The Baby Interview

by Robbie Terman

  "We'll replace the bike,” Cole promised from the foot of the bed. Lucy would probably argue with him, but Cole intended to do it anyway.

  "Hey Cole,” Ben said. “Thanks for driving Lucy. I called home earlier to let her know I was okay, but there was no answer. I've been worried she was driving while upset."

  "We're both just glad you're okay.” Cole stepped behind Lucy. He needed to connect with her, so he kissed the top of her head. “Doing better?” he whispered.

  She nodded. “I do want to talk with his doctor, though."

  "Of course.” As they waited for the doctor, Cole asked, “Do the police know who hit you?"

  Ben nodded. “It was an elderly woman. She didn't realize the light had changed to red. She turned without looking, and hit me. She's already come by to apologize."

  Lucy turned red, but Cole could tell it was not her usual embarrassed flush, but rather anger. “Don't let her off so easily, Ben. She could have killed you! I hope the police take away her license. She's a menace—"

  "Luce,” Ben interrupted. “It was an accident. She's a nice lady. Believe me, she feels worse than I do."

  Lucy looked unconvinced, but didn't say anything further.

  The curtain pulled back and a doctor walked into the tiny space. His eyes scanned the chart. “How are you feeling, Mr. Chaple?"

  "Kind of sore. A little bit of a headache. But other than that, I'm doing good."

  "I'm Lucy, Ben's sister,” she said to the doctor, whose nametag read Dr. Sterling. “Are you sure he's okay? No internal bleeding or other damage?"

  Dr. Sterling shook his head. “Ben's X-ray looked good. The broken bone in his leg should heal nicely, and his cuts and bruises should fade in a couple of weeks. Our only other concern is a concussion, so we are going to keep him overnight for observation."

  Lucy turned stark white and Ben groaned. “Come on, Doc. I feel fine."

  "Do what Dr. Sterling says, Bennie,” Lucy said. “Besides, you want to be a doctor. Use the opportunity to grill the staff."

  Ben rolled his eyes. “Sure, Luce. I'm sure all the doctors will be lined up to answer my questions."

  Dr. Sterling glanced between the siblings with an amused smile. “I'll tell you what, Ben. I'm off in an hour. By then, you should be in a room. How about I come by and check on you before I leave, and you can ask me whatever you'd like."

  Ben's face lit up. “Really? That would be great."

  "Thank you, Doctor,” Lucy said.

  "Yes, thank you.” Cole was grateful not only for the excellent care Ben had received, but also that Dr. Sterling had managed to calm Lucy. She still hovered over Ben like a mother hen, but her face was now a mask of serenity.

  "We'll get Ben into a room as soon as possible,” Dr. Sterling promised.

  "Is anyone hungry?” Cole asked, after the doctor left.

  "Bennie, you should eat something,” Lucy said as she fluffed her brother's pillow. “You need to keep your strength up."

  "I'll go down to the cafeteria and pick something up."

  Grateful to have a purpose, Cole headed out the door. The situation had made him feel powerless and it wasn't a feeling he liked. He was used to being in control, calling the shots. Nothing happened that he didn't want.

  But he couldn't control this, and it scared him. Bad things happened; Ben was proof of that. Something could happen to his child one day. It made him realize he'd have no one there to support him, no one to lean on as Lucy had done with him. If he had a child alone, that's what he would be. Alone.

  He would just have to make sure nothing happened to his child. No other alternative was acceptable.

  Just before he reached the cafeteria, Cole checked his messages and was surprised to hear two from Pam. He hadn't seen her in three years and he had absolutely no interest in talking to her. He erased the messages, barely listening. Pam was a master at sucking people into her drama, and that was the last thing he intended to allow. When he reached the lunch line, he bought sandwiches for Lucy, Ben and himself.

  As they ate their sandwiches and chatted about nothing in particular, Lucy was animated and happy, taking care to include Cole in the conversation. But she made no move to touch him. He inched closer like a puppy looking for attention—a touch, a glance—anything to show she needed a connection. Fear of her rejection kept him from reaching out to her.

