Page 103 of Thick as Thieves
“Er, well…”
He stares her down and she retreats out of the waiting room, bright red in the face. Jase dumps the number in the bin, ripping it into small pieces first. We sit, going back to our conversation. We seem to be waiting for hours.
“My arse feels like it’s square,” I complain, standing to try to get some blood flow. “My cheeks are numb.”
I’m scrolling Marcus’s messages as he’s texting from the plane, clearly bored. But he’s nearly here and has Tim, Levi, and Gabe with him. They’re all headed for the studio but will pit stop at Marcus’s for food before we all decide if we’re going home tonight or tomorrow. His face appears on FaceTime as soon as I text and mention the doctor’s.
“What the fuck is wrong with her?” No hello. No, how are you?
“Nothing, she’s fine, just getting sorted out. Women’s medical stuff. No problem, she said,” I placate him. “We’re all good, Marcus, really, really fucking good.” My eyes I know are bright as buttons. The light must be shining from me as he stares intently into my face.
“Really?” he breathes out, picking up on my stellar disposition. “Thank fuck for that.” He closes his eyes, and when he opens them they’re blazing. “Xander, I?—”
“I know, it’s fine Marcus. We can go home.” My voice cracks as I tell him that. I can see the elation on his face. “I’ll see you at your mother’s at eight,” I tell him, grinning like a fool. He nods, and his smile could power the plane he’s coming home on.
“Wow, I can’t believe it,” he whispers out. “Thank fuck,” he mutters as he cuts off.
I smile at the phone and my elation must match his, as I look up and see Jase and Tommy watching me. Jase is smiling, Tommy just shakes his head. “You two are so fucking lucky,” he says to me. Then he grins.
“Don’t I know it Tommy.”
We sit and sit.“Do you think something’s wrong? They’ve been ages.” I stand up again, stretching out my legs. “See if you can find out what’s going on?” I ask Jase, just as the door opens.
“Is it Xander?”—the nurse looks down at her notes—“and Tommy?”
We look at each other. Tommy’s gone a bit pale and now I’m really fucking worried. He never shows emotion normally.
“Yes.” I point to us both.
“Can you follow me, please?” she asks, smiling.
Tommy is now as pale as a ghost, what the hell is up with him?
I walk into the room and Evie is laid on a bed with a gown on. Tommy makes a strangled noise behind me and rushes forwards. “Kiddo?” he squeaks out, in a very unrecognisable voice. What the fuck is going on here?
I stand and stare at her. She looks like she’s been crying. My heart stops beating. What have they found? Oh, God. I feel my heart start up again and start to race at one hundred miles an hour. What the fuck? I look round at Tommy, who’s staring at her, and then at the machinery surrounding her. He’s shaking his head a bit, and her face crumples as she watches him. He moves forwards and takes her in his arms.
“What the fuck is going on?” I shout in a panic. “What's wrong, Kitten?”
Jase then bursts through the doors, clearly hearing me shouting.
“Who are you?” asks one of the medical staff. “I suggest you leave this room if?—”
“It’s fine, Dr. Theodore. He’s with us,” hiccups Evie.
I’m staring between her and Tommy hanging onto her. Jase is as pale as milk, all the blood rushing out of his face. What? What is it?
“Which one of you is Xander?” asks Dr. Theodore, taking charge, as clearly Evie can’t get a word out, and neither can Tommy. “Well, Xander, congratulations. Evie has told me you’re to be a father.”
I’m staring at Evie. Why would she tell Dr. Theodore about our plans?
“Well, thanks,” I say a bit faintly. I look around at Jase who’s staring at the machine. They all look at me expectantly. I’m looking back at them all. What do they expect me to say?
“Shall we see what’s going on?” asks the doctor as she fires up the machine.
It’s then I notice Evie has her stomach gelled up, and the noise starts. A noise I’ve heard before in those messages James sent to Kellen.
A heartbeat. A fucking heartbeat. A baby's heartbeat. I look at Evie, who has tears in her eyes and is smiling at me. I see Tommy touching her hair, telling her it will be fine, with tears in his eyes. I look at the screen.
