A Million Little Things (Mischief Bay, #3)

“What about his pain meds?” she asked Kirk.

“They gave him a shot right before we left the hospital.” Her husband handed her a bag of pills. “He needs them on a schedule. Can you take care of that or do you want me to—”

“I can handle my own damn pills,” Lucas growled. “I don’t know why I’m here. I would be fine at home.”

“Oh, please.” Jen shook the bag. “You wouldn’t last a day and we all know it.” She looked at Kirk. “I’ll write up a schedule for the pills so we can all know what he gets when. I can set the timer on my phone for the night ones.”

“I can take my own goddamn pills,” Lucas muttered again as he closed his eyes.

Jen eyed the gray cast to his skin and hoped he wasn’t going to pass out. She knew basic first aid, but nothing more.

She left the guys to talk to their friend and went to the kitchen. She opened Excel and created a grid for a week’s worth of meds, then printed out three copies. She’d just finished when Matt and Kirk came into the kitchen.

“He says he wants to sleep,” Kirk told her. “I’m going to run Matt back to the station.”

Jen’s stomach knotted. She wanted to cling to her husband and tell him not to leave her alone with Lucas. But this had been her idea and she was going to have to figure out how to deal with him sooner or later.

“I know you have paperwork,” she said cheerfully. “Stay and do that. I’ll see you at dinner.”

“You sure?”

“We’ll be fine. If he starts to bug me, I’ll slug him in the shoulder.”

Kirk kissed her. “That’s my tenderhearted girl.”

They left. Jen filled a pitcher with water and carried it and a glass into the guest room. Lucas opened his eyes but didn’t speak.

She set the water on his table and showed him the walkie-talkie. “All you have to do is push the button, and then speak. I’ll hear you.” She set the pill schedule on the dresser. “I should probably handle the meds for the first day or so.”

“You’re bossy.”

“You’re in no position to complain.” She put her hands on her hips. “Are you able to focus? Because I’d like to go over some ground rules.”

Lucas managed a shaky smile. “I figured we’d get to those. Sure. Fire away.”

“No drinking, no smoking, no women. I’m happy to cook food you like, within reason. Just tell me what you want. There’s no swearing around Jack. He doesn’t eat sugar or junk food and he can’t watch TV.”

“Jesus, that kid’s going to be in therapy for the rest of his life.”

She glared at him. “You have no idea what you’re talking about. There are studies that show—”

He cut her off with a wave of his hand. “I’m sure there are. I know you’re trying to be a good mother, Jen, but give it a rest. You wind yourself so tight, one day you’re going to snap.”

Even though she told herself she didn’t care, his words stung. “You don’t know anything about me.”

“I know plenty. What are you so damned afraid of?”

“I’m not.”

“Yeah, you are. I don’t get it. You have it all. A great husband, a beautiful house and Jack. Why do you always go looking for trouble?”

Her chest got tight and her eyes burned. “You don’t get to talk to me like this.”

“Babe, I’m high as a kite. I can say anything I want. You’re afraid every second of every day. I wish I knew why. I’m sure you do, too. But that’s not the real problem. The real problem is Jack can feel it. So can Kirk. He worries.”

She swallowed. “What do you mean?”

He shook his head, then closed his eyes. “You think I’m leading him astray, but you’re wrong. I’m fighting for your marriage, but man, is it an uphill battle. You don’t make it easy, you know that? Jack’s a good kid. He’s going to be fine. You’re the one I worry about. I swear if you don’t get this figured out, you’re going to end up in an asylum or divorced. But hell. What do I know? I’m just some...”

She waited but there weren’t any more words. It took her a second to figure out he’d fallen asleep. Just like that.

*

“Don’t worry,” the nurse said with a smile. “These don’t hurt at all.”

Zoe nodded, as if physical pain from an ultrasound was her biggest concern. It wasn’t. The fact that she was having one was a much bigger deal.

Nothing about this was fair, she thought. She’d just started to get her life in order. She had a plan—or at least the beginning of one. She was going to substitute teach and look at grad school and maybe quit her job. And what about Steven? He was a great guy. She liked him a lot. How on earth was she supposed to tell him she was pregnant?

She was having a baby and that baby was going to ruin everything. Her life would never be the same. Steven wouldn’t understand. How could he? She didn’t understand. They were just at the good part. The sparkly beginning where they’d figured out there was potential. And now she was going to lose him forever.

She lay on the padded table and felt the warm gel on her belly. Tears filled her eyes and ran down into her hair. This wasn’t right, she thought frantically. This wasn’t fair. She didn’t want to be pregnant. But four at-home tests had confirmed that sex had consequences. Now she was going to find out how far along she was.

Part of her hoped that the baby was Steven’s. While that would be a nightmare, it would be a better one than being pregnant with Chad’s baby. She didn’t want to be involved with him. She didn’t want a child with him. But she and Steven had used a condom, so the odds were—

“There we are,” the nurse said, her voice caring and happy. “Your baby has settled in very nicely. Look, you can see the heartbeat.”

Zoe turned and looked at the monitor. All she saw was a mass of shapes, some light, some dark. There were—