Baby & Bump (The This & That Series) (27 page)

             
Corbin put an arm around his wife. “I agree. That may have taken care of dates one, two,
and
three.”

             
Fletcher scratched his hand across the back of his neck. “Let’s just focus on getting Lexie healthy again. Then we’ll decide what constitutes a first date.”

             
My mother nodded happily. “That’s a fine plan. Now, tell me about my grandson.”

             
I looked around the room. “Haven’t any of you seen him yet?”

             
Everyone shook their head, and Fletcher offered me a small smile. “I thought you should meet your son first.”

             
Tears filled my eyes yet again. Man, I thought pregnancy hormones were rough; they had nothing on these post-partum hormones. I couldn’t believe this man cared about me.
Me
. Geeky, gawky, mouthy me, with the crazy red hair and a flat chest.

I glanced downward.
Whoa.
Not so flat-chested right now.

             
Fletcher pulled his iPhone back out. “Do you mind if I show them now, Lex?”

             
Shaking my head, I squeezed my mother’s hand. “Please do.”

             
Mom looked at the screen and squealed. “He’s so beautiful.”

             
The room filled with the sound of oohing and aahing. Pastor Irm picked up the box of tissues and started passing them around, as everyone—including both of my brothers—were sniffling.

“Corb, he has your nose!” Andrea squealed.

My mother wiped her nose. “He’s the loveliest thing I’ve ever seen.”

“Omigosh, Lex.” Candace clapped her hands. “What’s his name? What’s his name?”

I took a breath. I’d had my son’s name picked out since the day I found out I was pregnant. “Ian,” I announced in a wavering voice. “His name is Ian Alexander Baump. His middle name is after Dad.” I looked at my mom, who dissolved into tears and rested her head on Pastor Irm’s shoulder. “And Ian, because it means
a gift from God
.”

Well, that did it. Everyone was blubbering now. There was something about hospitals, new babies, and emergency C-sections that really brought out the emotion in people. When Brian started scrolling
through the pictures again, everyone crowded around for a second look, and Fletcher sat back down at my side.

“Lexie.” He sighed happily, taking my hand in his. “Congratulations, my dear Lexie.”

“Thank you so, so much,” I whispered.

“I need to tell you something.” He
leaned close. “Something important.”

“What?” My pulse spiked. I guess I was kind of edgy. Too much excitement for one day. “What’s wrong?”

“No, no. It’s good.” He chuckled. “I think.”

I took a deep breath. “Okay.”

“I think…” Fletcher leaned forward and pressed his lips to mine. When he pulled away, he swallowed hard. “I think I love you.”

I closed my eyes, utter and complete joy filling me right to the top. “I love you, too, Fletcher.”

“What the
hell
?”

I looked
up just in time to see Marisol come to a stop at the end of my bed. She put her hands on her hips, and tapped the toe of her four-inch knee high boot, glaring at us with utter and complete contempt. “Well this explains
everything
, doesn’t it?”

Chapter Twenty-six

             
Fletcher stood up. “Listen, we didn’t mean for you to find out this way.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Marisol gaped at Fletcher
.

E
veryone in my family turned around at the same time.

             
“Mar, come and see these pictures of the baby,” Candace offered with a nervous laugh.

             
“Not now.” Marisol turned her gaze to me. “Lex, really?”

             
Fletcher frowned. “This isn’t the time or the place, Marisol. Lexie’s just had major surgery, and has yet to see her son.”

             
She shook her head. “Listen. I’m really glad you and the baby are all right. I’ve been worried sick about you all day.”

             
“He’s beautiful,” I said weakly. Fatigue was starting to settle in on me like a lead blanket. “You should see him. Brian, show her the phone.”

             
Brian went to hand her the phone but she swatted it away. “I don’t want to see,” she snapped. “I want an explanation.”

             
I tried to sit up. “Listen, I—”

             
Fletcher came around the bed to face Marisol. “This is all my fault.”

