Life After Love: Part 9

SERENA

"I know what you're trying to do and it's not going to work." Daniel's blatant comment as I placed the dishes in the dishwasher only made me roll my eyes. I didn't see anything wrong with inviting our friends over for dinner. Kyle and I still talked. And apparently, Jesse wasn't going anywhere. I saw no harm in introducing them to each other. And if it turned out they liked each other and happened to move to Alaska, I wouldn't mind that either.

"I'm being nice. Isn't that what you wanted?" I retorted with a smile as I finished drying my hands. He narrowed his eyes at me as we finished up in the kitchen and headed back to our guests, who were still talking by the time we reached them again. Jesse was smiling. Kyle was blushing. I'd say this plan worked out perfectly. Man, I was a genius.

"He's not the guy for her," Daniel whispered in my ear and I turned to glare at him as I pulled him back into the kitchen.

"Well, then who is?"

"Don't start your shit. I'm not in the mood." He made that statement clear as day by storming back out into the living room without me. I sighed and reached for my phone when I heard the text alert in my pocket. I bit my lip and swiped up to answer the text Aaron had sent me. He got a hold of my number somehow after we ran into each other two months ago, and we've been catching up since then. Daniel had no idea Aaron and I were talking again, and I wanted to keep it that way. Shotguns would come out, grenades would be thrown, and I would be the only casualty.

The truth was, Aaron had the connections I needed to expand my business into other parts of Texas. But that was all it was and it didn't need to be explained to anyone if it ever got out that we were talking again. It was a business relationship. Which is what it should've been when we began dating shortly after Daniel left me. I was in complete self-destruction mode back then and I needed something or someone to take the edge off. What better way than to hook up with the only person that would ultimately push Daniel to the point of no return?

Aaron and I had been on and off up until Gabe's funeral after that and I ended it for good the night he confessed he was in love with me. I got the phone call from Marley about Gabe's passing shortly after and I figured it was best to let him be with someone who could give him the kind of love he deserved. He'd been upset of course, and who wouldn't be? But he seemed over it as far as I could tell.

"They're leaving." Daniel's voice made me jump and I quickly hid my phone behind my back, turning to face him. His eyebrow raised but he stepped back out of the kitchen while I shoved my phone back into my pocket. I followed them towards the front door and we all exchanged goodbyes and handshakes before we closed the door.

"What are you hiding from me now?" Daniel asked, in the sweetest and most polite way, as he wrapped his arms around my swollen stomach.

"Have I told you what an amazing husband you are lately?" I played along and cursed when he quickly dipped his hand inside my pocket for my phone. I tried to snatch it away from him but I was too short and wobbly to achieve my goal. As soon as his face fell, I knew he had seen the text messages from Aaron.

"Tell me this isn't who I think it is, Serena." His voice grew an octave with each word and I snatched my phone back when it was finally in my range again and turned it off.

"It's just business. I'm sure you know all about that," I fired sharply, throwing his relationship with Jesse in his face. His hands turned into fists and he started walking towards the patio, exiting before slamming the door shut. I winced and hunched over when I felt a sharp pain in my cervix. Taking a deep breath, I shook off the pain and turned towards the living room to take a seat and relax. I was six months into this pregnancy now and I wasn't sure how much more my body could take. The backaches were coming more frequently now, along with my feet getting more swollen by the day, and the heatburn was getting worse.

These knife-like pains were new and I wasn't sure that was normal. Another round hit me like a punch in the face and I groaned in pain as I held onto the bottom of my enlarged stomach. My hands braced themselves on the armrest of the sofa, my nails digging into the leather as the pain became more unbearable. I was close to passing out until I heard Daniel come back inside, hurrying over to me when he saw the agony I was in.

"What is it? What's wrong baby?" he crooned and I closed my eyes, trying to breathe through the pain.

"Hospital. Now."

