Unfinished Ex (Calloway Brothers, #2)(81)

I expected them to rile me up over the Calista debacle. When they go after Nic, however, all sense goes out the window, and I might just have to find my fighting gloves. But for now, I sit and give a death stare to the young Doctor McQuaid.

Hawk looks between me and Hudson. “Oh, man, you’re Hilson’s doctor, aren’t you, Hud?”

When Hudson doesn’t say anything, Hawk and Hunter break out in laughter. “Shit, you are. You see that pussy yet? I saw it in high school once. Sucks she had to go and wreck a good thing by letting this asshole’s cock inside her.”

“Damn it, Hawk,” I bite. “Mind your own business and go find someone else’s night to ruin.”

“Come on,” Hudson says, putting a hand on each of his brothers. “I’m thirsty.”

Hawk and Hunter mumble more disparaging remarks as they walk away.

“What the hell was wrong with Hudson?” Tag asks.

“What do you mean?”

“He didn’t have anything to say. Don’t you find that unusual?” His eyes go wide. “Dude, is he really Calista’s doctor?”

“Kind of. He’s a resident. He works under this other guy, Dr. Peterman. But yeah, he was there when Calista and I first went in.”

Tag looks more than a little surprised. “And he kept it from his brothers all that time? Damn.

They must not be as good of friends as we are. We never keep shit from one another.” He gives me a pointed look. “Except when you cheated on your wife. You kept that from me. Any other deep dark secrets you need to confess?”

Only that my ex-wife is pregnant and due only three weeks after my ex-girlfriend. And Hudson knows that too, and as soon as everyone else does, Nic’s job could be in jeopardy, not to mention the tabloid fodder that will follow.

I stand. “You ready for another drink?”





Chapter Thirty-four



Nicky




“See you tomorrow?” Chris asks as our car pulls up to XTN.

“I’m coming in too,” I say, getting out. “I know it’s my day off, but Clarice wanted me to stop by for a few fittings.”

“Some day off. First our flight gets pushed to this morning, now this. Looks like you won’t get any days off this week.”

I shrug. “All part of what we signed up for.” Up on the sixth floor, I try to appear less exhausted than I feel.

Clarice catches up to me in my dressing room, dragging a rack of clothes behind her. “Thank you for stopping by. I’ll do this as quickly as possible.”

“It’s not a problem as long as I’m out of here by one.”

Nervousness overwhelms me. I hadn’t thought about the ultrasound in at least a few hours. These past six weeks have been the longest of my life.

She browses through a few pieces of clothing, chewing on her lip in thought.

“I was surprised you even wanted to do this, considering I’ll be gone in less than a month.”

“That’s a few weeks too long if you want to keep this under wraps.” She nods to my stomach. I take a step back, stunned. “Who do you think told Makenna to take a pregnancy test?” She laughs.

“Wardrobe is always the first to know.”

“I, uh…”

“Sweetie, it’s not my place to go blabbing your business. But there’s only so much I can accomplish with a well-placed pleat or ruffled hem.” She studies my midsection. “I’d say we have about two weeks before people start noticing. And by people, I mean Barry. He’s going to wonder why we’ve taken you out of your signature dresses.”

Thumping down on my couch, I cover my face. “This is not how I wanted to do this.”

“Women get pregnant all the time, Nicole. It’s nothing you need to hide.”

“It’s more complicated than that.”

She holds out her hand, helping me up. “Let’s get on with this so you can go home and rest.”

“Thank you for being discreet, Clarice. I really appreciate it.”



~



“What if it’s bad news?” I ask Jaxon while we wait in the car behind Dr. Peterman’s office.

“It won’t be.”

“What if—”

“Nic.” He cups my face. “Don’t you think I’ve gone over every horrible scenario in my head, too? But I’m not sure that’s any different than any other guy who’s about to be a dad.”

I protectively cover my belly. “I’m fourteen and a half weeks along, Jaxon. I was fifteen weeks when I lost Billy.”

“Damn it, Nic. Why haven’t you said anything? I didn’t even think about that. This week must be so hard for you. I want to be here for you. For all of it—the good and the bad.”

“We haven’t talked about the baby much. I get it.” I gesture to the building. “We’ve been waiting for this. Personally, I just haven’t wanted to jinx it.”

“How could you jinx it?”

“By being excited. By making plans. By dreaming of a future. Come on, Jaxon, you can’t say you don’t feel the same way. We’re both afraid of what we could find out today.”

He turns away and stares out his window. “Okay, yeah, I’m scared. Is that what you want to hear? That I’m terrified something will happen to this baby, and then you’ll be put through hell by having to watch me and Calista have ours? You don’t think I spend every day wondering what will happen to us if this baby doesn’t make it? Because as much as I want our baby, I want you more, Nicky.”