             
I pushed the button on my bed to sit myself up more. My whole body felt heavy and disconnected. “No, Fletcher, it’s not.”

             
Marisol put her hand up to stop him. “That’s bull. You told me there wasn’t anybody else.”

             
“Awkward,” Darren sang. Corbin’s hand connected with the back of his head again, and Darren’s smile disappeared.

             
“At the time, there wasn’t.” Fletcher looked down at me, his eyes softening. “I’ve had feelings for Lexie for months. I should have been honest with you about them, but I didn’t think I would ever act on them. And I didn’t, at least, not until the very end of our relationship.”

             
“Excuse me?” Marisol blinked a few times.

             
“We never meant to hurt you. Or keep anything from you.” Fletcher’s shoulders slumped. “I hate myself for putting yours and Lexie’s friendship in jeopardy.”

             
Corbin stepped forward. “Um, guys? This has been a long day for Lex. Can you take it out in the hall or something?”

             
“He’s right.” Fletcher reached for Marisol’s arm. “Why don’t we go get a cup of coffee, and I’ll explain.”

             
“Go to hell,” she snarled, before turning her focus back to me. “Lex, why don’t you try to explain? I’d prefer to hear this from my
friend
.”

             
Candace stepped to Marisol’s side. “Why don’t we
all
head down to the cafeteria?”

             
Corbin held up the phone. “Fletcher took pictures. Would you like to see?”

             
Not one to pass up a dramatic moment, Marisol tossed her hair wildly. “Just like a proud father, huh?”

             
My mother gasped. “Lexie, is the doctor the father?”

             
“I, uh.” I turned to look at my mom, and thought I saw tracers. I was suddenly more tired than I’d ever been.

“His name is Fletcher,” Darren corrected.
“Duh.”

             
My head swiveled in his direction. Again with the tracers. How much pain medication had I had?

             
“Hush.” My mom sniffed.

             
“They’re getting married.” Pandi put a hand full of extra long fingernails on her hip. “Right after their first date.”

             
Marisol gawked at me. “You’re getting
married
?”

             
“I’m not getting married.” I gestured down at my deflated stomach. “Mom, I was pregnant before I met him.”

             
“This is ridiculous.” A muscle in Fletcher’s jaw twitched. “Marisol, let’s step outside.”

             
She looked up at him with a glare. “Drop dead.”

             
“You know what?” Candace put her arm around Marisol’s shoulders. “Let’s go to the cafeteria. This is getting out of hand.”

             
“Out of hand?” Marisol folded her arms across her chest. She looked completely flummoxed. “I’m just trying to wrap my head around my friend and business partner kissing my ex boyfriend. How many times did that happen while we were still together. Huh?”

             
The room went silent, and I heard the faint cry of a baby somewhere on the floor. Like a comedy movie, everyone’s eyes grew round and wide, then fixed their gaze on random spots around the room.

Well, every
one except Darren and Pandi, who’d started to kiss, oblivious to the soap opera unfolding all around them.

             
The quiet in the room stretched from a few seconds to a full minute. Corbin, Andrea, Candace, and Brian all seemed to hold their breath, waiting for the you-know-what to hit the fan. Fletcher laced his hands on top of hid head and released a long, guttural sigh.

             
“Marisol,” he began.

I started to cry. Again. The air in the room felt thick and heavy, and it was all I could do to keep my thoughts straight. “I never meant for it to happen, I’m
so
sorry.”

Her brown eyes widened
. “Really?”

Marisol’s voice cracked, and my heart jerked inside of my chest. I never wanted to hurt her. She’d been my friend for a decade, and despite all of her annoying qualities, Marisol would’ve taken a bullet for me. What I’d done to her
, no matter how strong my feelings for Fletcher were, and no matter how much I loved him, was wrong.

“
Mar.” I tried to sit up, but the tubing on one of my IVs got caught, and I yelped in pain as it pulled on my flesh.

