Page 86 of Bone Deep
Franco smiles. “I’ll come get you when he’s out of recovery. It will be a while. Hang tight. I’ll text Anthony updates as well.”
Anthony thanks him and Franco heads off. The rest of the group is still staring at me, Anthony’s eyebrows practically disappearing into his hairline, Chance smirking in the background. Fair—he did catch us tumbling out of that broom closet at their wedding, but still.
I try to speak, “Can we just pretend—” but a sudden, sharp “OUCH!” cuts me off.
Lexi’s doubled over, clutching her belly, breath coming in sharp bursts. Anthony and Chance are on her in an instant, voices overlapping.
“Guys,” Lexi gasps.
Anthony is frantic. “What is it? You okay?”
Lexi shakes her head, eyes wide. “Water just broke.”
Jen’s on her feet in a flash, all business. “Oh shit.” She points at Chance. “You. Go get a nurse.”
Chance bolts. Jen turns to Anthony. “You just help her with breathing.”
Within two minutes, Chance is back, nurse and wheelchair in tow. They load Lexi up and start down the hallway. Jen waves them off. “Go. I got him. We’ll update you on Butters.”
They’re gone, a blur of panic and excitement.
Jen turns to me, grinning. “Looks like you’re stuck with me.”
Across the waiting room, Dita calls out, “And me. I fear we lost Parker to Doctor Muscles, though.”
I laugh, for the first time all day. “Thanks for sticking around.”
Dita smirks. “Are you kidding? And miss this show? I’m just waiting for Jen to go into labor, too.”
Jen cackles. “You know damn well I have several weeks to go.”
Dita shrugs. “The whole office is aware. No offense.”
Jen shoots me a look. “Have I mentioned that I like her?”
I try to give her my best smile, which probably still looks like a grimace. Jen holds out her hand, fingers wiggling. “Come on. That chair is killing my back. I need to walk and it’s going to be a while before we hear anything.”
I take her hand, standing up. I look back at Dita, who’s settling deeper into her chair. “Go,” she says. “I’ll stay here in case anyone comes out.”
Jen squeezes my hand. We start walking, the fate of my friend? Special friend? Honestly, aside from defining our sexual relationship, I’m realizing exactly what Ryan is—my best friend. We hit the gym together, order take out, stream movies, he cooks in my kitchen. And yeah, we fuck. A lot. Even if we weren’t, I’d still consider him my best friend. I won’t be telling Jen that, though.
Regardless of what I call him…his fate is hanging somewhere behind those closed doors.
We wander aimlessly for a while, the hum of fluorescent lights above and the distant beeping of monitors filling the silence. It’s strangely comfortable, a reprieve from all the chaos. Jen hooks her arm in mine, steering me gently.
“So, is there anything you want to tell me?” she asks, voice low. I should just tell her. She’s been onto us since the wedding, and she’s basically my only real friend—outside of Ryan, now. I should be able to tell her. But it’s not just my secret. I’d never out Ryan, no matter how convinced Jen is that she’s right.
“Nope. Nothing new or interesting,” I say, shaking my head.
Jen hums. “I’ll pretend you didn’t just lie to me, but Spence, I want you to know that you can share things with me without betraying anyone.”
I sigh. “Jen—”
She cuts me off. “You don’t need to provide specifics to share things you’re feeling. I’m a good sounding board.”
I stop and meet her eyes. “I know you are and I appreciate it, but there’s nothing to share.”
She halts, releases my arm, and turns to face me. “Stop gaslighting me, Stark. There’s an NFL player on pain meds lying in a hospital bed asking for his ‘Mr. Perfect’ and you—” she gestures up and down my body, “—are a mess. For someone who almost never shows an inkling of emotion, you seem to be pretty affected.”
