Hope on the Rocks by Annabeth Albert

Twenty-Eight

Quinn

I was a truly crappy double agent, to the point that I was almost relieved when I saw Adam’s text Thursday night as I exited the clinic.

No late-night visit tonight, sorry. Stuck on uncle duty with Teddy sleeping over.

As much as I wanted to see him, I didn’t mind getting a reprieve from having to keep his Ramona questions at bay. I was concerned as to why he had Teddy though, so I texted right back.

Everything okay?

Think so. Ramona’s still tired and under the weather after going to Coos Bay with a friend and the kids today. Probably overdid it again. His reply made my neck itch. I knew perfectly well why she’d gone to Coos Bay, and it wasn’t only for the playdate, but of course, I couldn’t reveal that.

Instead, I typed, So you took Teddy? Good uncle.

Adam’s reply came while I drove the short distance to my condo, and I sat in the parking lot to read it.

Yeah, I’m a great uncle. But now he won’t sleep, and I’m the tired one.

Adam sounded crankier than usual and decidedly less patient, so I texted a fast response. Hope he settles down. Need anything?

I expected him to say no, just like his sister had when I’d asked her the same question. I’d had to call the previous evening with the blood work results, which confirmed a pregnancy. She’d revealed her plan to use a fellow single mom friend’s help with childcare so she could get the ultrasound done, but she had turned down further assistance from me.

To my surprise though, Adam replied quickly. Actually, yes. Left a bottle of my headache-prevention med at your place. Bottle here is empty. Whoops. Could you bring it by?

Absolutely.I didn’t have to think about my response. I couldn’t even imagine a time when I wouldn’t want to help Adam. Alarm bells kept ringing in my brain, warning that I was already coming to care far too much for him and his family, but hell if I could turn off my concern now. Hurrying inside, I grabbed the bottle, which was low. I’d need to remind him to get a refill. I packed some energy water and cans of soup too, just in case he was on the verge of a headache.

Back at the car, I had a text from Ramona with an ultrasound pic attached.

Can’t stop looking at this. Can’t show anyone else yet. They estimate around nine weeks along. Still don’t know what I’m going to do.

Oh, hell. My double agent feeling increased. This was huge news, yet I had no choice but to keep it from Adam.

Let me know how I can help, I texted back, not entirely sure what else to say. She wasn’t mentally in a place to accept congratulations, and I didn’t want to be too admiring of the ultrasound while she was still figuring out her next steps.

There was still no reply by the time I reached Adam’s place. I arrived to find a hyper Teddy playing a video game hooked up to the living room TV and a tired-looking Adam on the couch.

“You doing all right?” I asked after stowing the pills for him in his medicine cabinet. “Your daily med won’t stop a migraine already in progress. Do you need the big guns?”

“Nah. I’m just tired. Thanks for bringing the meds by.” Adam yawned big as Teddy whooped at something on the TV.

“I hope Teddy lets you sleep.” Standing by the couch, I rubbed Adam’s meaty shoulder.

“Me too,” he groaned and stretched into my touch. “Can’t go getting a headache with him here.”

I had a feeling one might already be on the way, so I increased the intensity of my massage.

“You might not have a choice.” It was my turn to be the stern one. “You’ve been burning the candle at both ends.”

“I know. I know.” Adam made a dismissive gesture that said he wasn’t planning any changes. “I haven’t had a bad one since starting the new med. I’ll be okay as long as I can get some decent rest tonight. Any ideas on how to get Teddy tired?”

I might not have known the most about elementary-aged kids, but I knew one thing that sometimes worked for me. “Movie? That’ll get him sitting and not bouncing around at least.”

“You pick one?” Adam made pleading eyes at me, and his reluctance for me to leave told me he was hurting more than he’d let on.

“I can do that. Teddy, let’s switch off the game,” I ordered as I found the remote for the TV. “We’re going to watch that new superhero movie the streaming service keeps advertising.”

He made a sour face. “My friend said it’s the worst one. Boring.”

