Page 96 of Elijah
“Has he said something to you?” My eyes went wide and my hands to my hips.
I hadn’t said anything to anyone about the fact Elijah and I hadn’t had sex for almost two weeks; not even to Elijah. I was too scared that I wouldn’t like what he said if I asked him if there was a problem.
Sam started to laugh, his head going back as he let out a loud rumble.
“Seriously Ames? We live in a two bedroomed apartment, you’re not quiet and I haven’t heard you for a while and my brother has been falling asleep on the sofa every night, so no, he hasn’t said anything, I guessed.”
“It’s not like us, Sam,” I hissed. “And I’m worried he’s gone off me. That maybe he blames me for the baby.”
Sam’s eyes widened.
“Ames, come on. He fucking adores you, as if he’d go off you. As for the baby, he doesn’t blame you. He’s devastated too, but no way does he think it’s your fault. He’s knackered with all the overtime he’s been doing, as well as that shit of a boss of his skiving off at any opportunity.”
“You know it would be my due date, in two weeks.” I informed Sam, feeling my throat prickle with emotion. “I think I’ve been so lost in my own head over it, I’ve probably neglected him”
“You haven’t neglected him,” Sam replied. “You’ve had other things on your mind; Eli is probably going through the same thing, so stop worrying. Everything will be fine. It’s probably a mixture of tiredness and sadness all rolled into one.”
“You think that’s all it is?” I asked, still feeling anxious despite Sam’s words.
“Yes, I do,” he replied, placing his large hands on my shoulders. “I promise. Get the date over with and you’ll see.”
“I just worry, Sam. It’s hit him so hard.”
I swallowed, trying desperately not to cry. I’d already had a sobbing session earlier, when I’d seen an old school friend in town, cradling her baby bump. The pain and desolation had been too much and as soon as I got into my car the tears had started, as I thought about what we should have been looking forward to.
“Amy,” Sam said softly. “Don’t get upset, please.”
He ran a hand over his head, his other hand reaching out to cup my elbow. I could see he didn’t know what to do or say. I didn’t expect him to know and I hadn’t wanted to talk about the baby, but it was never far from my mind.
“I’m sorry, Sam. I didn’t mean to…it’s just me being sensitive. My emotions are all over the place and I’m being irrational and worrying over nothing. You’re right, it’ll be fine once we get past the date.”
He gave me a smile and I was sure it was of relief that I wasn’t going to break down.
“You really have no need to worry,” Sam offered. “You’ve got a brilliant relationship, and I’ve got to be honest, I envy you both.”
“You do?” I was shocked, Sam always seemed to love his bachelor life; a different girl every weekend, nights out with the boys and no one to answer to.
“Yeah, I do.” He glanced to the lounge and then hit me with a huge grin. “But don’t dare tell that little shit you’re married to.”
* * *
I’d stuck the party out for another hour or so, without Elijah, but having Lauren throw me evil glares every few seconds was getting boring, so I decided it was time to leave, if I could raise Elijah. He’d been absolutely legless when Lucas and I had put him to bed, but after what Sam had said I wondered if his problem was exhaustion as well as too much alcohol. Getting him home to his own bed would be the best thing for him. Alex had offered to help me get Elijah up and into a taxi, but he’d disappeared somewhere, Lucas was playing tonsil tennis with a girl I didn’t know, and Sam was in a deep conversation with Maisie West, so it looked like it was up to me.
When I reached the landing, I saw the door to Alex’s spare room was ajar and the lamplight was showing through. I hoped it meant that my drunken husband was actually stirring, making my task a little easier.
“Hey,” I said as I pushed open the door, expecting to see him awake.
My feet and heart stopped at the same time as the world stopped turning. Bile rose in my throat when Lauren Proctor turned her head to me, a victorious smirk on her face.
She was on top of Elijah, his half-sleeve of tattoos on show as his arms wrapped around her.
I tried to scream out, but my throat constricted and any words I had were trapped and came out as a pained moan. Elijah’s head lifted from the pillow, lolling, as his eyes rolled in his head.
“Amy,” he groaned, before dropping his head back and moaning as guilt rocked through him.
I clutched my roiling stomach, with tears streaming down my face, turned, and ran.
