Page 75 of First Comes Forever

“I’m not rushing you, Adam.”

“I know,” I say. “Thank you for that.”

“Hey, what was so important, by the way? You texted me and told me you had a big ask.”

Oh shit.My brain went blank when I saw Amani sick and pale, crawling away from the toilet. “My dad is having a good day. Alex is stuck in surgery all day, and I’m headed up to Piermont.”

She spins fully in my arms this time, her eyes perking up. “That’s been three good days in three weeks. Adam, that’s fucking incredible. Why are you here?Go.Don’t worry about me. Spend the day with your dad.”

I love that she knows what this means to me. The look of enthusiasm on her face is pure and genuine because she’s the only one who understands. Maybe because, for the longest time, she’s the only one I’ve let in.

“Come with me,” I say. “If you’re feeling up to it. Do you want to meet my dad?”

Amani’s mouth falls open. “But I thought he thinks you’re still—”

“I’ll have to explain it all to him. And fair warning, he’ll probably be upset for a little while, but he always bounces back. I really want him to meet you.”

She covers her mouth and exhales, forcing her breath through her fingers. “I…wow. This is big, right? This is more serious than going Facebook official with our relationship. Actually, no. If we did that, then I’d have to tell my friends.”

I narrow my eyes. “You still haven’t told your friends?”

“Adam, we’re in the most bizarre situation. We’re dating but just while I’m here. You’re helping me have a baby, but not your baby. What the hell do I tell them?”

Smirking, I inform her, “You just tell them you’re dating a new guy who has a great sense of humor, is super smart, knows all the best restaurants, and has an enormous cock.”

She flashes me a small, wicked smile. “Three out of four of those things are very true.”

“I—what? Which thing is untrue?”

Bracing herself against my shoulder, she rises. “I’d love to meet your dad. Let me shower and brush my teeth really quick and then we can go. I’ll bring a puke bag for the car.”

Moving much quicker than I thought she could in her condition, she strips off her tank top before starting the shower and heading to the bedroom, likely for a towel. I’m still sitting on the ground, pondering her prior statement.

“Amani,” I call after her. “Which thing is untrue?”

* * *

Hand in hand, Amani and I enter Piermont and stop at the receptionist’s desk. A brunette woman with a pixie cut is examining a clipboard with a confused look on her face. I wait for a few moments and politely clear my throat. “Good afternoon,” I say.

Clutching her chest, she nearly falls out of her chair. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you there. How can I help you?”

“Two visitor passes. We’re here to see Dr. Clay Montgomery.”

“Your names, please?” The receptionist begins clicking away at her computer furiously.

“I’m Adam, his son. This is Amani, my guest. And by the way, my brother Alex should be here late this afternoon. He’s finishing up in surgery.”

She nods and pulls out a permanent marker from her desk drawer and scribbles our names on two visitor passes. She spells Amani’s name wrong, but neither of us corrects her. I normally shove these passes in my pocket before I find a trashcan anyway.

“Okay, Dr. Montgomery is in his room, I believe. It says he’s with a guest for lunch today.”

“I’m his guest for lunch today,” I say, my jaw ticking. “Who’s already here?”

She shrugs with a look of innocence on her face. “For privacy purposes, the system doesn’t tell me who, just that someone has already checked in.”

Huh. Strange. I pull out my phone, half expecting a text from Alex saying he finished up in surgery early and will meet me here, but I have nothing of the sort on my phone.

“Okay then.” I give Amani a clipped smile. “I guess it’s about to be a party.”

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