“Really?”
“Sure.”
“What about your image? My image? As your wife?”
“When have I ever cared what people thought about me?”
“Point taken,” I said. “I have an idea, though. Why don’t we donate the money we would’ve spent on the reception? We’ll pick a good charity.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Anonymously?”
I shrugged and then closed my eyes. “I want to get some sleep.”
“What about all your visitors?”
“How many are there?”
“Well, there’s Jack, Sasha, Lacey, Brad, Alia, Shawna, Renee, and someone else—young, scared of her own shadow.”
“Jamie,” I said. “The newest cocktail waitress and dancer.”
“Ash keeps calling me to check up on you. I’m going to let her know you’re okay.”
“Tell everyone thanks for coming,” I said, emotion constricting my throat. “But I’m not up for visitors.”
Flynn kissed my forehead and then my lips. “I’ll let them know. On my way, I’ll ask a nurse for a cot so I can sleep in your room.”
“I’d like that,” I whispered, tired and drained. Flynn kissed me once more, turned out the light and then left.
The next morning, I woke up to a disheveled husband and hospital food. “Don’t even think about eating that stuff,” Flynn commanded.
I glanced at the lime green JELL-O. “Yeah, I was going to pass, anyway.” I pushed the tray away from me. “Can we please get out of here? I want to go home.”
Picking up his wrinkled gray suit jacket, he kissed me good morning and said, “I’ll go see to your discharge.”
I swung my legs over the side of the bed, hating the draft I felt in the hospital gown. Looking around, I saw a small suitcase underneath Flynn’s cot, not at all surprised to find it. I leaned down to retrieve it when I heard a voice behind me say, “Should you be doing that?”
I turned, finding Sasha standing in the doorway. I smiled. “I think I can handle it. It’s not heavy.”
He came into the room and before I could pick up the suitcase, he did it for me, putting it on the hospital bed. “Thanks,” I said, riffling through my things, feeling a bit embarrassed when I caught sight of the black lacy panties. I looked up and caught sight of Sasha’s blush.
“Not this,” I muttered. “Anything but this.”
“What?” he demanded.
“Are things going to be awkward for us now?”
“I don’t want them to be,” he said with sincerity.
“I trust you,” I said softly. “In ways that I never thought I could trust another person.”
“I’m here for you. I’m not going anywhere.”
“I don’t question your devotion—never that. But how can I—we—I’m married. I’m having a baby.”
His eyes were pained, tortured. I loved Sasha, but only as my friend. I could get past his sentiments, but I wasn’t sure he could. “I don’t think we should see each other for a little while.”
“What?” he asked, startled.