  A little over an hour later, Ben was settled in a semi-private room and trying with little success to get Lucy to leave.

  "Lucy, I'm fine.” His loopy smile was evidence the painkillers had kicked in with a vengeance. “You look exhausted. Please, go home."

  Ben was right. The mixture of fear and anxiousness that had driven her most of the day had dissipated and now she looked like she could sleep for a week. Cole intended to put her to bed as soon as he could coax her from her brother's side. “Come on, Luce."

  She flashed him a look of annoyance. “I'm not going home. Someone will need to take Ben home tomorrow and get him settled."

  Funny, but the only thought that ran through Cole's mind was what an incredible mother she'd make.

  "I can take care of myself,” Ben assured her, but Lucy shook her head before he could finish the sentence.

  Cole knew Lucy well enough to know she was determined to have her way. “We'll get a hotel room for the night.” He grabbed the pen out of his pocket and reached for a piece of paper from the end table. “This is my cell phone number. Call us in the morning when they're ready to release you."

  Ben took the paper. “Thanks, Cole. And thanks for taking care of my sister."

  Lucy let out an unladylike snort, but Cole just answered, “You're welcome. Are you ready to go, Lucy?"

  "No. What if Ben needs something?"

  "Then I'll hit the nurse call button."

  Ben's answer didn't appear to satisfy Lucy and she opened her mouth, Cole assumed, to argue.

  But she didn't get the chance. A curt knock sounded at the door and Dr. Sterling stepped into the room. “How are you feeling, Ben?"

  "Pretty good, considering."

  "I'm officially off duty, so fire away with any questions you have about medicine or medical school.” Dr. Sterling sat in the chair next to the bed.

  While Ben asked Dr. Sterling about different specializations, Cole pulled Lucy aside. “Ben's fine. I'm worried about you. You need to get some sleep so you can help him tomorrow. Please, let me take you to a hotel now."

  She bit her lip, and then tilted her head to look at Ben. He was talking animatedly to Dr. Sterling, engrossed in their conversation. “Okay. Let me just say goodbye."

  She walked to the bed, apologizing for interrupting. “Cole and I are going to leave. If you need anything, Ben, call Cole's cell. I left in such a hurry, I forgot mine."

  "I will.” Ben accepted Lucy's hug and Cole saw him swipe a tear off of her cheek. “I love you, Luce."

  "I love you, too. Goodnight, Ben. Thanks, Dr. Sterling."

  Cole took Lucy's hand as he said his goodbyes. They walked out to the valet and waited for his car. “Are you still hungry? Do you want to stop for something more to eat?"

  Lucy shook her head. “I just want to go to a hotel."

  After the valet brought Cole's BMW, they drove to a hotel only a few miles away. “I'll get us two rooms."

  He took a step toward the check-in counter, but Lucy stopped him with a remarkably strong grip on his forearm. “One room."

  He turned back to make sure he'd understood. “Huh?"

  "I just want one room."

  His heart rate jumped. “Are you sure?"

  Lucy closed her eyes as her trademark blush bloomed on her cheeks. “Please, Cole. I need to be with you tonight."

  Perhaps the smart choice was to refuse her. Their relationship was tenuous enough without switching back and forth between friends and lovers. His craving for her hadn't lessened, though, and he knew they both needed comfort tonight.

  "I'll be right back."

  Lucy fann
ed her face, hoping the redness burning her cheeks would diminish by the time Cole returned. She didn't want to be shy tonight. She needed to lose herself in Cole. To forget this day, forget she could have lost her brother and dearest friend.

  Cole had been wonderful. It was hard to remember they were little more than friends, if you could even call them that. Whatever the definition of their relationship, it didn't matter tonight.

  A few days ago, she wasn't sure if she'd ever see him again. After the Fish Fly Festival, she'd wanted nothing more than to take him to bed and pretend the differences between them didn't exist. That evening, common sense had stopped her. Cole only saw her as a means to an end, his way of getting a child. If she continued to be with him, her heart would eventually end up broken. So, since she had no intention of giving up her child and Cole had no intention of making a commitment, it seemed prudent to cut off all contact.

