“Hey, I just got home and I don’t want to give him up yet,” Zack says teasingly.
“Too bad, let me have him,” I demand.
Zack hands him over to me and all is forgotten for the time being as I stare at my handsome nephew.
“Look at him, Turner.” I pivot around so he can see. “Isn’t he just the cutest little thing?” I give Turner a fleeting look to see his reaction. He takes a quick perusal of the baby and simply nods.
“You can hold him when I’m done.”
“Hell, no. I am not holding him. I’ll probably drop him or something.”
He holds his hands up in protest and I can imagine the shocked look on my face as well. My throat instantly becomes dry at his sudden outburst and lack of attention toward the baby. My brother must pick up on my tense anger as he takes a few steps in Turner’s direction sticking his hand out for him to shake.
“Turner, man. How was your trip?” Zack asks as I walk up the few steps into their house.
I want my brother to see what he thinks and to act like nothing is wrong, so I leave them be to have guy talk. I shut the door and walk into their house being extra cautious with every step. I am so engrossed in this bundle of joy in my arms. I can’t help it; he is just the most handsome and perfect baby I have ever seen.
“Hey, Krista. How you feeling?” I sit down by her on the couch.
“I am worn out, deadbeat tired. But boy is it worth it every time I look at my little man, here.” She reaches up and rubs the top of his head.
“He has so much brown hair; it’s crazy, isn’t it?” I ask while examining his beautiful hair and his tiny little features.
“Let’s just hope it stays that way and he doesn’t lose it all. Not a fan of bald-headed men.” We both burst out laughing at her words.
“I bet you had quite the homecoming last night when your man got home, huh?”
Krista nudges me in the shoulder jokingly. Krista and I have always been extremely close. She’s more than just my sister in law; she’s one of my best friends. I know I can trust her with anything, but she just had a baby and I know she would worry herself sick about this.
“It was incredible. He’s not leaving me again, I can tell you that much, but it was so worth it to see you born, wasn’t it, little man?”
I turn myself away from Krista and coo at the baby so she doesn’t see the concern written all over me. I have never been able to put on a poker face and hide how I truly feel. In less than twenty-four hours, these unknown emotions have become more like an obsession. If I hadn’t called my brother earlier, he would have noticed right away and badgered the hell out of me until I caved and either started crying or losing my shit.
I contemplate how peaceful Nolan is lying sound asleep with not a care in the world as I cradle him in my arms. Babies give you a sense of peace, especially one as perfect as this one.
The guys walk in a few minutes later and I try to hand the baby over to Turner, but he just won’t hold him.
“Fine, then. I will keep him all to myself.”
Zack picks up on the sudden tension radiating off of me, carefully bringing the baby up to rest his head on my shoulder as I pat his little bottom. My eyes dart over to him in hopes of some sort of sign from him to affirm my suspicions of Turner’s erratic behavior.
Something isn’t right at all; I can feel it. I know my brother too well. He is watching Turner like a hawk, with a gaze that could cut him into a million pieces. What the hell happened outside? My instincts turn out to be spot on when my brother starts asking Turner all kinds of questions, tension crackling in his voice.
Am I the only one picking up on it? Turner acts oblivious to the drilling. Out of blue, Zack starts bringing up things from our past, things that only the four of us would know about. I don’t know if it’s Turner’s delayed reaction to a few of the questions or if my nerves are so frazzled from everything in my head, but the hairs on the back of my neck begin to rise. I need to get out of this room.
Neither one of them pay me the slightest bit of attention when I leave. I head into the baby’s room and lay him down in his adorable crib, pulling his tiny comforter over him. He’s so peaceful as I as I stand there watching him.
“He’s something else isn’t he?” Zack whispers from the doorway.
“He is. He’s perfect, really.”
I turn away from the crib and search my brother’s face for any clue as to what he is thinking now. Zack’s forehead is crinkled, worry sketched all over his face.
“What is it?” I ask softly, not wanting to wake the baby.
“Listen to me, I need to make this quick. Something is off about him; I knew it the minute he said he wouldn’t hold Nolan.”
I try to respond but Zack grips my hand, squeezing it gently as he places a finger over my mouth to shush me.
“Not a word. We will get through dinner and let me handle this. In the meantime, you have to continue to act as if you suspect nothing, Clove. Can you do that?”
I nod. More confusion and concern settles deep into my gut.
“I have one question.”
Zack leans his head out the door then directs his attention right back to me.
“Go ahead.”
“Should I be worried? I mean, what the hell is going on? You drilled him in there; it felt more like an inquisition.”
Zack places his hands on my shoulders.
“Do you trust me, Clove?” he asks gravely.
“Of course I trust you. Why?”
“Then just do what I ask. Act like everything is normal and I promise you, I will find out what the hell is going on.”
“Okay.”
Zack must hear the worry in my voice as he brings me in for a tight hug, placing a kiss on my forehead. We’re interrupted by Krista calling to us that dinner is ready. He releases me and as I follow him down the hall, I say a silent prayer for strength. Something tells me this is going to be a shock to my system that is going to slash my heart wide open, and all I can do is stand there and watch myself bleed.
************
Turner seems to be back to normal and talk comes rather easily to all of us during dinner. Zack puts up quite a front pretending everything is fine, until he notices the way Turner constantly sneaks glances at Krista. Every time she gets up, he checks her out from head to toe.
Krista is one of the most gorgeous women you will ever meet, both inside and out, with her long legs and long, wavy blonde hair. She has a face like a supermodel with small features and big, blue eyes. You can barely tell that she just had a baby. She gained only twenty-five pounds during her pregnancy and Nolan weighed a little over eight.
She’s a complete knockout, but to have my husband eye-fucking her right in front of his wife, let alone her husband, is about as low as you can get. I could poke his damn eyeballs out with my fork. By the look on Zack’s face, I can tell that thunder is brewing and lightning is striking in his head.
I don’t have the slightest clue how to handle any of this or what in the fuck I am going to do. One thing I know for certain is that I’d better get Turner out of this house, because the way my brother’s eyes are shooting daggers at him, it’s not going to be long before he is up out of his chair and in Turner’s face, and there will be nothing I can do to save him. Once you have pissed off Zack Becker, he’ll massacre you with his bare hands.
I pick up my plate and help Krista clear the table. Normally, I would stay and help her clean up, but I think it’s best to get Turner out of Zack’s reach, now.
Krista seems surprised by our abrupt departure, but I can tell she’s more tired than she lets on because she doesn’t say a word about it. I will call you tomorrow, Zach mouths at me over her shoulder as I hug and kiss her goodbye.