Surprise Delivery(67)

“No thanks are necessary,” I say. “But I am open for shameless flattery.”

We laugh together for a moment before it slowly tapers off. A question that’s been bouncing around in my head pops in again. It’s something I have no right asking, but before I can stop to think better of it, I let it pass my lips.

“I was curious – how is Brad?” I ask. “I mean, how is he as a father and as a boyfriend? Is he good to Alexis? Does he treat her well?”

Sabrina’s eyes widen in surprise and her mouth falls open, as she gapes at me like I’ve just sprouted a third eye.

“Oh, you don’t really think she and Brad are like – together – do you?” she asks.

I cock my head, taken aback by the question. “Well yeah, I assumed they were a couple. I mean, when I saw them out on the street, they looked like a couple,” I explain. “And then he came into the hospital the other day and told me to stay away from her. Sounded like a jealous boyfriend to me.”

Her laughter is dark and grim as she shakes her head. “No, they’re not together, Doctor Clyburne –”

“Duncan, please,” I say. “We’re colleagues.”

A smile touches her lips. “Well then, Duncan,” she starts, “they’re not together. Not even close. They never have been.”

“Huh,” I huff. “I just assumed –”

“He used to be just a friend, but now he’s become this creepy, obsessed stalker if you want the honest truth,” she says. “That night you saved Lexi’s life, he just really changed.”

“How so?”

“He got really possessive. Lexi thinks it’s because he felt threatened by you,” she says. “But he just went full psycho on her, so she told him to leave her alone and cut all ties with him.”

“Wow. I had no idea.”

“Yeah, total psycho. He acted like he owned her, or had some sort of a claim to her, or something,” she says. “And now that she’s told him to pound sand, he hangs around outside of our apartment building all the time. He calls her over and over again, all day and night, and just won’t leave her alone. It’s really freaking both of us out.”

“Has she filed a restraining order?”

Sabrina shakes her head. “He hasn’t done anything to her, so she’ll never get one approved.”

I sit back and process everything she’s telling me. This bit of news certainly changes things for me. Everything I’ve thought and assumed since I got home has been completely turned on its head. But it also leaves one big question floating around in my head.

I look up at Sabrina. “So, if Brad’s not the baby’s father, who is?”

A shadow of uncertainty crosses Sabrina’s face and she quickly looks away. Though she’s still standing here, I can tell she suddenly wants to be anywhere but here. Sabrina shuffles her feet, looking distinctly uncomfortable.

That bit of news astounds me. If Brad’s not the father, that means there’s somebody else she was seeing just after I left. Knowing that sort of deflates the happiness that’s started to build within me. I try to remind myself that it’s not my business and it shouldn’t matter to me. It shouldn’t change anything from when I thought she was with Brad. And yet, in a way, it still does.

Which is stupid. Beyond stupid and bordering on the possessiveness that got Brad into trouble with her, to begin with. Alexis is a grown woman capable of making her own choices. I had no claim on her and if she wanted to sleep with Brad and a thousand other guys after I left, there’s not a damn thing I can say about it.

I’m just kind of curious who he is and why he’s not around.

“Sabrina?” I ask when she still hasn’t answered my question. “Who’s the father?”

“Ummm… I don’t think it’s my business to say,” she says softly. “I think you should probably talk to Lexi about it.”

I cock my head at her again. It’s a bit of a strange answer, to be sure. Why isn’t it her business to tell me? She made it her business to tell me she’d kicked Brad to the curb. What does it matter if she tells me who fathered her baby?

Unless it’s another one of the doctors here. Yeah, that might make Sabrina feel a little awkward, since she knows that Alexis and I got together the night of the gala. I mean, I assume she knows since they’re best friends and best friends share everything.

But then, I already made one assumption and it turned out to be dead wrong.

“Is it some big state secret or something?” I ask, flashing her a big grin.

“No, it’s just – you should probably just talk to her about it,” she repeats.

My mind is swirling with even more questions, but I get the feeling she’s not going to tell me anything. Sabrina is being a good friend and is protecting Alexis. Protecting her from what, I have no idea.

“One thing I will tell you, though, is that she’s crazy about you, Duncan.”

“How do you know that?”

She laughs. “Because I know my best friend,” she says. “Inside and out, I know her.”

“She’s tough to get a read on,” I confide.

Sabrina shrugs. “Not always. But, ever since the night of the gala, when you two – you know – she’s been totally into you.”