4. Claire

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Claire

The doctor clears his throat, and Drew quickly kisses my lips, then steps back but keeps hold of my right hand. It's as if he thinks if he stops touching me, I'll disappear. The doctor begins explaining my injuries: multiple fractures—my left arm, two ribs—bruising everywhere, and the nerve damage in my legs. He lets us know he plans to discharge me tomorrow, but only if I have a safe place to stay, someone to help me, and that I get as much rest as possible.

I'm a first-grade teacher, and since summer just started, I can get as much rest as he needs me to... outside of my very strenuous hobbies: reading my glorious smut, listening to Aiden Snow (via Audible, of course—I don't know him like that personally, though in my head, I do. He's just unaware of my existence), and my gardening. I can spend hours in my garden; it feeds my soul.

As I'm having this personal monologue in my head, Drew's phone starts ringing. Both the doctor and I pause and turn to him. He's reading a text, and I see the call is coming from Becca—because of course it is.

Drew sends the call to voicemail, apologizes to the doctor, and looks at me pleadingly. When the doctor resumes talking, Drew's phone starts ringing again. He sighs and excuses himself, asking the doctor to wait a minute so he doesn't miss anything. Has he lost his ever-loving mind? He thinks we're going to pause my medical discussion so he can talk to his... his baby mama? Wait—doesn't that make me his baby mama too?! Ugh, what a mess.

I look at Drew and then speak to the doctor.

"No, Doctor. Please continue. This is important too."

Drew has the nerve to crease his eyebrows like he's the one upset and hurt. He leaves, and the doctor continues to go over my discharge plan.

It's been about an hour. The doctor left, a couple of nurses have been in and out, but Drew hasn't come back. I call my best friend Joy and fill her in on everything that's happened.

"What the fuck, Claire?! How am I just now finding out about this?" Joy yells into the phone. "I'm coming to the hospital right now. That fucktard you call a boyfriend better not show his face or I'm going to beat him to a pulp. Aiden is with me—he's coming too."

I smile and ask her to bring me some food and a change of clothes. I'm tired of these hospital clothes, and my lady bits could use a fresh environment.

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Twenty minutes later, Joy and Aiden come bustling through the door. Joy sees me and tears immediately fill her eyes. I must look like complete shit. Next thing I know, I'm in her arms, and Aiden is running his hands through my hair, giving me a gentle head rub.

After everything that's happened in the last 24 hours, these two are exactly what I need. I feel safe. Incomplete, but safe. Drew didn't come back that night, but lucky for me, the pain meds made me drowsy, and soon my world faded to black.

The doctor comes in bright and early and tells me I'm good to go. He asks where Drew is—apparently, the plan was for Drew to take care of me? That must've been a conversation they had together, because I sure as hell wasn't part of it.

Joy speaks up.

"She'll be coming to stay with me. I'm able to care for her, and when I can't be there, Aiden will be."

I look at them, and tears start rolling down my face. I appreciate them so much. They're here, and in this moment, nothing is more important to them than me and my health.

They completely freak out when I tell them I'm pregnant. I've never seen two people more excited to become an uncle and an aunt. They're the closest thing to family I have, and this baby... my baby... will be the most loved little kid out there.

Aiden is pushing my wheelchair out just as Drew comes bounding through the hospital doors. When he spots us, he jogs over. Joy and Aiden keep walking like they don't see or hear him.

"Claire!" Drew calls out.

We keep going.

We're out front at the pickup spot when Aiden goes to get the car, giving Drew the chance to squat in front of my wheelchair and reach for my hand. I quickly pull it back. He looks down, sucking in a deep breath.

"Baby, I'm so sorry. Becca was having car trouble and no one was picking up her calls. It was getting dark, and I didn't want her stranded alone. But when I got there, it took forever for a tow truck to come, and then she begged me to grab something to eat with her—she hadn't had a meal all day—and by the time I looked at the clock, it was so late I didn't want to interrupt your rest."

He spits that out so fast Joy doesn't even get a chance to stop his word vomit.

"Joy and Aiden stayed with me last night. I was fine," I reply. "Thank you for stopping by this morning, but as you can see, I'm discharged and heading out."

He stands.

"I'm glad it worked out. I'm here now—I'll take you home, get you comfortable, fed..."

He grabs the handles of the wheelchair, but Joy doesn't move. She took over the spot after Aiden left to get the car, fully expecting Drew to try and take me. Aiden's car pulls up, and Joy starts to push me toward it—but Drew stops her.

"What are you guys doing? C is coming home with me. I'm here now. You can come with us or go home, but I'm taking her home."

Aiden gets out of the car, opens the passenger door, and starts transferring me. It's not easy—broken arm, busted ribs, nerve damage—but he's gentle. Drew tries to reach for me, but Aiden blocks him with his body.

Drew doesn't want to hurt me, so he holds onto the passenger door, starting to panic.

"Baby, what is going on? Aiden, come on, man—I don't want to hurt you, but I will if you don't let me get to my woman."

We don't respond. Joy speaks instead.

"I'm sure Becca could use you for something this morning, Drew. We've got Claire covered. She's staying with me, and when I can't be there, Aiden will. The doctor gave us all the care instructions and follow-up appointments. We've got it handled. Aiden will come by your place later this week to pack up her things and move her in with me—if that's what she wants."

Drew clenches his jaw, voice tight and furious.

"No fucking way. You're not taking her away from me. She's mine. I've loved her for four years. I'll love her the rest of my life. YOU. WILL. NOT. TAKE. HER. FROM. ME."

This isn't going to end well. Drew's about to lose it. If I don't step in, someone's going to get hurt—or arrested. Or both.

"Drew," I say calmly. "I'm in a lot of pain. The longer you do this, the longer I'm hurting. Is that what you want?"

His whole body deflates.

"Baby, no. Of course not. I want you at home with me—where I can hold you, take care of you and our baby."

I want to say, What about your other baby? I'm sure they could use some taking care of, too. But I don't.

"C, please don't do this. I know I fucked up last night, and I fucked up the night of the wedding... and times before that. But baby, I swear, I'll do better. I want this family—I want it more than the air in my lungs. Please don't do this. I love you so much, C."

I know he loves me. But sometimes...

"Love just isn't enough, Drew. You go to her every time she calls, and most of the time it's at my expense. I can't do it anymore—especially not with a baby on the way. Especially now, when Becca is going to need you more than ever... with her being pregnant and all."

Drew freezes.

"...How did you know Becca was pregnant?"

I give him a sweet, saccharine smile.

"I heard you talking to her. In my hospital room, Drew. Is the baby yours?"