AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You do understand how much easier this would be, if we knew what the gender of the baby is going to be?” Charlie looks over at me and Iquickly look away. I’m weak, I’ll bust, I’m surprised I’ve held out this long.
When I peek up at her she narrows her eyes and then looks over at Tyler. “Is the secret reveal your idea?”
Ty chuckles looking all confident and strong. On the inside I know he is as close to breaking as I am. It's become this crazy competition between the two of us, seeing who can outlast the other. I’ve adopted avoidance, if I avoid the topic, or if I’m alone with any of them for too long, I seek out a distraction. But today, it's excruciating. I just want to shout, it's a boy! We are having a boy!
Not Tyler though, he is acting as cool as a cucumber, with his knowing smirk, hiding behind a beer he’s nursing.
“You would find humor in our torture,” Charlie tosses at him and he looks over at me, offering a wink.
That one single gesture, still to this day makes my heart feel like it skips a beat. Seeing him in this scenario, a newfound relaxed state that seems like an entirely different side of him I didn’t know existed. It still baffles me that he’s settled and content.
I continue to open the gifts, realizing that deciding to have a co-ed shower is perfect. Everyone I love gathered in one place.
Leah and Lauren, both fit in and even Tucker has wiped the scowl henormally wears and replaced it with a smile. Things between us have still been strange, but getting better every day.
My heart breaks for him, the love he feels and has felt for someone he can never have must be torture. I wish more than anything some wonderful woman would blow through town and knock him flat on his ass. Make him forget all about what he feels for his best friend's girl. I want that for Tuck, I want him to be happy. I want him to feel the things I’ve felt and feel every day for Tyler.
Once the shower is over and everyone is gone, Tyler and I sit on the couch and look around the living room.
“We’re going to need a bigger place,” he sounds as exhausted as I feel. But all I can do is laugh. Lifting his arm, he places it behind me on the back of the couch and I settle into the crook of his arm. Laying my head on his shoulder I feel him kiss the top of my head.
“We don’t have to put all this away now, do we?”
“No baby,” he whispers as he takes a deep breath. “Now is nap time.”
I couldn’t agree more.
* * *
“Don’t panic,” it's the first thing I say when the call rolls over to Tyler’s voicemail. I don’t know why because I know the very minute he hears those words he will still in fact, panic.
But I continue on anyway.
“I’m having a lot of lower back pain and I’m just going into the doctor’s office to make sure everything is okay. I know you’re busy, so don’t stop helping your dad. Lauren is riding with me, and I will call you. Or you can call me, and I will give her the phone to answer.” I grab my purse and start toward the door. “I love you.” I add and end the call, before pulling the door shut behind me.
My mother met me at the doctor and insisted on staying with us too.
I’ll admit, I’m nervous because the longer I sit here, the worse I feel. My emotions are threatening to turn me into a basket case and even though I told Tyler not to come, every single time the door opens I secretly pray it's him.
The man has quickly become my best friend, my savior and my hero all wrapped in one. He is the comfort I need in a moment when nothing feels okay, and he is the safety I crave when I’m unsure.
“Amara Bennett,” I glance up to find the nurse looking around the room, until her eyes lock with mine. “Are you ready?”
Again I look at the door, feeling my chest grow tight and then stand grabbing my purse and forcing a smile.
“Do you want us to go back with you?” My mother asks.
“If it's something I need you for, I’ll have them come get you,” she nods. “I’m sure it's just me being paranoid.”
Please let it be me overreacting.
When I get to the room, they offer me a gown and excuse themselves.
Undressed from the waist down I sit on the table and hold my phone in my hand. Still no return call or text.
I consider calling him again but doing this will only make him panic. So instead, I sit patiently and wait for the doctor to join me.
CHAPTERFORTY-TWO