Fletcher darted to my side and unwound the tubing. “You okay?” The guilt on his face was clear, as the corners of his mouth were pointed downward, and his brows were bound tightly together.

“You fooled around with Fletcher while I was dating him?” Marisol asked me, her damp eyes reflecting the soft light in the room.

“I’m so sorry,” I told her, choking on the words. “
But how was I supposed to know you were that serious about him? It’s not like you’ve ever been serious about anyone before.”

“That doesn’t make it okay,” Marisol yelled, her voice wavering. “It’s against the friend code
. You know that.”

“I do.” Nodding, I rubbed my eyes. “And it’s not like I thought what I felt for Fletcher was
okay,
but you fleet from one guy to the next so quickly. It never occurred to me that—”

“I knew from the beginning I had feelings for Lexie,” Fletcher interrupted me. “I shouldn’t have ever gotten involved with you.”

“And for the record,” I said. “Candace has been telling me for weeks to let you in on the secret!”

Candace slapped her own forehead and groaned.

Marisol’s eyes darted to Candace. “You knew about this?” When she opened and closed her mouth, offering no explanation, Marisol groaned. “You’re my oldest friends. Lexie, we’re in business together. I trust you with everything. Or, I
did.”

“It wa
sn’t like that,” Candace said, trying to reach for her hand.

Marisol hid her hand behind her back.
“Don’t touch me.” She pulled her purse up on her shoulder and raised her chin at me. “I don’t even know what to say. I don’t think I can forgive you for this.”

My mouth dropped. I’d expected anger, not exile. “Wait, I—”

She turned on her heel, and darted from the room. Candace offered me a knowing glance, then charged after her, calling her name.

I felt like a terrible friend, even in my still-partially-stoned-and-disoriented state. This wasn’t how
I
treated friends. This wasn’t how
I
conducted myself. I’d hurt someone who’d been by my side through college, my divorce and the building of my dream company, and I’d just obliterated her confidence. Crumpling, I pulled my blankets up around my face and gave into my emotion while everyone looked on. My family’s gaze was heavy as I sobbed. All their love and support from just minutes ago had melted into awkwardness and judgment. Two emotions I was just plain tired of.

Fletcher bent down at the side of my bed. “Lexie, it’s okay. She’ll come around.” When I didn’t respond, I heard him drag a hand through his hair and sigh. “I’ll talk to her. It’s my fault
, anyway.”

I
hiccupped. “She’s my friend. My business partner. I knew better than to be the kind of woman who would try to steal a man. No man is worth breaking up a friendship.”

Fletcher
flinched. It was microscopic, so I barely saw it, but it was there. “If I had to do it all over again, I would have been with you seven months ago. I’m sorry.”

I didn’t say a word.
Maybe it was the guilt. Maybe it was the sheer heaviness of what had happened that afternoon. Maybe it was hormones and a system still filled with morphine and whatever drug they give a person to numb their whole freaking body. But I turned my head away from Fletcher on the pillow instead.

“I need to think,” I whispered.

“Lexie,” my mother said softly.

“W
hat?” Fletcher swallowed. “I… okay. So I’ll come back in a few hours, and then we’ll go see Ian.”

“No.” I closed my eyes, trying to block out my mother’s disappointed gaze. My thoughts were to jumbled. To
o discombobulated to add hers in the mix. “I need some time. Give me time.”

“Time.” It wasn’t a question. Just a statement. I heard Fletcher stand back up. “All right. Time it is, then.”

The room once again went silent. After a few seconds, I felt Fletcher’s lips press to the top of my head. “You know where to find me when you’re ready.”

With the squeak of his shoes on the linoleum floor, he left the room. And w
hen I opened my eyes, I discovered my family had filed out behind him. Only my mother remained, so I steeled myself for her opinion. Surely she had one.

Instead, she crossed the room and covered my tube-filled hand with her own. I curled into her soft body and wept, letting it all out. Not holding a thing back.

“I’m sorry.” I cried into her sweatshirt.

But Fletcher couldn’t hear that. He was gone.