Someone Else's Ocean(92)

My veins screamed at the idea as I spit out the threatening defeat. There was no greater pain in life than losing love. Koti’s own brand of affection had smashed through the brick and mortar of my resurrected heart. Rights be damned. I wanted her, she belonged to me and I to her, so much so my soul bled in that street streamlining in her direction. I managed to hail a cab just as her town car passed me.

“Follow that car, please.”

The cabbie gave me a disbelieving grin in the rearview. “Are you fucking serious, man?”

I pushed my drenched hair away from my eyes. “I’ll give you every fucking dollar in my wallet, man. Follow it!”

Taking off like a shot, I sat back in the cab as the sight of her swam in my head. Absolutely nothing about her appearance resembled the woman I fell so much in love with.

Was I too late? No, it could never be too late, no matter what the case and I was desperate enough to breach anything between us. Repaying the favor, no matter what it took, I would break down every wall she built, even if I helped to resurrect them. I would never love another woman, of that I was certain. My fate was in her hands and I would make it known. We had something time and geography couldn’t touch. Regardless of my mindset, fear scorched me everywhere making me nauseous. Seconds after the cabbie pulled up behind the town car, Koti dashed into the building as I looked up at the sign in bold letters next to the front door. C. Zanders-OBGYN.

“Hey man, is this your stop or what?”

All the blood left my face as I stared after her.

Too late?

I shoved all the promised cash into the cabbie’s glove covered hand as blood filled my ears and my heart slammed against my chest.

Confused thoughts multiplied while I caught the door and held it for a woman with a stroller. She thanked me as I waited for her to move past before I rushed down the corridor. I stopped in the lobby searching for the floor. After a trip in the elevator, I stopped outside the office door and tried to collect myself.

Was she pregnant? Half of me boiled in thoughts of betrayal at the fact that she’d hidden it from me while the other half of me begged that was the truth of it. Jasmine had been cruel with her warning and maybe I deserved the state I was in, but I couldn’t let it last a minute longer. The waiting receptionist gave me a kind smile.

“I’m here to meet Koti Vaughn. She has an appointment today.”

“And you are?”

“Her husband?”

“Is that a question?”

I cleared my throat. “No, I’m her husband.”

She picked up a file and eyed it. “Says here she’s single.”

I swallowed as the older woman with dyed fire red hair narrowed her eyes but couldn’t contain the threatening smile on her lips.

“Is this a good story?”

“Not sure,” I said hanging my head as droplets of rain hit her desk. “But I’m begging your pardon for lying and for your mercy. In the most unromantic gesture imaginable, I’m about to barge into her appointment and demand she marry me.”

Her eyes widened. “In an OB appointment? You’re serious?”

“Quite serious, yes.”

“Love your Australian accent.”

I held my bite. “Thank you.”

“Down the hall, last door on the right, but if anyone asks you found it on your own.”

“Thanks again.”

“I hope she says yes.”

We shared a smile. “Me too.” I raced down the hall and burst through the door just as Koti sat down in a hospital gown tying it in place behind her. Shock, confusion and then anger transformed in seconds over her beautiful face.

“What in the hell are you doing here?”

I couldn’t wait a single second longer. “What in the hell are you doing here? What is this? What am I too late for?”

“Ian, you can’t be here.”

“The hell I can’t,” I said, closing the door. “Tell me what this is.”

“This is none of your damned business. Get out, I’m not decent.”

I raised a brow. “I’ve seen you in far more compromising positions with a lot less on.”

“How did you know I was here and you were too late for… Jasmine?” Without confirmation, she closed her eyes and shook her head. “I’m going to kill her.”

“I just took a ride with her ex, Steven on his plane. Seems to be some unfinished business there.”

“Yeah, well she has three men madly in love with her.”

“Three?”

“Toby, the water guy is in the running too, may the best man win.”

“Wow.”

“Yeah, wow. Great talking to you, can you please leave now?”

It took every bit of strength I had not to sweep her off the bed and into my arms. I loved her sass more than I should, but even in a hideously loud hospital gown with bright orange flowers, she had me at her mercy. Still, panic more than anything strangled me at the thought she could betray me in a way I could never forgive.

“Are you pregnant?”

“Knock, knock,” the doctor said, entering the room and looking at me in surprise.

“Hi there, didn’t realize she had company. I’m Dr. Zanders,” she introduced herself and I shook her hand. Koti spoke on my behalf before I could get a word out.