Ever Over After (The Over Duet #2) by J. A. Derouen

Author:J. A. Derouen [Derouen, J. A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B01NBRYF84
Publisher: J.A. DeRouen
Published: 2017-01-06T00:00:00+00:00

Marlo

“THAT’S IT ALEX, you’re doing amazing. The contraction should be easing up any second now,” I say as I ready the delivery room and keep an eye on the baby’s heart rate. I cut a second baby hat and thread it through the other, making a fluffy pink and blue striped bow on Avery’s newborn hat. The baby warmer is on, blankets at the ready, and the delivery table is set up for the doctor.

Alex’s tears had dried up with the arrival of West, and the two of them have been the best birthing team I’ve seen in … well, ever. West had been a medic in the Army, and that unflappable calm he’d undoubtedly needed in war is coming in handy today. He is sitting behind Alex, knees drawn up on either side of her, both of their hands laced together on her belly, with his dog tags dangling from the baby warmer across the room as her focal point.

The contraction releases Alex, and she lets out a shaky breath, her head falling back onto West’s shoulder. He brushes the wet strands of hair from her forehead and kisses her temple, whispering calmly into her ear the entire time. With closed eyes and an almost imperceptible smile playing on her lips, she nods at his words and brushes her lips to his.

I touch Alex’s arm, and, when she turns to me, her eyes are brimming with love, determination, and the strength of ten men. Or maybe one man … West.

I feel like an intruder.

I feel exposed.

I feel an aching in a part of my heart I’d thought I’d lost long ago.

“Um, I’m gonna go update your waiting room entourage and grab a few supplies I’m missing. We’ll check your progress in about thirty minutes, okay?”

Before she can answer me, another wave rolls in, seizing her attention. Her gaze turns to the dangling dog tags, and she takes in a slow, deep breath.

West gives me a nod. “We’ll call if we need. Thanks, Marlo.”

I rush out of the room, and shuffle down the hall in the opposite direction of the waiting room. I lock the door of the employee bathroom and shut my eyes as my fully-clothed ass falls onto the toilet seat. What the hell? Birthing babies is my job—I do this shit on the daily, and I never get choked up like this. I feel like the Grinch and my growing heart is pushing on the confines of my thorny ribcage.

Marriage, family, all of it—I don’t want that. It’s an indisputable fact I’ve known for years. I tell myself this, over and over, as unwanted emotions clog my throat. The unwelcome thoughts bubble to the surface, refusing to be ignored for a second longer. My uninvited tears well in my eyes, betraying my long-standing position, bringing the big questions front and center.

What if I’m wrong? What if I have no idea what I want?

Man, I need to get my shit together, and fast.

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