I’m sitting at home waiting on Justin to come home so we can sit down and have a real conversation. He had to go on a run to Kentucky. I didn’t want him to go but he said it was important. He’s changed during the time we were apart. We both have. My phone vibrates, and I hurry to answer in case it is him calling me.
“Hello,” I answer a call from Cupid.
“It’s Uno, he’s back in the hospital. He passed out today and he hasn’t woken up yet. It’s bad, Steph. I just thought you should know.” I drop the phone as my hand covers my mouth. I can't lose him now. I won't lose him now. My other hand goes to my stomach, caressing our unborn son.
“Don’t worry baby. Daddy will be fine. He has to be. He has to be.”
Melissa
A loud banging sounds at my door. I get up from my spot on the air mattress in the bedroom, hoping Jimmy doesn’t wake up. I peer through the peephole seeing Shawn on the other side. I unlock the door and step into the breezeway. “Shawn, what are you doing here? It’s late.”
He’s out of breath, breathing hard. “It’s Uno. Thought you should know. He passed out and is back in the hospital. Last I heard he was still unconscious.”
“What? I didn’t even know he got out.” I shake my head. “Is he okay?”
“Don’t know but I drove straight through to tell you.”
“Thank you,” I whisper out feeling so many emotions. “Would you like to come in?”
He shakes his head. “Nah, I’m headed back to the hospital. MaryAnn is in labor.”
“Oh my God, she is!” I squeal but then I feel terrible for being happy. Justin should be my main concern, but I am happy for my friend. I know she was getting anxious and nervous about the birth.
“I’d offer to take you to see him, but Stephanie is there, and I don’t know if that’d be a good idea right now.”
“I understand.”
“Have you been thinking about what I said…about us.?”
“Now isn’t the time…I need to call the hospital and check on Justin. I need to call the girls and see how MaryAnn is doing too. We’ll talk soon, okay?”
“Yes, Lissa. We will.” He leans into me and kisses my cheek. When he pulls back, he gazes into my eyes. “I’ll be waiting.”
I nod, offering him a weak smile feeling a bit crazy and wild, then I pull him to me and kiss him on the lips. Maybe I am being foolish. But right now, I need to be careless and forget everything for a while. I don’t want to think about anything but the here and now and right now Shawn is here. His mouth moves against mine but then he pulls back, breaking our connection and does something that confuses the hell out of me. “I won’t win you like this. When you are upset and not thinking clearly. Trust me, God knows I want you, Lissa. I always have but when you are with me, I won’t have Uno laying between us. When I am with you it will only be the two of us.”
I swallow my emotions and know he is being the smart one here, but I wish he would take advantage. If he did then my choice would be a helluva lot easier.
His fingers brush over my lips, along my jaw, and down my throat. “Don’t be cross with me. I want to do this right. I want to prove to you that I’m serious about us.”
“I know,” I whisper as my pulse throbs in my throat.
To be continued…