I didn't understand. Why would he be happy to babysit me? He and Jordan had been clear, letting me know how little I meant to them. Did they feel sorry for me? I stiffened at the thought.
Alex jerked his head in my direction, his eyes narrowed. I looked away. I wasn’t sure why he turned to me so quickly, and I had too many other things on my mind to care.
I had no choice than to stay with Alex and let him help me. I had to harden my heart, though, I’d done pretty well so far. Although, it was much easier when I didn’t have to see either of the men I loved on a daily basis. Being in the same space, alone, with at least one of them was going to be difficult.
Liz and Alex left to check with the nurse and get a wheelchair. I took a deep breath and reassured myself that everything would be okay. I could spend a month with Alex and keep my heart safe.
The baby kicked, and I placed my uninjured hand on my tummy and gently rubbed the small ache. I had all I needed, I reminded myself. I only wished I could believe it.
12
Sam
Alex turned down the sheets and laid me on the bed. He slid my shoes off, and I sighed in relief, causing Alex to look at me, his head tilted to the side in question.
"Swollen feet," I murmured.
He glanced down at my belly once, then looked away, and I frowned. It seemed he was going to avoid all baby talk.
He had carried me into a bedroom that looked as sparse as the rest of the apartment. White walls, a bed, dresser, and nightstand were it for furniture. The bedding was nice. A dark blue quilt with beige circles lay atop dark brown sheets, and a lamp stood on the nightstand. The furniture was a matching set made of a good wood. White oak, I thought. Oh, and you could not miss the big flat screen television mounted on the wall directly across from the bed.
Alex put his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. "Are you comfortable in what you're wearing or do you what to change? Are you cold? I could pull the covers up or turn on the heat."
"No, I'm good."
My comfortable sweats and long sleeved shirt I put on at the hospital were the perfect choice for lying around, thank God. Alex would have had to help me change, and I was not quite ready for that.
"Okay. Well, I'm going to go get started on dinner, so you want me to get you anything?"
Alex sure was anxious to get away from me, it seemed. He was a walking contradiction, one minute insisting I come to stay with him and the next wanting to get away from me. I gave myself a mental eye roll. It's good that he wants to get away, remember? The farther away the better, right?
"Yes, do you have anything to read? Or maybe you could show me how the remote works for the television?"
He pointed to the nightstand. Reaching over, I opened the drawer to find it full of books. I picked up the one on top. What to Expect When You're Expecting. I looked up at Alex and raised an eyebrow. He rocked back on his heels again, clearly nervous for some unknown reason. I almost laughed aloud when his cheeks reddened.
"I found it on your dresser when I was packing up your things."
Oh yeah, I forgot he’d brought a few of my things over.
"Thanks," I said flatly.
I had to rein in the emotions trying to sweep through me. Being carried in Alex’s arms, smelling his sexy, woodsy scent was bad enough, but seeing him blush and looking cute was causing havoc. I wanted to kiss him until his cheeks turned red with something other than embarrassment.
Alex seemed confused by how reserved I was acting. He stared at me intensely, as if trying to figure me out, but I ignored him and looked back in the drawer.
I noticed one of my romance novels and it was my turn to blush. Thankfully, my face was turn away, as I looked over the sexy man on the cover. He was half naked and in the process of shifting into a wolf. I loved romance novels, but add a little paranormal and I was hooked. I sighed. The shifters were my favorite. I was definitely going to be reading some of that later, I thought.
Pushing it aside, I found a worn paperback with a bloody knife on the cover. I knew that one wasn’t mine, and I held it up.
"I like murder mysteries," he defended, lifting one shoulder.
Closing the drawer, I couldn’t help but glance through the opened doorway, again. I’d probably done it ten times since Alex brought me in there. I just didn’t want to acknowledge the dreadful habit.
“He’s not here.”
“What?” I looked away from the empty hallway to see Alex giving me a knowing look.
“He’s not here. He went to the store, I think.”
“Oh.”
I cursed my heated cheeks. Was I that obvious? Alex chuckled and turned to leave.
“If you need anything, just call. Dinner should be ready soon.”
“Thank you.”
I laid back and looked up at the ceiling. There was an awkwardness between us, a stiffness, I hoped we would get over. Yet, did I really want to get too comfortable, I asked myself?