Page 32 of Secret Seduction
“We won’t keep you. Thank you for letting us visit.” Shae bends down to hug Lennie while placing a kiss on her cheek as well. “Thank you for including us, and please let me know when or if you need anything. As I’m told, there’s no good reason to do it all on your own.” Shae rolls her eyes, although it’s done with a smile sent my way.
“Love you guys. We’re here whenever.” I shake Asher’s hand, pull him for a half hug, then skirt around the hospital bed to do the same with Lennie.
“Love you. I really like Shae. Please keep her forever,” Lennie whispers in my ear.
“That’s the plan,” I reply before making my way back to Shae. My hand goes to her lower back, feeling the skin that’s showing from her outfit she wore for work today, making it impossible to ever keep my hands off her.
“Thanks, appreciate everything you’ve done. We’ll get everyone together once things settle down. We’d like to spend as much time with the family while they’re in town. It’s almost calving season,” Asher explains.
“Brother, we’re here whenever. Enjoy your time. Drop us a line, and we’ll be good.” I’d rather they get adjusted to their new life and routine than fucking bum rush them and potentially have Lennie slide into postpartum depression. One newborn is a lot. Two, well, it’s a whole different ballgame.
“Still, appreciate it.” I lift my chin, letting him know all is good, and we dip out of there. Asher didn’t ask us to send anyone else in. I’m betting it’s safe to assume they need a minute to themselves.
“Let’s go tell everyone goodbye, and then we’ll head home. I’ll order food, and we can relax,” I offer.
“Yes, please. I’m whooped. I don’t know how Lennie’s eyes are able to remain open,” Shae says during our short trip down the hall, leaning her head on my shoulder. I wrap my arm around her waist, pulling her tightly into my body and softly kissing the crown of her head.
“Pretty sure Asher is going to make her rest. The adrenaline rush is more than likely wearing off.” I open the door. Everyone is still here, no one has left, and I’m sure they won’t anytime soon. Even if they don’t get to see Asher, Lennie, and the girls, they’ll stay here as a form of solidarity.
“Hey, man, you got a minute?” Gallo enters on our heels. I turn around to answer. Shae comes with me, and I notice Marissa’s father is standing there beside him. “This won’t take long.”
“I mean, I guess. What’s all of this about?” Shae stays where she is. Her body leans into me, her arms wrapped around my waist, and I watch as the group merges in, specifically the girls and their men.
“Susan stopped me this afternoon. She heard Marissa and Nadine bragging about their plan working. At first, she just assumed it was no big deal, until Shae’s name was brought into the mix. They discussed her chart, the reason for her appointment, and a slew of other shit out in the open.” I look from Gallo to Shae. She closes her eyes and takes a quiet breath, inhaling before exhaling.
“You knew?” I ask Shae when she finally looks my way.
“Yeah, I knew. I didn’t want to believe it at first. It happened at my first post-op appointment, small little slips about my weight, my biopsy, and bringing up the fact that you’d leave me if I couldn’t have children. She did it in such a way that it wasn’t those exact words, yet it got her point across.”
“Shae, fuck. You should have told me.” I lift her chin to look into her eyes.
“I’m okay. It’s okay.” She shrugs her shoulders. It feels like a knife is twisting my gut.
“Today, they went for the jugular,” Gallo continues. Marissa’s father clears his throat. He’s on the board at the hospital, handles funding and that kind of thing. He also helped his daughter and her friend secure a job within the facility.
“I’d like to apologize before Doctor Gallo finishes what happened. I’d also like to assure you Marissa and Nadine havebeen handled. Both have been fired. They’re being trespassed at the hospital and will no longer have their medical assistant license, either. If there’s anything else I can do, please don’t hesitate to reach me.” Shae looks up at me, and I can visually see her swallowing what seems like a lump in her throat. Goddamn motherfucker. She didn’t tell me. My woman’s protective side is a mile long, and instead of letting me handle it, she took whatever they doled out her way, until today.
“Thank you.” I nod. Shae repeats the sentiment, and then he’s on his way out the door.
“I think you should tell me what happened at the office.” I turn toward her, so we’re face to face. Gallo hangs back, allowing us this moment.
“Umm, I’d really rather not. I don’t know what you did with Marissa and Nadine in the past.” Shae’s facial expression conveys disgust.
“Never touched her, never looked at her in that kind of way, never even spoke to her like that. Tell me, please.” I soften my tone at the end.
“Thank god. They alluded to a threesome, talked about how good you are in bed, and were hell bent on showing me a video. Which obviously didn’t involve you. I may have also called them cunts while dumping my drink in their faces.” There’s pride at the end of the statement, and I can’t help but smirk.
“There goes the Regina George code word,” Maci says in the distance.
“Damn it, Gallo. You’ve ruined all the fun. Now we can’t get those two back,” Kennedy chimes in.
“Sorry, just trying to save everyone from catching a felony,” Gallo replies, doing us all a favor.
“Kenny, Christ, woman. Don’t you think you’ve been in my handcuffs enough times already?” Trent says. He’s a police officer here in Whispering Oaks and has arrested her before when there was a bust at the strip club she’d been working at.
“And I’ll be in them time and time again.” Those two drift off to the other side of the room.
“Well, damn, there goes slashing her tires like Coralynn suggested,” Maci pipes up.