  Until, of course, Ben was hurt and Cole was the first person she'd wanted to tell. Even in the midst of an emotional breakdown, though, she'd dialed Sarah's number instead. A wave of relief flowed through her when she got Sarah's voicemail, and she immediately dialed Cole's phone. He was who she needed then, and who she needed now.

  Cole returned from the check-in counter, keycard in hand. He put an arm around her waist and turned her toward the elevator. “All set."

  They took the elevator to the tenth floor and walked down the hallway to the door marked Suite.

  "An ordinary room would have been fine,” she told him. “You didn't have to pay for a suite."

  Cole shrugged as he inserted the key card into the door. “I wanted you to have the best."

  She wondered why was he always saying sweet things like that? This was about sex. She didn't want to confuse things. She knew when he'd spoken earlier of always being there for her, he wasn't talking about love. He'd meant he'd be there as a father might for the mother of his child. Nothing more.

  "This isn't about wanting a child or trying to trick you.” Unless he could read minds, Cole couldn't have spoken her thoughts more accurately. He put his arms around her waist and held her close. His lips touched the tip of her ear as he whispered, “I just want you."

  "I want you, too.” The words ripped from her throat as if they had a life of their own. “I need you."

  With a growl, he scooped her up and carried her across the sitting room to the bedroom and king-sized bed. He gently placed her at the edge of the bed and fell to his knees beside her. His fingers expertly unbuttoned the fly of her jeans and then, with her help, he pulled them over her hips. Her heart hammered furiously as she lifted her buttocks so he could slide her panties off. While he gazed at her, clear adoration in his eyes, Lucy pulled off her T-shirt and white cotton bra. In all her naked glory, she sat unashamed while his eyes feasted.

  "You are so beautiful,” he praised as his hands moved up and down her thighs in a sweet caress. His hands were so smooth, as if he'd never used them for much more than counting his money. Her hands, she knew, were rough and calloused from heavy lifting and the stab of thorns. Yet another mark of two different worlds.

  She pushed the offending thought out of her head. At this moment, there was only one world and they were the only two inhabitants.

  When he used a palm to lightly push her back, she knew what he intended. Before he could take her out of the solar system, she slipped off the bed and chuckled as his eyebrows furrowed.

  "I want to take care of you this time."

  "Haven't you ever heard ladies first?” he asked, attempting to yank her back on the bed.

  But she resisted his attempts, instead making him stand. She unbuttoned his collared shirt, kissing a path down his chest with each opening. As she kissed closer to the promised land, his stomach muscles clenched, and she heard a swift intake of breath. “Do you want me to keep going?” She gave him a smile of pure innocence.

  His hands gripped her hair. “God, yes."

  With aching slowness, she unbuttoned his belt buckle and pants, teasing him through the cloth of his boxers with her fingertips. His penis awoke at full force, and she felt the swollen hardness before she saw it.

  In a flash, his pants were off. Cole wrenched them down along with his boxers in his desperation. His eyes were glazed over as if he needed a fix, and Lucy wondered for a moment if he was just going to pull her down to the floor and take her.

  But that wasn't what she wanted. She wanted to be in control, to have some power in a day that had left her feeling powerless. She didn't want to be taken. She wanted to take.

  So she took.

  Her mouth closed over him. A strangled sob tore from Cole, and his grip on her hair tightened. Her lips and tongue moved up and down, savoring his masculinity. His hips undulated, and he thrust himself deeper and deeper. Her hands moved around to grasp his firm buttocks, kneading, squeezing, drawing him even closer.

  As he quivered in preparation of release, he wrenched back.

  "Why did you do that?” She'd wanted him to finish, to make him climax.

  He ran a hand over his sweaty forehead, his breathing labored. His skin glistened as if he'd just run several miles. “I want to be inside you."

  "You were.” She offered her best attempt at a seductive smile and waved a finger at him in invitation. “Come back here and let me finish."

  He walked back to her, but didn't let her resume her previous position. “I want to be inside you here.” He cupped her intimately, making her squirm in pleasure. His finger slid into her easily; she was already wet and ready. “Let's do this together."

