Page 9 of Never Stop

CHAPTER THREE

Brooke

It was Monday, Easton was at work, Cheyenne was at the neighborhood park where she had a summer camp type thing during the day, and I was in my groove of wearing yoga pants, a tank top, and a sports bra while laying on the couch all day. I never once did yoga or any form of exercise. By the time I got up and thought I wanted to go for a walk, I changed my mind and decided to watch Court TV or something I had recorded on the DVR. Then I took a nap followed by more TV.

With the move to New York and starting radiation, I’d forgotten that Dr. Bloom wanted me to see a genetics counselor until Dr. Fisch called me for a follow-up appointment. I’d thought after removing the tumor, and six long weeks of radiation, that the nightmare would be over. I didn’t want someone to tell me that it wasn’t over—that there was still more to this ordeal.

I’d missed my sister’s graduation from college because of radiation. Of course, being the carefree, go with the flow sister, she’d acted as if she didn’t care.

But I cared.

It broke my heart.

Thankfully, Bailee had decided to move back to Boston after graduation, which was only a short drive from me in New York, so I could see her whenever I wanted. And I wanted to see her as soon as she arrived. She was moving in with one of her high school friends, and whatever the genetics counselor told me—good or bad—I needed my sister.

Having Bailee there for me was different from having Easton there for me. It was like the strongest friendship I could ever imagine having. I could tell her anything and, without judgment, she’d make life easier and better for me—or at least try. With Nicole, she’d sometimes pass judgment, not sugarcoating anything, and with Easton… well, I looked to him for the physical comfort. And while he was there for me emotionally, there was just stuff I didn’t want to burden him with especially since he had Cheyenne. He already had to care for her and make sure she had everything she needed. When she was sick. When she had homework. When she needed her father.

And right now, after not seeing Bailee for so long, I needed her. I just needed a hug from my sister. Today, however, wasn’t the typical Monday I thought it was.

I’d fallen asleep on the couch, something I often did these days, when my cell rang mid-dream. I winced as I reached for it on the table. I was still healing from surgery and under my arm always felt as though the skin was raw. Glancing at the screen, I smiled when I saw that it was Easton.

“Hey…” My smile instantly faded, and a chill went through my entire body as I heard him take a deep breath.

“You need to go to Av and Nic’s.”

“What? Why?”

He sighed. “Baby, I don’t want to tell you this over the phone.”

“Just tell me.”

“Trust me. You don’t want to know over the phone.”

I swallowed hard and sat up. “You’re scaring me.”

“Please go to their place. Nic needs you. I’ll meet you there as soon as I can. I’m waiting for Bethy to get here.”

“What? Why?” I asked again. “Did something happen at the doctors?” I knew Nicole had her sixteen-week appointment today. He didn’t respond.

I had my answer.Somethinghad happened, and it wasn’t good.

I didn’t want to think the worst, but that was all I could think about the entire time I drove to Avery and Nicole’s. I’d never been pregnant. I didn’t know what the sixteen-week appointment was for or what to expect. Could you see more than a bean on the ultrasound? Was it only for blood work? Were you able to hear the heartbeat? Was it to make sure you were gaining enough weight? Hell, I had no idea. Nicole seemed to be healthy—she’dlookedhealthy when I’d last seen her at Halo.

Everything with my health felt as though it was pulling us apart. Not in the sense we wouldn’t be friends anymore, but more that we had people in our lives who were taking care of us and we didn’t need each other forthatanymore.

After parking on the street in front of their condo, I took a deep breath before stepping out of my car and walked to the door. My palms were sweaty, my heart was beating out of control, and my head was lightheaded from my medications, but everything appeared to be normal as I stepped up to the door. Birds were chirping. Cars were driving by, and the sun was shining.

Avery opened the door after I knocked. The moment I saw his tear-stained face and red eyes, I knew for sure it was the baby. It wasn’t going to be a typical Monday. It was going to be one with many, many tears.

“What—”

Before I could ask him what had happened, he engulfed me in his arms, his body shaking as sobs broke from his throat. I couldn’t breathe as my face pressed into his chest, and I instantly started to cry. I wasn’t exactly surewhy, but whatever was making this grown man break in my arms was enough for me to lose it.

After crying in the doorway for a minute or two, Avery stepped back, and I walked in, wiping my eyes. I looked around for Nicole, but I didn’t see her.

“Nic’s in our room.”

“What happened?”