The sex has become challenging as her stomach grows, and doggy style has fast become a favorite. I’m not complaining, just taking whatever I can.
Late one Friday night, Charlotte, Eric, Kate, and I are in our apartment packing up boxes. The three of them decide to rent Magic Mike, much to my disapproval. At what point they actually think I need or even want to watch men strip on stage is beyond me.
“Okay, listen, I’m heading out to Rocky’s. I need to hang out with testosterone because Eric, you’ve really let the team down,” I complain.
“Lex, I’m not on Team Pussy. I’m Team Wang. Look, I’m even wearing my Team Wang shirt!” He unzips his jacket, and there it is in bold for the whole world to see.
I kiss Charlotte goodbye and head out to Rocky’s. Nikki and Will are in Jersey visiting Nikki’s mom, so I’m not surprised one bit when I arrive, and Rocky is watching porn. The moans and groans can be heard down the hallway, the idiot even has it on surround sound.
“You better not be hard,” I warn him.
“Nah, I jerked off already. This is just the after show.” He grins.
And so, we sit there watching porn until Elijah arrives. He doesn’t look himself, and Rocky suggests he watch some girl-on-girl action to liven up his mood. I’m not sure if it works, but he manages to piss Rocky off by talking throughout the whole thing. According to Rocky, porn must be watched in silence.
Halfway through the movie, Whores’R’Us, I receive a text from Charlotte.
Charlotte: So you need to come home RIGHT now. I love you baby but seriously Magic Mike has flooded the channels if you know what I mean.
I have to laugh, the old Lex would have been a jealous prick reading that, but somehow, I’ve loosened up over the past few months, probably because she’s my wife and carrying my baby. I don’t need any more reassurance than that.
I text her back saying I’ll be home soon to take care of the problem, and Rocky is more than happy to see us leave. He has changed movies and is now watching Ass-ablanca. He warns us his dick is out of control, and unless we want to watch him jerk off, we need to leave immediately.
Elijah and I are out of there so fast, you can hear Rocky’s zipper.
Outside the apartment block, Elijah is still quiet, and I know something’s off. He asks me to join him for coffee, and as much as I need horny Charlotte, something tells me Elijah needs me more. I send her a text saying I’m going to be a little bit late and not to fall asleep. She doesn’t respond, so I assume it means she probably already has.
As we order our coffees, Elijah nervously plays with the sugar packets until he finds the courage to speak.
“The cancer is back.”
I place my steaming hot coffee down with a slight tremble, trying to figure out if I heard him right. His deadly silence indicates I did. “How? And where?”
He pauses then states, “Prostate, again. I was told it was contained, and the chemo worked, but my test last week shows abnormal cells, and well, it’s back.”
“Does Adriana know?”
“No. I haven’t told her yet. She’s been doing IVF treatment, and she’s under a lot of stress.”
“Elijah, I don’t think trying for a baby is best right now. What if…”
Shit! I want to retract the words.
I didn’t mean for it to come out so morbid, but why the hell are they even thinking about starting a family now?
“I know, and I’m not sure how to bring this up.”
“Listen, if you need my help…”
My phone startles me. It’s Charlotte. I hit reject knowing she will understand.
“There is this clinic in Australia. They have advanced chemo treatments, but there is a year-long waiting list.”
“Elijah, of course. Text me the details, and I’ll get on it ASAP, but listen, you really need to tell Adriana as well as Mom and Dad.”
The phone rings again. My mind isn’t thinking straight, so I hit reject. Elijah’s cancer is the worst possible news right now, and I can’t shake how ill and sad I feel. I only have to look at Elijah to remember what he’s going through is a million times worse.
“Thanks, brother. Can you believe this? Someone up there has it in for me.” Elijah sighs.