“You’re welcome. I better go lock the door and make sure Doctor Camden or Doctor Gallo don’t need anything,” Susan says. We part ways, her going one way and me going my own way. I’m quick on my feet, traveling the hall, keeping my eyes on the prize. Luke’s office is within reach. The finish line is there, and wouldn’t you know it, luck is no longer on my side.
There, standing like two sentinels in the night, butinstead of protecting the territory, they’re more along the line of predators lurking in broad daylight. It sucks I’ll have deal with them in order to see Luke at his office. The promise I made to Lennie about gathering evidence, making sure there are witnesses around, might get tossed out the window today.
A girl can only take so much, and the looks on their faces let me know they’re more than ready to start shit. I guess it’s a damn good thing I’m not scared to end it. I know exactly what I’ll do. The drinks in my hand will be the perfect source to put these bitches in their place.
“Do you remember the time when we hooked up with Doctor Camden?” Marissa says. I see the tug on her lips, the gleam in her eyes. She’s saying it just loudly enough to where her voice doesn’t echo, but I can hear her loud and clear.
“Yes, the video doesn’t do it justice,” Nadine responds as Marissa pulls out her phone for them to watch. God, I really do not want to hear or see this. Everyone has a past; I get that. I have a past, too. We make it a point not to talk about our past; I also don’t want it flaunted in my face.
“Think we should hit him up again?” Marissa knows Luke and I are together. We didn’t hide it, not in the least. He’s a public display of affection type of person and always has his hand on me in some form. It’s an assurance for both of us: he’s there for me, and I’m there for him.
“You know he’ll say yes. Especially when you’re sucking his cock while I’m riding his face and he does that thing with his tongue.” And I’m fucking done. My fingers flip up the topof the to-go cup, and the drinks goes flying right in their ugly-ass faces.
“Maybe that will teach you to keep your mouth shut.” I’m seething mad. The sheer audacity of these bitches. Do they have no couth, no moral compass? The downfall of throwing my drink in their faces is the mess I’ve made.
“Cunt, I will ruin your life,” Marissa hisses out.
“I’d like to see you fucking try, bitch,” I toss back at her, probably not one of my best comebacks. Those usually appear hours later while I’m in the shower dissecting every last inch of this conversation. Then I’ll talk to Coralynn; she’ll have some quick and witty return right away. Marissa is standing there soaking wet with Coke streaming down her face, splattered along her scrubs, soaking her further is a sight to behold. She’s spitting and sputtering. Nadine is white as a ghost, more than likely aware that they fucked up big time.
“Damn, for once in this pregnancy, I can thank my weak-ass bladder. Luke and Doctor Gallo are hearing about this right now. You crossed the line. Big time. And there’s no coming back. Even your daddy can’t save you.” Lennie points at Marissa. “Nadine, kiss your job goodbye, too, and good luck finding work anywhere in this county,” she says triumphantly only to wince at the end. The hand on her lower abdomen tightens.
“Luke! Doctor Gallo!” I rush the words out. Nadine and Marissa can wait to be dealt with. I’ll activate the girls, give them the code name, and we’ll hash it all out later. Then I’ll suck it up and tell Luke what went down along with the way I reacted.
“You don’t have to scream. I’m being admitted. The twins said it’s time to make their grand appearance. There’s only one problem with that.” Her breathing is changing; the hee-hee-hoo is in motion.
“What’s that?” I move toward her, offering my hand to hold while she breathes through what I’m assuming is a contraction.
“Jesus, what the hell is going on?” Luke comes flying around the corner, his white doctor’s coat flapping in the wind. His gaze moves from me, and I almost blanch at the implications I might have started when he looks at the duo, who look to all of a sudden be in a state of shock. Then he sees Lennie, and Doctor Camden is activated. He’ll take over, I’ll do what I can, and the rest will be up to Lennie.
“I can’t get ahold of Asher. I don’t think I’m going to last much longer.” Her face scrunches and, shit on a brick, if Doctor Gallo doesn’t move his ass, Lennie might have the babies right here in front of me.
“I’ll tell you later. We need to get Lennie to the hospital. I’m going to call all the girls. Surely, one of them can get the dad-to-be here within ten minutes.” My hands are still full. I move everything to one arm. No fucks are given if I spill food. I’ve got shit to do.
“Well, what are you doing standing there? Do your job and get a wheelchair,” Luke fires off toward his staff. Nadine is the first to snap out of her daze.
I fire off a text to the group chat. Lennie made it well known that whoever finds out first is to send out a group text. Kennedy will handle Lennie’s family from there. Her sister, adopted mom and dad, and, well, the whole Johnsonfamily are in town preparing for this moment. Needless to say, the waiting room is about to be packed full for the birth of the first babies in our group.
Me: Get to the hospital. The babies will be here, and freaking soon.
I back out of it just as quickly, thumbing through my contacts until it lands on Asher’s name. Luke made sure I had everyone’s phone number; it’s what they do, take care of each other no matter the time of day.
“Finally,” I say into the phone when Asher answers. It only took three hundred rings. “Lennie’s been trying to reach you. Get to the hospital. I’m talking lights and sirens, Asher.” I don’t even let him get a word in.
“Motherfucker, I’m on my way. Tell my wife I love her, and thank you, Shae.” We hang up right as the wheelchair appears.
“Asher is on the way. He says he loves you.” I squeeze her shoulder. Luke’s hands wrap around the handles, and we’re moving at what seems like the speed of light. Doctor Gallo falls in step beside me. I remain quiet. My input isn’t needed. It’s baby time.
20
LUKE
“You want to tell me what all that was about downstairs?” I ask finally, sitting down next to Shae. Our time has been divided ever since we made it up here. I got Asher to finally calm his shit down; he was worried he fucked up when he didn’t. It took Lennie snapping him out of his shit fit, her words, to be exact, to get him to calm down. Gallo took over, and that meant I walked out to the waiting room to our group, every last member of the Johnson family along with Lennie’s sister and Asher’s parents. It’s made for a crowded room, a lot of introductions, and talking has overshadowed the conversation I’m beginning to put together with the bits and pieces the girls’ voices carried.
“Not particularly. This is a happy time, and those two are anything but.” My hand goes to Shae’s, and I lace our fingers together, then pull it up and place a kiss on the back of her hand.
“Shae.” I’m not liking this, at fucking all.
“Later, I promise.” She’s appeasing me, and I know her well enough. Shae will sidestep the conversation for as long as she can. The protective side of her is fierce, and she’ll willingly put herself on the line for others. It looks like I’m going to have to somehow work that out of her, especially when it comes to me. There’s not a single person or thing I need protection from, especially if it comes in the form of Shae taking the brunt.
