Amanda Jason - Lucky Number Four

“So, how’s Drew?” Trust Jeff to drop the bomb. Nobody has mentioned him, and we might have gone all evening without saying his name. Now I have two bones to pick with him, and it won’t be pleasant. Just the mention of his name makes me tear up a little.

“He’s been working hard, and he’s really unhappy. We haven’t ever seen him this unhappy.” Liam states without looking in my direction.

“Yeah, he’s really down, and he won’t let us in. He’s flying in from Milan tonight.” Colin does look at me. In fact, his eyes are glued to mine.

“Sorry to hear that. Did he mention why?”

Jeff, I swear—shut your mouth. But secretly I’m waiting for the answer, my nerves strung tightly.

“We all know the reason. All he said was he has no idea what he did wrong. Everything was going well, and poof, you were gone.” I wish Colin would look at someone else.

“Well, we should probably head out. Jeff and I have an early class tomorrow.”

I get up quickly, and whoa, dizzy much? Jeff grabs my arm and steadies me so I don’t fall over. I say my quick goodbyes, and then push my way out of the restaurant, not waiting to see if Jeff is following. I’ll walk back to the apartment if I have to, but Jeff catches up with me at the front door and holds it open. We say nothing to each other as we make our way to the car. The silence between us continues until we’re in his living room. Jeff pushes me gently onto the couch and then plops down beside me.

“Sounds like Drew isn’t very happy.” Jeff puts his arm around me so I can’t flee.

“Maybe Angela dumped him,” I quip, and my heart skips a beat thinking it might be true.

“Or maybe, like Liam and Colin suggested, it’s you he’s missing.” Jeff’s arm tightens around me. He’s good. He knows that if he wasn’t holding me, I’d flee to my room. “You’re going to sit here, and we’re going to discuss this. No excuses, not even if you throw up everywhere. It won’t deter me. Drew is miserable, and it’s because of you. Liam says he’s been like a zombie, and they’re worried about him. You need to talk to him and explain why you left like you did. You need to call him. He comes back tonight. You don’t have to tell him about the baby, but I think you need to talk, and tell him the truth. Think about it. Think hard. I think you’re wrong about him—hell, I know you are. He’s suffered for more than four months, and it’s time to tell him you love him and you want to be with him.”

Jeff releases me, gets up and without another word, he goes into his room and shuts the door. That’s it. He tells me I love Drew and that’s it.

Do I love Drew? That would explain why my heart felt shattered when I left him. Not to mention all the buckets of tears I’ve shed. Am I too late? Drew comes home tonight. Do I have the courage to call him? What if he doesn’t love me? What about our baby?

Oh hell, it’s our baby. Not mine, but ours. Could we make it work? He’s famous and jets all over the world, and I’m a nobody with a psychic mother and a crazy family. I wonder if he’s home yet. I just have to call him to find out. But what do I say?

Well, here goes nothing.

I pluck my phone out of my back pocket and hit one on my phone. Yeah, I have him on speed dial under number one. Liam is number four. Yeah, I know I’m buying into his superstition.

My stomach clenches. I feel sick. What if he sees an unknown number calling and doesn’t answer? It’s still ringing, and then I hear him say, “Hello.”

“Hi, it’s me Dora. Drew, I need to talk to you…if you want to, that is.”

He’s silent and I almost hang up. I fear he’ll say no and my heart will never, ever mend.

“Yes, I think we do.” I feel relief. His deep husky voice makes me shiver.

“When are you free? Maybe we could do lunch on Saturday?” I hope he says sooner. It’s only Tuesday, and I don’t think I can wait that long.

“I’m coming over now,” he says firmly, and I want to do a happy dance, but I know my legs won’t support me. They’re like watery Jell-O. “Dora, are you there? Is that all right?”

“Yes. Do you need directions?”

“No, I’ve known where you’ve been since … well, we’ll discuss that once I get there.”

“Be careful. See you soon.” I don’t know what else to say.

“I will.”

And then click, he’s gone. I stare at my phone. I can’t believe that just happened. He wants to see me. I’ve got to go do my hair and freshen up and change clothes. I scramble, as fast as my pregnant self will allow, to my room to get ready.

It’s been an hour, and I’ve worn a path in the carpet. It should have only taken Drew fifteen minutes to get here. I keep looking outside. A light snow is falling. It’s April…it’s not supposed to snow in April.

I let the curtain fall and take a seat on the couch for the millionth time—okay, not that many, but quite a few. My nerves are frayed. My mom says that all the time, but now I know what she means by it.

I feel like this night will be the turning point in my life, and I hope it goes the way I want it to go. I want Drew—any way I can have him. Where in the hell did that that come from? I do want him? Oh, who am I fooling? Yeah, he might tire of me after a few months, but I’ll still have a part of him forever. I touch my stomach and feel the little bump that’s starting to show.

“Where is your father?” I say to him or her.

I hear a cell ringing and I glance at mine, but the ringing comes from another room, so it’s Jeff’s phone. I hear his muffled voice and then nothing. A feeling of dread like I’ve never felt before comes over me. I know a call this late at night isn’t good.

His door opens. The first thing I notice is that he’s fully dressed and pulling on his jacket. His face is grim as he looks down at me. I know something really bad has happened, and I know it affects me.

“Dora, I’m going to get your coat. That was Liam. We have to go to the hospital. Drew’s been in an accident.”

My stomach rolls, and I don’t make it to the bathroom. Jeff rubs my forehead and holds back my hair as I dry heave into the kitchen sink. When I feel that I’m in control, he lets me go. I turn around as he brings me my coat. I’m numb. Jeff kisses me on the forehead, helps me with my coat, takes my arm, and leads me out of the apartment.

The car is toasty, but I’m still shivering with a deep cold inside me. I’m praying that Drew is okay and he’ll smile at me when he sees me and we will live happily ever after, or until he gets sick of me.

“It’s my fault. I called him and he said he would come right over. Oh, Jeff, what if he …” I can’t continue as uncontrollable sobs tear through me. Jeff grabs my hand tightly.

“Stop it, Dora. Liam didn’t say, but we have to think positive. It’s not your fault. If anything, it’s mine. I made you call him.”

He squeezes my hand, and I turn, trying to control my sobs. I see a tear roll down his cheek. If this is a nightmare, I want to wake up. Please don’t let this be real. With my free hand, I pinch myself and it’s real. It’s so fucking real.

We arrive at the ER a few minutes later. The bright lights of the foyer sting my eyes, or it might be the salt from my tears. Jeff drops me at the front door and leaves to park the car. I immediately see Liam and Colin as I walk through the automatic doors. Again, my legs turn to rubber as I see the looks on their faces. They rush forward and both reach for me before I sink to the floor.

Liam picks me up and moves to the waiting room, putting me down on an overstuffed sofa. He takes a seat beside me

“How is he?” I whisper. Please, please let him be okay.