Page 53 of Grave Kisses
“You ready?” Bellamy asks.
“Ugh!” I groan.
“You’ve got this, baby. I promise. You will be okay,” Marcus says.
“Don’t promise that,” I say. “You don’t know where he is anymore than I do.”
“You. Will. Be. Okay.” Marcus kisses me in a new spot on my face between each word, and I can’t help but smile at his silly approach.
“Let’s go,” I say with a heavy sigh.
We walk downstairs, and Julie smiles at me from the couch. “Look! The hermit has her outside shoes on!”
“Fuck you, Julie,” I say, only half joking.
“Hey, sweetie,” Mom says as she hugs me. “Let us know if you need anything.”
“I will,” I say before turning and hugging Dad.
I've spent a lot of time getting to know them, and they’re amazing people. I love that they validate that Alan was my father but still make efforts to be my parents. I only wish I had met them sooner and not when I am nearly thirty.
“Love you, kiddo,” Dad says.
“Ready?” Chrissy asks.
“Y’all are coming?” I ask.
“Yeah. We will ride separately and just keep an eye on things,” she says.
“Alright,” I say.
“Want me to just drag you out?” Decan asks with a grin.
“You grab her legs, I’ll get her arms,” Marcus teases. I squeal when he wraps his arms around me from behind and picks me up.
“Put me down!” I laugh.
“Nope!” he says.
“I can walk, you heathen,” I say as I continue laughing while he carries me out of the door and onto the porch. Decan chuckles and sweeps my legs up as they trot off to the truck.
“You’re both insane!” I say as Decan sits me in the front seat.
“But you didn’t have to stress about it, did you?” Decan says, buckling my seatbelt around me. “We will be right behind you. Okay? No matter what, we have eyes on you. I promise.”
“Okay,” I say quietly. Decan pats my leg and shuts my door as Bellamy gets into the driver’s seat and Marcus gets in behind me.
I close my eyes and lay my head back to focus on my breathing. Marcus leans forward and gently kneads my shoulders when we pass the gate and pull onto the main road. I am on edge, and every car horn and noise of the city makes me flinch. Eventually, Bellamy is holding onto my hand, and I am squeezing tightly to try and ground myself. By the time the truck stops, I am shaking violently. Bellamy gets out and comes around to me. Marcus joins us so that they each have a hand.
Being out in the open is worse, so I practically pull them along with me to get inside. I relax a bit so we can check in with the receptionist and get sat down. It only takes a few minutes before they call my name.
“Lennon?” A woman says. I stand, and she smiles.
“Can they both come?” I ask. “They’re both my partners.”
“Of course. Come on back, Daddies.”
We follow her back where she gets my vitals before taking me to a room where the ultrasound is. I lie down right as another woman comes in.
