“I don’t feel steady enough to be on the bike.”
Not a lie. I don’t think I’ve stopped shaking since I left Dr. Singh’s office. He stares at me for a beat, and then guides me toward a truck parked outside the garage.
He heads inside to grab the keys, and when he comes back, he opens my door first, helping me in. I don’t stop him as he pulls my seatbelt around me like I’m five years old.
His eyes lift to mine. “You feel worse than you’re saying.”
It’s not a question.
“I just don’t want to risk falling off.” He stares at me, and I know there are a hundred thoughts rolling through his mind. So I grab his hand, gently squeezing. “We’ll talk when we get home. Not here. But I’m okay.”
He doesn’t look convinced, but he straightens out of his crouch, shuts my door and walks around to his side of the car while I mentally run through all the different ways I can tell my husband he is going to be a father.
FIVE
CASEY
My thoughts arewild as I drive. I cast sidelong glances in Lexi’s direction, trying to figure out what the hell is going on with her.
My wife.
My girl.
My whole fucking heart.
Her words ricochet through my brain.
Something is wrong. She said she’s okay, but the rest of what came out of her mouth doesn’t make me feel at ease.
My hand wraps around her thigh, grounding her or me, I’m not sure, but I don’t let go other than to shift gear.
By the time I guide the car onto the driveway every inch of my body is itching.
Lexi climbs out slowly, and I can see the nerves rattling through her. It doesn’t do anything to calm my own.
I unlock the front door, opening it so she can step inside, and she heads to the kitchen. I follow after her, watching every move she makes, as if it will tell me what the fuck is going on.
“Talk,” I say, unable to bear it any fucking longer.
Her palms rest on the counter, her shoulders sagging. “So… I haven’t been feeling myself. I figured it was a virus or I wascoming down with something, but I went to the doctor during my lunch break.”
My eyes narrow, my chest caving open.
“You went to the doctor and didn’t say a fucking word to me?”
Is she fucking serious?
Her shoulders dip even further, so I rein in my temper. She is already anxious without me making it worse.
“I didn’t want to say anything in case it was nothing.”
“I don’t care if it’s nothing. You fuckin’ tell me, Lex. You don’t do this kind of shit alone.” I don’t point out that she obviously thought it was something, or she wouldn’t have made an appointment. “Did the doctor find anything?”
Fear is punching through my gut. Whatever it is, we’ll handle it, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t on edge as I wait for her to tell me.
“Oh, yeah. She found something.”
I’m moving before I even think about it. I grab her face between my hands, pretty sure I’m shaking. She said she was okay. I cling to that like a fucking life raft. “Darlin’, if you’re sick, we’ll deal with it, but you need to tell me what the fuck is going on.”