  Unexpected tears welled up in her eyes. This was all they would ever have together. They lived two separate lives. The only thing that connected them was their bodies. The thought burned a hole in her soul, and a tear slipped down her cheek.

  Cole lifted away the tear with a finger. “What's this?” he asked with tenderness in his voice.

  She couldn't tell him the truth. She couldn't bear to hear him deny they were worlds apart. Not tonight. “I just want you so much."

  "Then have me."

  He laid her on the bed, but didn't immediately take her. Instead he stood and walked away.

  "Where are you going?” More tears welled in her eyes. He'd changed his mind. He didn't want her anymore.

  But when he looked over his shoulder to face her, he was smiling. “Condoms.” He reached in his pants pocket and pulled out his wallet.

  Lucy pulled a pillow over her head to hide her pink cheeks. After accusing Cole of purposely forgetting a condom last time, she would have repeated the same mistake. What was it about this man that made her go stupid?

  The pillow moved off her face and Cole appeared in its place. “It's okay. You're protected."

  "Thank you."

  "Save the thank you until I really do something spectacular."

  "Like what?” She pulled him on top of her.

  "Like this.” And then he was inside her.

  A gasp tore from deep within her. He felt so incredible, she wished they could stay like this forever. She gripped his head, her fingers curling into the smooth brown strands. Her lips met his in a hot, wet, open-mouthed kiss that made her toes curl into the bed. Their tongues dueled as their hips pumped in accord.

  Lucy soared into the sky, almost in reach of heaven. Wrapping her legs around his waist, she urged Cole to go faster and deeper. Tendons pulsed in his neck as he moved one of her legs over his shoulder to allow him even deeper access inside her. Within a few thrusts, Lucy screamed out her release.

  Waves of ecstasy still coursed through her when Cole yelled her name and collapsed on top of her. They lay together silently, the only sound in the room their labored breaths.

  When her heartbeat returned to its normal rhythm, Lucy found her voice. “Thank you. I needed that."

  Cole moved to her side and tucked her in the crook of his arm. He kissed the top of her head. “See. I told you you'd thank me."

  She punched his arm lightly, and he laughed.
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  "Thank you, too. For letting me be here with you through this."

  "Don't thank me,” Lucy said. “I don't know how I would have gotten through the day without you. Especially if...” She choked on the words. It hurt even to utter the possibility that Ben could have died.

  Cole's arms tightened around her. “Shh. Ben's fine. Don't torture yourself thinking about it. We're going to take him home tomorrow, and then you can spend the next few weeks fussing over him."

  The thought made her smile. She missed Ben so much when he was at school. She wouldn't mind a few weeks of pampering him.

  But first, she wouldn't mind pampering someone else. At least for the duration of the night.

  She stepped out of bed and padded naked across the room.

  "Where are you going?"

  "I could use a shower.” When she got to the doorway between the bedroom and the bathroom, she turned and gave Cole a full frontal view.

  His mouth hung open, his tongue sliding to the side like a dog.

  "Wanna join me?"

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  Chapter Eight

  Lucy was deliciously sore when she woke the next morning. Deliciously sore and deliciously full. The former could be attributed to the multiple rounds of sex she and Cole had shared in the bed, then the shower, and then the floor of the sitting room amid their room service meals. The latter could be blamed on Cole, who had woken her up by thrusting into her from behind.

  Cole gripped her waist and pulled her even closer against his groin.

  She easily picked up his rhythm and her hand reached back to urge him on. She gripped the clenched muscles of his buttocks, her fingernails digging into his skin. He cried her name, but it was full of pleasure, not pain.

  He moved his hand from her waist to her breast. He found her nipple, swollen and aching, and fondled and tweaked the bud until she cried out.

  When he bit a sensitive spot on the back of her neck, the room burst with blindingly bright stars. Her body thrummed in the aftermath long after Cole pulled out of her.

  "Good morning.” He kissed the top of her head, which was becoming a sweet ritual. Then, he stood, removed the condom, and walked into the bathroom.