“Please.” The fact that it was getting panned in reviews for slow pacing was exactly why I was picking it. That, and I liked the franchise, but it wasn’t the sort of thing I’d watch on my own. “I haven’t seen it yet.”

“Bet you fall asleep partway through anyway. Mom couldn’t even make it through an episode of our favorite show last night.”

I was counting on him being the one sleeping, but I nodded sympathetically. “Risk I’ll have to take.”

I cued the movie as Teddy settled down on the floor with his sleeping bag and a stack of pillows.

“I’m worried about Ramona,” Adam whispered to me as the movie started. “Sleeping in front of the TV isn’t like her.”

“Traveling takes a lot out of a person,” I hedged, looking out the window like the inky night might have answers for me.

“Her blood work was normal?” he pressed.

“You know I can’t tell you that.”

“So it was abnormal?” He sounded alarmed, so I patted his thigh.

“I can’t tell you either way. Doctor/patient confidentiality is a thing.” I kept my voice low and soothing yet firm.

“But I’m your boyfriend.” He gave a resigned sigh. This was the first time he’d used the word, and the significance wasn’t lost on me.

But rather than address that land mine, I said, “And she’s my patient. That matters too.”

He made a frustrated noise. “I hate not knowing.”

“Sorry.” I didn’t pat him again because his stony face didn’t exactly invite touch. “Do you want me to leave?”

“Of course not.” Eyes widening like he was surprised at my offer, he frowned. “I can be upset at the situation and still want you here.”

“Oh.” I was more familiar with people shutting me out when they were frustrated, starting with my parents and continuing through my exes.

“I respect your professionalism.” He rolled his shoulders before he touched the back of my hand with his thumb. “I’m just worried about my sister.”

I nodded. I couldn’t tell him it was nothing because it wasn’t, so instead, I rolled my hand over, lacing our fingers together and squeezing. It was the best I had.

Still holding hands, I turned my attention to the movie. It wasn’t nearly as bad as Teddy had warned, and I had more fun than I would have thought, joking with Teddy and picking the movie apart with Adam. Hanging out with Adam always made me feel better, even with zero chance of any bedroom action. We were friends now. Okay, more than friends.

Boyfriend. He’d said the word so easily. The word and what it meant in terms of potential heartbreak scared me, but it also felt right. Being here with him, tension over Ramona and all, was exactly where I belonged.

Adam was the first to get sleepy, yawning and stretching while Teddy was still watching the movie, no signs of sleep there.

“Stay?” Adam whispered to me.

Again, I didn’t have to think about my response. He needed me, so I’d be here. “Yeah. I can stay. Probably a good idea in case you need your heavy-duty med later. But text Ramona. Make sure she’s okay with the idea of me staying over with her kid here.”

“She’ll be fine with it.” He dutifully pulled out his phone and sent the text before his eyes flickered shut. It wasn’t long before he was softly snoring next to me on the couch, and I wasn’t surprised when my phone buzzed with an incoming message.

You’re at Adam’s? Did you tell him?

A series of impressive explosions happened on the TV, and the tense music added to my stiff muscles as I replied. Of course not. Confidentiality. I told you I wouldn’t. He’s not feeling the best, which is why I’m here, but I can leave if you’re not comfortable.

Her response came quickly. No, you can stay, especially if Adam needs you. Sorry. I’m all on edge and moody and still not sure what the heck I’m doing.

Take your time,I counseled, even though I worried about causing a rift with Adam. You don’t have to decide now.

She came back with a fast reply. I want this baby. That’s not the issue. It’s everything else. Like telling Darren. How do you know if someone is the one for you when you’ve been burned so many times?

I don’t know. I gave her my honest truth. She was braver than me, and she was asking the same questions I had swirling in my own head. Past hurts didn’t simply evaporate in the face of present happiness. Adam calling me his boyfriend felt good, but all the warm fuzzies in the world couldn’t guarantee the future. But Ramona didn’t need my existential crisis on top of everything else she was dealing with, so I added, Trust your gut.

My own abdomen gave a sympathetic clench. It was easy to counsel Ramona to trust and hard as hell to do it myself.