couch in the den, Noah hovering over her, his hand on her forehead.
“I feel like hell,” she admits.
“She’s running a fever,” Noah explains, his concerned eyes floating to mine. “And she’s been having trouble keeping any food or fluid down.”
“It started last night. There’s nothing I can take because of this.” She points to her stomach, scowling playfully as she meets Noah’s gaze. “You just had to get me pregnant, didn’t you?”
He leans down and places a kiss on her temple. “I didn’t hear you complaining at the time.”
Longing fills me as I witness their exchange. It seems so natural and easy. I’ve never felt that way with Wes, like I can say whatever pops into my mind. Yes, he’s sweet and tenderhearted, but also very serious and somewhat intimidating, like his entire life is one board meeting or client dinner. I’m not sure I’ve ever felt like I can be myself around him. At least not the person I can be with Molly…and Drew.
“I’m sorry, Brook,” Molly says, bringing me back from my thoughts. Her complexion is pale, her normally pink lips lackluster. When a visible shiver rolls through her, Noah drapes a blanket over her, rubbing her arms. “I hate to disappoint you, but I can’t go today.”
“I need to keep an eye on her temperature,” he adds. “If it gets too high, it puts the baby at risk.”
Molly smirks, but it’s not as lively as usual. “I always knew dating a doctor would come in handy. If I weren’t feeling like death warmed over, I’d be all over some doctor-patient role-play.”
“Doesn’t that usually require you taking on different roles than real life?” a familiar deep voice calls out.
My spine stiffens and I suck in a breath. When I snap my head toward the large eat-in kitchen, Drew rounds the corner from the stairs. The instant he sees me standing there, he comes to a dead stop, his reaction identical to my own. We haven’t spoken since I left him Sunday night, when I couldn’t even tell him I regretted that we’d almost kissed…twice. As I stare at him in a white t-shirt that leaves a few of the tattoos on his arms visible, jeans that fall from his hips perfectly, his hair a bit messy, his jaw unshaven, I still can’t say with certainty I regret it.
When he crosses his arms in front of his chest, it seems every muscle in his body tightens from the motion. His biceps stretch the sleeves of his shirt and I can make out the definition in his chest. It’s superficial, but I’ve always loved his body…even when he was a teenager and had just started building muscle. The years have been great to him. More than great. Fantastic. Magnificent. Stupendous. I shouldn’t be thinking this way, but I can’t stop imagining how perfect it would be to fall asleep enveloped in those arms. Then I remind myself I did…once. I thought it was our second chance. But I was wrong. Again.
A smirk forms on Drew’s lips, having caught me ogling his muscles. I tear my gaze from him, focusing on the hardwood floor, as if there would be a test on the pattern of the grains later on. I curse myself for not paying attention to the cars in the driveway or along the street. If I had, I would have noticed his SUV. Would that have changed anything? Not likely, but at least I would have been prepared to see him.
“If I remember correctly, Noah’s a doctor,” Drew finally finishes.
“But I was never his patient,” Molly argues.
“You’re crazy enough to need to see a neurologist,” he jokes.
“That’s not what a neurologist does,” she states. “I’m crazy enough to need to see a psychologist. So, Brook…”
When she says my name, I whip my head toward her, pretending as if this situation were normal. Last week, it would have been. But so many things I thought I buried years ago have resurfaced. I wonder if Molly senses this, too. How could she not feel the tension?
“Be sure to keep some space open in your calendar in a few years once you get your PhD.”
“Will do,” I say with a smile, then sigh.
All week, I’ve been looking forward to some girl time with Molly, some time when we could talk, just the two of us without anyone else listening in. Ever since she moved in with Noah and got pregnant, we’ve seen each other less and less. I’m thrilled she finally found