Page 24 of This Means War

Chapter 19

Lydia

An hour later asJamie heads home and Cole and I get in his truck to head to my appointment, I’m still seething. Part of me is just angry at myself for letting him get to me. Why couldn’t I have played it cool? Like, oh yeah, frogs. Whatever. Doesn’t bother me. Nice try, buddy boy. Twenty pairs of frog eyes staring straight at me, that’s why I couldn’t play it cool. I shudder in my seat, then kick the back of Cole’s for good measure. I insisted on sitting in the backseat, because that’s how mad I am, and also so I could kick the back of his seat whenever the fancy strikes me. So far, I’m doing great at acting like more of an adult.

Whatever, he started it.

We pull up to the medical office building where I see a woman in a lab coat waiting by the front doors. She smiles at us as we emerge from the car, and I feel myself relax. I’d been worried that since this woman knows Cole, I wouldn’t like her. The thought had even crossed my mind that this could be someone hedated or even slept with. But her smile is so genuine, with not even a trace of animosity, that I decide the two have probably never been romantically linked. Anyway, she’s wearing a wedding band, so even if they have, she’s clearly moved on. Still, if I get the chance maybe I’ll ask her. Not that I care. He’s Enemy Number 1.

“Hi, there,” the woman greets us, hugging Cole, then offering me her hand. “I’m Gabby Oliver. You must be Lydia.”

“Yes, nice to meet you.” I accept her hand, then she leads us into the building, talking nonstop along the way about everything we’ll be doing today. She asks me how I’ve been feeling, and I tell her about my morning sickness. Though she’s sympathetic she doesn’t offer me a miracle cure, just says the Unisom and B6 I’ve been taking would’ve been her first recommendation. I shoot Cole a look at this, seeing as he doubted the friendly CVS cashier who told me about it. He ignores me, busy looking around the exam room we’ve just entered. His eyes land on a tray of tools, a very prominent scapula in sight. I suppress a laugh. Man in a gyno’s office for the first time–there should be a gif for that.

“Alright,” Gabby pats the paper-sheeted table, “go ahead and take a seat here, Lydia.” I hop onto the table while Cole stands awkwardly nearby, eyes now fixed on the poster on the wall that says,Heavy periods bringing you down? We can help.

Now he looks like he’s the one who’s about to be sick. What? Did Ashley and his other girlfriends nottalk about their periods? If so, he is in for a shock, because I definitely do. I’ve never understood how other women can endure the bloodbath that is a period without informing at least one other person of their misery.

“So let’s talk family history for a bit first,” Gabby says, clicking around on her computer. She starts asking us questions about the health of our relatives, and I wonder idly if she’s going to ask us about our prior sexual history. This could answer my question about the two of them. Again, not that I care. “How about twins? Any history of those in either of your families?” Twins, I see Cole tense at the word, and laugh to myself.

“Yes,” I lie, “tons of twins on my dad’s side.” Out of the corner of my eye I see Cole squirm. Yes!

“Ah,” she clicks something on the screen, “I’ll note it, but multiples only run in families through the mother’s side.” Cole relaxes, and I try to hide my disappointment. Oh well. That would’ve been too small a strike anyway. She’s going to be doing an ultrasound in a bit, so the twins thing would’ve gone out the window.

Cole’s phone rings, and Gabby’s and my gazes both swivel over to him.

“Sorry,” he says, taking it out to silence it, then looking apologetically at us. “I, uh, should take this, though.”

I’m about to object, tell him he should call whoever that is back later—like when we’re not in the middle of a medical appointment, one that thisdoctor came in specially on a Saturday for—but then I realize I can do some damage while he’s gone and stay silent.

“Hi, Ashley,” I hear as he exits the room. I frown at his retreating back. Ashley? Really? What is he talking to her for?

“So, Dr. Oliver.” I turn to face her as soon as he’s gone, even more determined to strike a blow now.

“It’s Gabby,” she interjects. “I’m a midwife, not an OBGYN.”

“Oh.” I’m surprised; Cole seems so traditional, like he’d want a doctor to deliver his baby. Possibly while he sat in the waiting room smoking a cigar. Hmm, maybe Iwanthim in the waiting room now that I think about it. Cole watching me push a baby out of my nether regions could possibly be the epitome of awkward. Gabby stares at me, waiting for me to say more. Right, a decision for another day. “Gabby,” I begin again, “tell me, how do you know Cole?” I attempt to sound casual, like I don’t care if they are former lovers.

Because I don’t.

“Cole and I? We’ve been friends for a few years now. He and my husband, Austin, play poker together once a month.”

“Oh.” I lean back against the table, thinking. “So,” I venture, “you must like Cole then, huh?”

She gives me a bemused look. “Do you like Cole?” she asks.

My head drops to the side in frustration, she’s got me there. “It’s complicated.”

“Right.” She settles back in her chair. “Seeing as up until about three months ago he was dating someone else, and now he’s in here married to you with a baby on the way, I sort of figured complicated described the situation.”

“Ashley?” Her name escapes before I can swallow it down.

“Yeah.” Gabby nods. “But don’t ask me if I likeher. Sometimes two people have widely different interests, but can still nicely coexist as the significant others of two friends. And that’s all I’m going to say about it.”

I give her a small smile. A few beats of silence pass as I debate whether or not I can get Gabby on my side. I decide to go for it. You can’t win a war without troops.

“Hey, Gabby, what would you say if I asked you to help me pull a prank on Cole?”

She quirks a brow at me. “What sort of prank?”

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