  The doc points out some things and then says she’ll print us some pictures and a DVD.

  “But everything’s okay with him, right?” I ask.

  “It’s a little too early to determine gender, but yes, the baby is fine and healthy and so is mum.”

  “Technicalities, Doc, that’s my son my woman is cooking in there.”

  She chuckles. “If you say so. So, Bria, start taking those prenatal vitamins, and if you have any issues, give me a call. If not, I’ll see you in six weeks.”

  “Thanks, Dr Lara,” Bria says.

  “Yeah, thanks, Doc,” I say, shaking her hand.

  “The nurse will have your pictures and DVD. Congratulations,” she says as we walk to the door.

  “Holy shit,” I say and pull Bria to me. I place my hand on her belly, rubbing gently.

  “Happy birthday, although I guess the presents I got you we won’t be needing anymore.”

  “Happy birthday? Fuck, this is so much more than happy birthday. I should go buy a lotto ticket, with the luck I’m having today.”

  “Do you need millions of dollars?” she asks.

  “Baby, I’ve got everything I’ll ever need in one hot, perfect package.” She giggles. “Thank you, baby.”

  “So what now?” she asks, a beautiful smile on her face.

  “Call Rome and Grayson. We’re starting the party early,” I say, the smile on my face is so big it’s hurting my cheeks.

  Chapter Forty-One

  BRIA

  I hadn’t meant to scare the shit out of Reed when I called but when Dr Lara told me I’m pregnant, the tears just flowed and I couldn’t speak. Reed’s reaction was priceless and his hand has barely left my belly since we left Dr Lara’s office.

  I call Gray and Rome and tell them to get over to the diner because we’re starting the party early.

  When we get there, everyone is present and wondering what the hell is going on. Reed has me tucked tight to his side, his hand resting on my belly.

  “All right, what is it?” Pop as
ks.

  “We have some announcements,” Reed says, shouting over the noise, and things start to die down.

  “One, she said yes!” Everyone cheers. Hugs and kisses flow as I am passed from Ryan to Ryan, Reed never leaving my side. Grayson comes up to me and squeals when I show her the ring.

  “It’s beautiful, Bri,” Rome says, and kisses my cheek.

  “You guys next?” They both blush.

  “You said some announcements,” Mav says, “meaning there’s more?”

  “There is more,” Reed says.

  “Well?” Grayson asks, clearly impatient.

  Reed looks at me and I nod.

  “We’re pregnant.”

  This time the roar from the assembled masses rattles the window. The door behind us opens and my parents walk in.

  “We heard there’s a party going on,” my dad says.

  I turn to Reed. “You called them?”

  “I invited them. I had always planned to propose last night and knew they’d want to be here.”

  I lean up and kiss him. “I love you.”

  “And I love you, Mama.”

  “Mama?” my mum asks.

  “You just missed the announcement,” I say. “We’re pregnant.”

  “Oh, my God!” she squeals, and pulls me into a tight hug. “How far along are you?”

  “Ten weeks,” Reed replies and grabs me from behind, both hands resting on my belly.

  “Ten weeks.”

  “Let’s go sit,” Pop says, and we move to a table. As always, Reed tugs me down on his lap, his hands resting on my belly underneath my shirt. The move is sweet and protective. I don't think I'll ever tire of it.

  “So tell us everything,” Grayson says.

  “Well,” Reed begins, “when a man and a woman love each other very much, they have special cuddles—”

  “Smart-arse,” Grayson says, and flips him the finger, making sure to cover it so Chris doesn’t see it.