Page 82 of Never Really Mine
I shake my head. “I’m okay, really. I’m tired, but otherwise, I think I’m okay.” He pats my legs that are still resting on the coffee table. Isaac is hovering behind Jason, eyes round with worry.
“You sure?” Jason asks. “I can always get Thomas to give you a police escort. You know he’d do it.”
That elicits a small laugh from me. “No, I promise I’m okay. If things get worse, I’ll let you know.”
He nods. “I’m sticking around until Beau gets here.” Like I said, big brother.
The tears that went away are back now, this time streaming down my cheeks. “Why are you even here?” I ask, my voice shaking as I come to the realization that I don’t know why he is here.
Jason chuckles. “It’s the first wedding we are serving Blue Ox at. I was over at the bar when I caught Josie running like a madwoman through the reception area.”
Josie leans forward, smacking his bicep. “Hey now, I was on a mission. As soon as I told you what was happening, you were running faster than I was.”
“I’m not denying it.”
As he speaks, Fallon rounds the corner, her face red and flushed. “Josie!” she calls across the lobby. “We need you, one of the drunken cousins knocked over the flower arch.”
Josie huffs out a sigh. “Call me with an update or if you need anything. Okay?” She pulls me into a quick hug. “Keep those buns in the oven.”
“I will,” I tell her with a nod.
She runs off toward Fallon, Isaac follows, explaining, “I should check on things if there’s already a drunken cousin.”
I wave him off. Jason stands from the coffee table, sitting next to me on the couch. Megan stays by my side as well.
Jason is typically not a man who brings up his past or his ex, but for some reason, he does. “When Talia was pregnant with Lennie, she got those early ‘practice contractions’ all the time.” He uses air quotes over the words. “She had a super low pain tolerance, so we were going into the hospital every other day, it seemed.”
The words ding like a light bulb in my brain. “Oh yeah. I remember that now. How did she do during her actual labor?”
Jason rolls his eyes. He leans forward so his elbows rest on his knees. “Lots of screaming. Lots of begging for drugs and lots of curse words.”
“That’s usually the norm, though,” Megan tries to say.
Jason shakes his head. “Not like this. The doctors struggled with how to tell her no, that she was maxed out on her meds, and there was nothing else they could do. I knew she’d had a problem with drugs in the past, but never realized it was that bad. She swore she was clean and ready to be done with that life. I should have seen it coming. Three months after Lennie was born, she fell off the deep end.”
I reach out, squeezing Jason’s arm. “It’s not your fault. You couldn’t have known, Jason.”
He shrugs. “Lennie is safe, and that’s all that matters, right?”
I nod. “Yep.” My stomach tightens, as well as my grip on Jason’s arm. Leaning forward a bit, I close my eyes. I squeeze hard as the pain wraps around my belly, stronger and longer than any other one I’ve had. Taking my hand, Megan coaches me through breathing. In the distance, thundering footsteps sound, and then Megan’s hand is replaced with a familiar one, and Beau’s voice is murmuring reassuring words into my ear.
It passes and I pry my eyes open. Beau has one hand in mine, one resting on my round stomach. “Hi,” I whisper. His eyes are dark, worry evident on his face. “Should we go?”
“Probably,” he says. “I didn’t even turn the car off, and I left my door open. It’s a good thing we know the owner or I’d probably be getting towed right now.”
I chuckle softly. “Probably.” I let go of Jason’s arm, noting the red marks on his skin from my fingers. “Sorry,” I say, gesturing at his arm.
Jason laughs. “Nothing to be sorry about, Mar. If you guys need anything, let me know.” He stands, making a show of rubbing his arm. I swat at his leg and he chuckles. Beau stands from where he was kneeling in front of me, giving his oldest brother a hug.
Megan stands, reaching out her hand to me again, and I take it. I already know that getting out of the deep leather couch is going to be difficult. Beau turns his attention to me and takes my other hand.
They help me up, and I cringe slightly in embarrassment at just how much help I need. Beau grabs my cameras and harness from the coffee table, and leads me toward the automatic doors of the lobby. Megan helps get me in the car despite my protests, and thankfully with the car still running, the AC is blowing cold right in my face. I sink into the cloth seat as Beau gets in the driver seat.
As soon as he’s buckled, he’s driving. “Are they happening in more of a pattern?” he asks.
I shake my head. “No, still inconsistent, but getting a bit stronger.”
Beau’s hair is a mess, like he’s been running his hands through it every five seconds. “Okay. And they want you to come in?”
