“No! He's leaving, it's okay. Logan, please...”
Kristen’s eyes jerked frantically back and forth between them.
The sound of Jake's furious breathing permeated the air. A second passed, the two men glaring at each other.
“Who the fuck is he, telling me what to do? Doesn't he know we're still married, Kristen?” Logan’s face twisted in turmoil. He forced himself to ignore Jake.
“I'm the baby's father asshole, and she doesn't want you here.” Jake stepped forward about to lunge at him. Kristen squeezed his arm, alerting him to the nurse poised to call security.
Logan scrutinized the room, struggling to understand what was happening, but his mind was a tangled web, everything in his path blurring before his eyes. He shook his head over and over, reversing. “I wouldn't count on that. You think you're the only one she screwed?”
Jake's face burned with fury, his eyes flew from Logan to the nurse, who stood at attention between them. He nodded slowly, a menacing warning of things to come. Logan disappeared into the hallway. Kristen let out a troubled sigh, maintaining her tight hold on Jake’s arm.
“We can't have that kind of behavior here again, okay? I don't want to restrict you from visitors,” the nurse warned.
“Can't you prevent him from coming back?” Kristen pleaded. Then it dawned on her. “I think I'm leaving today, aren’t I?”
“There's a good chance. The doctor will be in shortly. Now if you can calm down, I need to check your vitals and draw some blood.”
Jake was still fuming, unable to turn his attention away from the door.
“You better have a seat, sir.” She motioned to the chair. With reluctance, he followed her instructions, sinking his powerful frame into it. As he took deep breaths, he held Kristen's gaze. She didn't blink when the nurse brought a thermometer to her forehead.
“Your temp is normal, that's good. Let's calm down some more and check your pressure.”
Despite her advice, Kristen couldn’t stop shaking.
“I'll give you some time to wind down.” The nurse exited without looking back.
Kristen turned anxiously to Jake. “I tried to get rid of him!”
“What did he mean about I'm not the only one you screwed? Are there other guys besides him?”
“No! He's trying to get back at me, that's all.”
“Hmm, I guess we'll find out soon enough won't we.” With a loud groan, he sat next to her on the bed. It shook under his trembling.
“Yeah, we will. I can't believe you'd even listen to him!” Kristen sulked, her lips puffed out as she crossed her arms in front of her.
Silence.
“What was he doing here anyway?”
“How do I know? I tried to get him to leave!”
He touched her cheek. “I know, baby. It's okay. You have to calm down so we can get outta here. What about Alex?” His pulse slowly returned to normal.
She shrugged, aware that he was still on edge. “Logan woke me up. I never made it to Alex. Let's go after this.” She peeked demurely at him, hoping the atmosphere would remain peaceful. Hoping he would forget about Logan at least for a while.
“We get those results today too, don't we?” Jake appeared to be studying her, but his mind was far away. I want everything resolved. I need to take care of Logan. I need her to believe it is over.
“Yeah, we should. Maybe we can take him with us.”
In the back of her mind, a storm brewed, threatening to destroy her entire word. She closed her eyes and said a silent prayer.
* * *
Logan ran out of the hospital. He could tell he was moving, but couldn't feel his feet—or any other part of his body. His pulse raced, his breaths rapid bursts of air. Spinning in a suspended state of reality, his head was on fire. That hadn't really happened. It was a nightmare. He would wake up shortly, everything back to normal. Somehow ending up in his car, he found himself driving home. Everything would work out—he felt it in his bones.
The moment he entered the apartment the truth struck him like a revelation. She was gone. She wasn't coming back, at least not to him. Sinking hopelessly to the floor, he buried his face in his shaking hands.
This isn’t happening. That savage isn’t going to take her from me!
He had to remain calm, to think, to plan what to do next. The phone rang.
Maybe she had a change of heart.
Instead it was Gina. No matter what he did, she still wanted him. Wherever he wanted it, she was ready. It was non-committal, strictly pleasure-driven. It served his needs, satisfied his hunger.
Look how love is destroying me!
He stretched out on the carpet, closing his eyes, unable to believe the incredible depth of his feelings. Images of Kristen when they first met blasted through his mind, refusing to disappear. He knew he had disappointed her, but she had to know how he felt about her. Why she needed to leave that savage to be with him. Maybe if he could just explain how he felt without interference.
I should call her. I can make it right. This time it will be different, perfect, just like before. I have to do it.
* * *
“Kristen, please don't hang up,” Logan begged at the sound of her exasperated sigh. “Are you alone?”
Her eyes darted to the door. They were ready to go for the paternity test results. Jake was in the bathroom.
“What is it? Never mind! I don’t want to talk to you.” She wasn't shaking quite as bad as before. Her eyes moved around the stark white walls, her mind drifting. It would be uplifting to get out of there.
“Why can't we discuss this? You're not being fair,” he moaned.
“I'm finished talking, Logan. After what you did to me, don't you get it? It's over. The baby is Jake's...” She could feel Jake’s presence. Turning to look, the hardness in his face chilled her to the bone. It was time to put an end to the deception. No more secrets and hidden conversations.
“I don't care about that! You have to stay—” Logan’s frenzied behavior bordered on hysteria.
“No. I don't. I'm gonna be by to get some stuff later and I don't want to see you there. Why don't you go play with your mistress?”
“What stuff? I don't know where you think you're going Kristen. Did you forget our bond?”
“That's over, Logan, I'm staying with Jake. He's here because I called him! Please don't make this any harder. He'll be with me—”
“—No, I'm serious, if you don't stay you will regret it. I'm gonna fight you, you won't get a cent! Oh, and remember—he broke into my house. Did you forget that too?”
“You can fight all you want, Logan. I don't give a shit! I'm gonna get the divorce this time!” Losing control, her voice turned loud and shrill.
Jake placed his hand on her arm, his eyes gentle as they gazed down at her. “Give me the phone.”
His grip tightened. She shook her head, pulling her arm away. “Logan, I have to go.” She ended the call, biting her lip to alleviate the quivering.
“You should let me handle him, Kris. You don't need any more stress.”