Page 106 of First Comes Forever

She twists her lips. “Sometimes the lab takes longer than we’d like. Dr. Tubbman is likely waiting on the results. Is she in pain? Is there anything we can do to make her more comfortable?”

I exhale and shake my head. “She mentioned mild cramping. But she can’t take anything until we get news about the baby.”

The blond nurse rolls her chair backward, then stands. She rubs her bare arms before grabbing her jacket slung around the back of her chair and puts it on. “Itisfreezing in here. Come on.” She gestures for me to follow. After leading me down the hallway, past the ice machine and the men’s room, she enters what looks like a small closet.

“Help yourself,” the nurse says as she opens the door and reveals a giant blanket warmer with neat stacks of towels, blankets, and pillows. “I’ll leave this unlocked for you so you can grab her whatever she needs without having to wait in case we’re with other patients.”

“Thank you,” I force myself to say. She smiles and turns around before I call her back. “Excuse me.”

“Yes?” she says, sincerity painted all over her face. And now I feel like an ass for what I’m about to say, but I’m at the end of my rope.

“We’ve been here all night. We’ve mentioned several times that the room is frigid. My girlfriend is in that paper-thin hospital gown that you guys said she had to wear. Why are you the first nurse to offer a heated blanket?”

She tilts her head to the side. “I’m so sorry to hear that. I just got here about forty-five minutes ago. We have a comment box if you’d like to make a complaint.”

I shake my head. “I don’t want to complain. But we’ve had a terrible night, and I’d really like to take my girlfriend home. Can youpleasetell the doctor, or the lab, or whoever is keeping us here, to hurry the hell up?”

She nods. “Yes. Let me get some information for you.”

She scuttles down the hallway, and I turn my attention back to the blanket warmer. I fetch two and a fluffy-looking pillow. I hustle back to the room, not wanting the blankets to cool too much.

“Here you go,” I say, dropping one blanket and the pillow on the stiff chair I’ve been sitting in for far too long. The other I shake out and cover Amani, who is shivering in the hospital bed. She runs cold to begin with. I’m sure she’s hungry, not that she’d say it. There’s not a damn thing that could make this hospital visit more uncomfortable.

“Thank you, babe.”

“Is that enough?” I ask. “Want one more?”

She gives me a pitiful nod. I grab the other blanket and drape it over her. “So much better,” she says. “What about you?”

I nod toward the chair. “I’m fine, baby, don’t worry.”

“Don’t be silly.” Amani scoots over to one side of the bed, pressing herself against the plastic rail to make room for me. She pulls back the covers. “Come here.”

I don’t hesitate because this is the first time Amani’s been receptive to any physical comfort. Her reaction to everything is scaring me. From the moment she saw the blood, something switched in her.

Almost two weeks ago, when Dr. Michel told us we weren’t pregnant, Amani was disappointed but not like this. This is different. It’s like I watched someone get their light snuffed out in front of my eyes. That’s why I’m hoping, praying, that the doctor walks in and tells us this was just a scare. Go home, make an appointment with our regular provider, but our baby is going to be fine.

Here’s the problem. My gut is telling me what I don’t want to accept. The baby is gone. I’m losing Amani. The way she’s staring blankly at the wall, I don’t know what to say to fix this… But I bet her friends would. I can almost guarantee she wishes they were here.

A career change is not enough. L.A. is not enough. I, without the promise of a baby, am not enough to keep her here.

The moment I’m settled in bed next to Amani and she places her icy hand over mine, there’s a firm knock on the door. The doctor doesn’t wait for us to answer, barreling in. From the very moment we make eye contact, I already know I want to deck this guy. There’s something about his scowl, like he’s incredibly put off that he has to be a doctor tonight.

He’s about my size, definitely older than me. But from what I can make out through his navy blue scrubs, he’s reasonably fit. He could probably take a punch and get back up.

“I’m Doctor Tubbman, and I assure you those beds are not made to hold two people. Patients only, sir.”

Did he just scold me?What the fuck?I want to mouth off about how long he’s taken, but I shut my trap and crawl out of the bed. I want to make this as easy on Amani as possible.

“Sorry,” I mutter as I plant my ass back in my uncomfortable chair.

“Ms. Rhodes, is it?” he asks curtly, not even bothering to look up from his clipboard.

“Yes,” she says.

“Your vitals look good. If you’re not in pain, I’m fine with releasing you. I would follow up with your regular physician just as a precaution. Come back if you have any noteworthy symptoms. Things to watch for will be on your discharge paperwork.” He gives us a clipped smile. “Any questions?”

Holy shit, this guy is rubbing me the wrong way.

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