Page 105 of The Plan

“Vidia, I can’t stop once I start. I told you—”

“She said stop!” The doctor freezes at Hazel’s tone but doesn’t move to take everything out of me. I turn my head at Hazel and frantically shake my head.

“I can’t do this.”

“Yes, you can. You’re already doing it.”

“No, I need Sire. I want Sire.” She gives me a reassuring nod, but when she gets up to get him, I squeeze her hand, not wanting to be alone.

She squeezes my hand back and nods in understanding, then turns to the intern. “Go to the waiting room and ask around for Sire Griffin. If he’s not there, go out to the parking lot and look for an orange BMW and bring his ass here.” I give her a smile, and not much later, he rushes in.

He looks like he hasn’t slept in days. His eyes roam over everything going on, and he seems confused, but he doesn’t question me. Instead, he lays on the bed, cradling me as Hazel still holds my hand on the other side. I look up at him, and he’s already staring down at me with red, puffy eyes.

“Are you—”

“No, the baby is—” I stop myself, not strong enough to reassure him that I'm not taking the baby out by choice. That the baby really is gone and that I don’t blame him.

“You’re going to be okay.” He kisses my forehead as he soothes my hair. Not asking further questions, just holding me as the doctor continues.

After what feels like forever, she says, “We’re almost done, Vidia. Just a little longer.” Hazel squeezes my hand, and Sire kisses my forehead a few times.

I quickly pull away and look up at him before our baby is gone for good. “Quick! Pick a name.”

“What?” He looks confused as he wipes his tears.

“Pick a name before she finishes, hurry. You pick for a girl, and I’ll pick for a boy.”

“I want to pick for a boy.”

“Fine, just hurry.” I look over at the doctor, and she looks up at me like she’s going slower for us.

“Sire junior for a boy.”I knew it.He says it so confidently, too.

“You arrogant asshole.” We both give a light laugh, but it sounds sad, and the doctor tells me not to move.

“Fuck, I’m so fucking sorry, Vid.” I reach up to wipe his tears and let my hand linger so I can hold him.

“Shh, just pick a different one, hurry.” I look between the doctor and him. She looks like she’s just waiting for us to pick names, but I can’t tell if she’s done or not.

Sire gives me a small, sad smile and then tells me to go first. “Fawn for a girl.” I picked that name out years ago. He wipes my tears and places a small kiss where it falls on my cheek.

“That’s perfect.” I give him a sad smile and nudge him to say his.

“Bellamy for a boy. We could call him Bell for short. I know that sounds like a girl's name, but—”

“It’s perfect.”We gaze into each other's eyes, both tearing up, and I wish more than anything we could’ve raised this baby together. No matter what happened earlier tonight, in this moment, I wish we could’ve been parents to this baby.

“All done.” I tear my gaze from Sire, and the empty feeling in my heart somehow feels bigger.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Sire

Four Years Earlier

Why would her ring beout here, Sire?”

I swear he doesn’t listen to me. “I already told you she dropped it over here. Just look, August.” I crouch in some bushes and keep looking.

---