Stitch by Jaime Lewis (ebook reader online .txt) 📗

Potter, but what she damn well wasn’t expecting was for Potter’s eyes to roll back in his head and his large body to collapse to the floor.

“Oh shit!” Alex blurted out as Tenley just sat there staring at her husband sprawled out on the floor, then started laughing hysterically.

By the grace of God, Juliette entered the room.  “What happened?”  She asked, all concerned as she stepped over Potter to get to Tenley’s other side and held her hand.

“Well, my big badass SEAL husband apparently can’t stomach a baby coming out of my hoo-ha.” She started sobbing. “He’s the one that put them in me. And, it’s not like he’s the one having his vagina stretched the length of the Grand Canyon.”

Jesus, Alex didn’t know if she wanted to cry for Tenley or to laugh at her and the mayhem that was taking place in this room. They could win America’s Funniest Home Videos, hands down. Potter would never forgive himself if he missed the birth of babies. Well, as long as he wasn’t working for Uncle Sam. Alex looked at Juliette.  “Can you handle Tenley?  I’m going to go get Derek and Ace, and they can help get daddy here up.”

At Juliette’s nod, Alex took off running down the hallway to the waiting room. When she got there, the whole team was now there, and she explained what happened. She could see they were all trying to suppress their amusement with the situation, and honestly, she couldn’t blame them one bit because as soon as all of this was over, they were all going to sit around having a drink and laughing their asses off.

When Alex, Ace, and Derek hit the door to Tenley’s room, Alex heard the most amazing sound. The sound of life, double time.  Her heart melted as she opened the door and saw Tenley and Potter both sitting on the bed, each of them holding a bundle of pink.

When Tenley raised her head and looked at Alex with unshed tears in her eyes, Alex couldn’t be any happier for her best friend. She was envious of her. She had the perfect family. A husband who loved her unconditionally, a seven-year-old daughter who they brought life to again after her parents were killed, and now these two precious bundle of joys they welcomed.  She looked up at Ace, who seemed to have the same look on his face as she did.  But when he looked down at her, she saw guilt, even though nobody else would recognize that look. It was a look that Alex was pretty sure Ace made a point not to let many people see.

He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close to his chest. He then whispered the word “soon” to her, and she felt her heart kick-start.  They had been trying to get married for almost a year now. But life got in the way, and things got postponed. But her friends weren’t letting life slow them down. Maybe it was time to take a different approach to marriage.  Maybe she didn’t need the big fairy tale wedding she’d dreamt of. Maybe all she needed was just the man.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Stitch couldn’t wait to get to Mia’s side. He smiled, and even found himself whistling as he walked through the emergency room department as he headed to Mia’s room. Seeing Tenley and Potter’s twins had been a bright spot on the events that occurred today.

As he rounded the corner, he caught sight of a man entering Mia’s room. He was on full alert with everything that had happened today and became suspicious and hastened his walk. As he neared the open door, he heard Mia’s soft voice, followed by the guy’s.

“Terek.”

“Hey, Mia.”

“What are you doing here?”

“I was told you were here, and I wanted to come and make sure you were okay.”

Stitch stood at the door enough to where he could see in. He felt horrible for eavesdropping on a private conversation, but he wondered why her ex-boyfriend would come all this way just to see if she was okay.

“I’m good—some bruises and a broken arm. But it could’ve been worse.” She tilted her head sideways as she looked at him. “Terek, you could’ve called to see how I was. Why are you really here?”

Stitch heard him sigh. “I needed to talk to you before I headed out, and I wasn’t sure if you would take my call.”

“Terek, Ace explained why you did what you did. I can’t say that I agree with your style of execution, but I do understand why you did it.”

“Mia, I’m so sorry. I really wish things could’ve worked out between us. You are an incredible woman.”

She shrugged her shoulders. “Things happen for a reason.”

“So, you’re happy?”

She smiled, “I am.”

“Then, that’s all that matters.”

“You said you were headed out. What’s next for you?”

“Well, since my cover was blown and my target skipped the country, my career in the bureau is pretty much over unless I want a desk job.”

“That doesn’t sound like you,” she teased.

He chuckled, “No, definitely not. I spoke with a buddy of mine from the service. He just opened a private security company in Florida. He offered me a job, so maybe I’ll head down that way and see how it goes.”

“Well, I wish you all the best.”

“Thanks, Mia.”

He leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “Take care, Mia.”

Stitch didn’t want to be seen, so he slipped into the vacant room next door until Terek passed. Once the coast was clear, he entered Mia’s room and saw her wiping her eyes. He knew everything had to be taking a toll on her.

“Hey, you okay?”

She looked up and smiled, red eyes and nose. “Yeah, just a very emotional day.”

He grinned, “Yeah, it was. I saw Terek was here. Everything okay with him?”

“Yeah, all good. He just wanted to see how I was and say good-bye. He’s taking a job down in Florida. Some security business a friend of his from the service opened.”

“Good