“Becca and Mari are at a gallery thing. They’re going to be here as soon as they can,” I told him as he nodded. They had a small baby shower for Vivian at their apartment with some of her friends from the coffee shop. People worked together to get her the things she’d need the most, even helping to set up a small nursery in Vivian’s room at her mom’s place. It was close quarters, but cute, nonetheless. I enjoyed seeing Becca bond with someone else. I just hadn’t spent a lot of time with my best friend lately and missed her.
Life wasn’t working out as expected. Moving into the building was supposed to bring us together, but everyone seemed to be working too much. When we weren’t, Becca was with Mari, and they spent a lot of time with Vivian. I’d let myself fall into a sad pattern of spending time by myself at home when I wasn’t at work. Going to the bar tonight was a nice break from that, but here I was at the hospital.
I made my way into the room to greet Vivian, who looked scared. Her light blue eyes were tired and dark circles marked her skin. I kissed her hair and told her that we were there for her, not going anywhere. The nurse who popped in to check on her regularly, announced that it was time.
The doctor appeared, and we each took a side as they prepped her for delivery. I looked at Gray, meeting his tired eyes as he forced a smile. Vivian insisted on doing this on her own, so the pain was hard for me to take. I just held her hand as she pushed, assuring her that she was doing great.
An image of Gray holding our baby flashed across my mind, making me look at him. Did he want that? I blinked as Vivian let out a scream, hearing the doctor tell her that the head was out.
She squeezed hard as she finished delivering her daughter, crying as the doctor told her that she had a baby girl. They placed the baby on her chest, and I took in the tiny heart-shaped mouth and red skin.
By the time they cleaned the baby up, Mari and Becca arrived at the hospital. They were wearing cocktail gowns and hugged Vivian with mascara running down their cheeks. Ava was placed in her mom’s arms, wrapped loosely in a blanket as she snuggled against Vivian.
We stayed as long as the visiting hours would permit, leaving in a group. “That’s amazing. She’s a mom.” Mari wiped at her eyes as she gazed at all of us.
“Ava is beautiful,” Becca gushed as I nodded in agreement. Once she was cleaned up, she was a pretty baby that looked a lot like her mom.
“Want to get something to eat?” Mari asked us, and I looked at Gray. “I feel like it’s been forever.”
“Yes. I haven’t eaten since lunch.” We decided on a place and met there in our separate cars so that we could head home afterward. I slipped into the booth beside Gray, breathing in his refreshing scent that I loved. We all caught up on life and talked about the baby some more. Vivian seemed to become like a little sister to all of us.
We left to go home, exhausted by the night's events. Gray was quiet at home as he prepared for bed, and I watched him. “What’s wrong?”
Chapter Nine
Gray
I heard his question and froze. I didn’t know how to tell him anything after tonight.
“Gray?” I looked at the man that I lived with and loved.
“This is the first time I’ve seen Vivian in a few weeks,” I said as he tilted his head. “She called about labor, and I knew I couldn’t just leave her at home.”
“What happened?” Hayden asked with worried eyes as he dropped to the couch.
“I was over there before work one day just to bring her some lunch. It was like any other visit until it wasn’t.” He stared at me, and I let out a ragged sigh. “She kissed me, Hayden. She kissed me and tried to touch me.”
“She knows about us,” he said in shock as I nodded.
“Yes, she does. She just fancied herself in love with me or some such shit. I left that day and went right to a bar. I didn’t work, but I told you that I did. I said that I got held up with the clients having drinks.” I moved to the couch to sit beside him. “I didn’t know how to tell you. We were all a part of her life, and there was a part of me that pitied her.” I ran a hand through my hair. “I was there first tonight. She told me that she loved me.”
“You stayed in there with her. You supported her,” he said, and I nodded.
“Not for that, or because of that. You were there beside me even though I could tell you weren’t thrilled with the idea. I had to stay, but there’s a part of me that never wants to see her again. That baby is so tiny and sweet, but her mom makes me uncomfortable.”
“Shit. I thought something happened with a client. You were acting so weird that night, and we already never saw each other.” I looked at him to see anger on his face. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I have no fucking idea. It sounded crazy in my head for one. She was also like a sister to everyone but me. The girls adore her.” I shrugged, wishing I talked to him right away. I gazed at him. “You thought that I cheated on you?”
“I wasn’t sure. We’ve just been working so much, and then there was the thing with the fire.” He ran a hand through his hair that was messier than normal.
“What thing with the fire?” I asked as he stared at me.
“I ran into some friends at a bar one night after work. They told me the fire was arson and that it started in my old apartment. I didn’t know what to think and saw Ryan briefly the same night. He told me that I shouldn’t be okay.” Hayden looked at me as rage filled me.
“He started a fire in your old place?”
“He got dragged away, so I don’t know for sure. He never knew that I moved, at least not from me. I don’t know why he would do that.” Shock covered his face, making me pull him against me.
“We’re going to the police with this. He thought you lived there and tried to kill you.” I took deep, slow breaths. “Was anyone hurt in the fire?”
“No. Everyone escaped.” We both breathed a sigh of relief. “We can go tomorrow to tell them. I don’t know how much weight his drunken slur will hold up, but he could find out where I do live.” It was so much more than just me and Hayden now. “I missed you. I love you.”
“I should have told you. I think I just tried to block it out or something.” I clung to him, realizing how far apart we’d been drifting.
“I didn’t talk about the fire with you, either. I mean, apart from when I first heard about it. I’m sorry about that.” We snuggled together for a moment, and I realized how much he meant to me. I realized that we might have been losing each other.
“Let’s go to bed. I am taking tomorrow off, and if you don’t have it off, call in sick.” I stood up and locked the door before offering him my hand. We walked to our bedroom, undressing before we fell to the bed in a deep kiss.
I made love to him, first hard and fast. The second time, it was slow and sweet. I told him how much I loved him when I held him afterward, asking if we could work harder on us. I didn’t have to work as much as I did, and neither did he.
We talked in the morning over breakfast, agreeing that we needed to cut ties with Vivian. She pushed a boundary with me and our relationship. The girls would take care of her and Ava, and hopefully, Vivian might find her way in life.