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"I'm not ready for this. I'M NOT READY FOR THIS!" I shouted, barely able to contain my foul mouth when Daniel carried me into the emergency room at Houston General Hospital, urging everyone to help me. They sat me down onto a wheelchair as Daniel explained to them how far along I was in this pregnancy, while I cursed everything in sight. Nurses and guests alike.

"She's in premature labor. We have to take those babies out right now," one of the doctors claimed. I couldn't see their name tag, then again, I was in excruciating pain and I wanted to kill someone.

"I want epidurals. All of them. ALL OF THEM!" I continued to yell out my commands as they rushed me through the doors and hauled me into an elevator. Daniel was at my side, letting me crush his hand as we took a short ride to the operating wing on the pediatric floor of the hospital. They insisted he put on proper operating room attire before he could go in and he insisted he couldn't let me go like this.

"Daniel. If I don't get these babies out of me right now, I'll murder you in your sleep," I threatened and his eyes widened as he leaned down to kiss me and let them take me in.

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My thoughts were scrambled, my vision blurry as I tried to open my eyes. Why was I so tired? I felt numb from the neck down and I tried to gain enough strength to sit up.

"Baby?" Daniel's deep voice registered clearly in my head and I tried to swallow as I turned to look at him. He took my hand in his and kissed it, worry shadowing his eyes as he gazed down at me.

"Where are they? Where are the babies?" I asked him, reaching to touch his cheek.

"They're in the ICU for babies. They're just trying to make sure they're strong enough to meet their parents. I got to see them though, baby. We've got our hands full," he explained, his voice cracking as he tried not to cry and laugh at the same time.

"Why are you crying? You were pissed at me not too long ago," I reminded him as he helped me sit up on the bed. My stomach still felt sore, but at least the pain wasn't as bad anymore.

"I just...never thought we'd get here. We've been through more than most people should," he added and reached to pour me a glass of water from the pitcher next to my bed. I downed it all in seconds and he took the cup, placing it near the pitcher once again.

"If you're trying to divorce me now, you're a decade too late," I teased, giving him a small smile as he laughed and leaned in to kiss my forehead.

"I love you. I love you. I love you," he whispered into my ear and I held onto him until he was done getting his feelings out. I never said it back. Out of habit mostly. Every time I did, it was usually followed by something tragic.

"How long have I been out? I want to see them." I changed the subject and he took a seat next to my bed, barely letting my hand go in the process.

"Almost twelve hours. The nurse said they're bringing them by soon."

"Are they healthy?"

"They're a little small, but other than that they're good."

"The names! Did you tell them the names we picked out?"

"I gave them the ones you wanted. I honestly don't care what they're named as long as they're strong and healthy," he argued and kissed my hand as the nurses entered the room, each one with a baby in their arms, both wrapped up in baby blue blankets. My doctor had mentioned they'd be identical twins but I could definitely tell them apart. One of them, the one I would call Zander, had the same birthmark I had on his earlobe. It resembled a blush colored hickey and I knew it was going to get him into a lot of trouble when he grew up.

"Zander, looking real smooth out here buddy," I teased, smiling when he looked up at me with his light brown eyes and his little lips curved into his own smile. His father's damn smile. Oh boy. This one was definitely going to be trouble.

"And Zach," Daniel chimed in, carrying our other baby boy in his arms. Zach was the quiet one, and the sleepy one apparently. His eyes were closed as Daniel kept rocking him gently. That one was going to be a mamma's boy. I could already tell.

"We're going to wait a couple more weeks until they're strong enough to go home with you. But other than that, congratulations," the nurses informed us and began to take the babies away from us. I frowned and Daniel held my hand, letting me know it was going to be fine.

"Thank you, ladies," Daniel said and sent them a short nod as they left the room with our baby boys. "I called the rest of the gang. They're outside waiting. But I can tell them to leave if you're not up for it," he mentioned as he pushed a strand of my curly hair behind my ear.

"Call in the cavalry. I know they won't leave until they see the cute babies we made."