And in time... (13 page)

Cory kissed her lips, trying to ease her trepidation. Alexis didn’t kiss back. She didn’t even pucker. Her lips stayed in a pouting, straight line. “I’m going to step out so you can take off your under clothes.” 

“Why? What’s the point in that? You’re about to—”

“Lex, stop. You’re blowing this way out of proportion. I’m going to step out and Malinda will get you set up. Stop being difficult.”

Alexis blew out a grumbling, frustrated moan and watched Cory walk out. “Sure, easy for you to say,” she mumbled audibly, coming to her feet. “You’re not the one about to spread your legs for the hot doctor. And not in a good way,” she groused under her breath while stepping out of her panties, hiding them beneath her jeans.

Minutes seemed like hours, laying there waiting, knowing what Cory Baker was about to do. Oh God! How humiliating. Alexis covered her face with the paper sheet when Cory returned with the nurse.

“Does she have to be here?” she asked quietly, peeking out from the noisy sheet.

Cory dismissed the nurse with a nod. “Not if you don’t want her to. I know this is awkward for you, Lex, but I promise, I’ll be as quick as I can.”

Cory kissed her lips again and backed away. Alexis grabbed his white coat before he could get too far. “You do realize we haven’t even had sex yet, don’t you?”

“I plan on changing that real soon,” Cory admitted. Alexis stopped him again, fisting his coat in her hand.

“Don’t look, okay?”

“I promise, but do I have to wear gloves?”

“Cory!”

“I’m kidding.”

Alexis covered her face again.

“Uncover your face, Lex. I’m going to stand right here to the side and keep looking at your beautiful face.”

Alexis held in one long breath and squeezed her eyes shut. This was not happening. Embarrassment didn’t come close to what she felt. She was mortified. Cory did exactly what he promised. He stood to the side and did what he needed to do. Although her eyes were mostly closed, he kept his on her face, never looking once. Thank God the humiliation was over fairly quickly. Cory covered her with the sheet and slid the gloves over his large hands.

“I’m going to have my nurse get everything set up for the ultrasound. Are you okay for a few minutes?”

“I don’t think it can get any worse at this point. I’m fine.”

“Stay in bed. I’ll be right back.”

Cory left her with another kiss. Alexis stared at the fluorescent lights above her head and shook her head. Unbelievable. Her attention was pulled to the laughing sound coming from her purse. What the hell was that? It took a few moments for her to realize what it was. Bernie.

“Stop touching my phone. Some friend you are, I could have been dying and you left me here with Dr. Boris.”

“Who?” Bernie asked puzzled.

“Never mind.”

“How are you? What did he say?”

“He said he’s ninety percent sure it’s an ovarian cyst, and I feel fine now. I just have a faint pain now, but he still wants me to get a vaginal ultrasound to be sure.”

“He’s not doing it, is he?”

“No way!” Alexis lied. She wouldn’t tell her about the pelvic exam, either. Bernie would make it out to be sexual and it
so
wasn’t. Not even close.

“What are you doing? I said stay in bed,” Cory scolded with a scorn, pushing a wheelchair.

“I’ve to go. Dr. Boris is back,” Alexis explained annoyed with the whole situation. Of all days for Cory to be at the clinic, UGH!

“Do you want me to come and get you?”

“No, Cory said he’ll be done as soon as the other doctor gets here. He’ll take me home.”

“Okay, call me later. Love you, bye.”

“Yeah, love you, bye.”

“Dr. Boris? Are you calling me a mad scientist?” Cory questioned.

“I can walk,” Alexis assured him.

“Will you sit and stop being so difficult?”

Alexis pouted with crossed arms and a sigh without a word. It wouldn’t matter anyway, Cory wouldn’t have listened. He pushed her down the hall to another bright white room with his nurse following close behind. Alexis wondered if Cory asked her to leave when she helped her to the paper covered table and stepped out. He explained the procedure while raising the sheet over her knees. Alexis held air into her lungs and then let it out with the tapping on the door.

“Dr. Brock is here,” the nurse informed Cory.

“Thank you,” he nodded. “Would you like for Dr. Brock to do this?”

“Yes. I would feel much better if Dr. Brock did it.” Whoever that was.

Alexis remembered Dr. Brock from her visit there with Paige as soon as he entered. He was very thorough and showed her the image on the screen. “It did rupture,” he explained with a pointed finger to the deflated cyst. “That’s what was causing all the pain. I think you’ll feel much better now. I’m going to prescribe some antibiotics and something for the pain for the next two or three days. After that, I think you’ll be as good as new. These things are very common in women your age, and after getting a good look at what’s going on in there, I don’t have any further concerns. “Do you have any questions?”

“No, I don’t think so. Thank you.”

***

“You doing okay?” Cory asked as he drove them back to Cedar Springs.

“Yes, I’m fine, and thank you for putting up with me.”

Cory smiled and took her hand. “You’re very welcome. You had me scared when you first came in,” he admitted while pulling her hand to his lips. He kissed her knuckles and then fished his ringing cell phone from his pocket.

“You can take that,” Alexis offered when he silenced it. 

“No, it’s not important. Are you hungry?”

“Not really. Are you? I can make us something.”

“I don’t want you to make anything. I want you to rest.”

“Cory, I’m fine. I feel really silly for even going there.”

“I’m glad you did.”

Mr. Dog met the strange car in the driveway, barking and growling at the tires. For all he knew Alexis wasn’t home and this car didn’t belong on his turf.

“Good boy, now stop it,” Alexis scolded after the praise, petting him calm.

Alexis unlocked the door and Mr. Dog and Cory followed.

“I’m going to grab a quick shower and get out of these tight pants. Make yourself at home, I’ll be right back.”

Cory held onto her and pulled her close to his body. Using his tongue to part her lips, he kissed her.

“You really shouldn’t do that,” she admitted in a soft tone to his lips.

“Why not?”

“I think we both know the answer to that.”

Cory smacked her on the bottom. “Go take a shower. I’m going to use your phone.”

Alexis showered upstairs, running a razor, quickly over her legs. She talked herself calm more than once, thinking about being with Cory. Jesus. It wasn’t like she was a virgin, but that is exactly what it felt like. “You’re almost thirty. Stop being a drama queen,” she audibly told her reflection when she spit toothpaste to the sink. “You’ve got this.” Choosing a short pair of shorts and cami with no bra, she descended the stairs. Nervous as hell with shaky knees, she made her way to Cory.

The world around her came crashing in while her bare feet came to an abrupt halt. Her mouth dried up, her breath held in her lungs, and she suddenly couldn’t swallow.  

“I told you I have an emergency. I’ll be home as soon as I can. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”

There was a pause as he listened to the voice on the other end.

“Look, Beth, you knew I was a doctor before you signed up for this. I’ll be home when I can get there.”

Cory turned and his face dropped when he saw Alexis. Her posture was limp, her face was white, and her hands were in tight fists.

“I have to go, I’ll be home as soon as I can. Lex, let me explain,” he began as soon as he’d hung up.

“You don’t need to explain anything, Cory. Please, just go,” she begged while walking away from him, showing him to the door. How could she be so stupid?

Cory followed and pleaded with every step. “Alexis, for God’s sake, please listen to me.”

“I don’t need to hear anything you have to say,” she assured him. She opened the door and gestured for him to hit the road, palm side up.

“Lex, please.”

“Get the fuck out, Cory,” she demanded through gritted teeth, feeling anger she didn’t normally feel. Alexis wasn’t wired that way. She didn’t get mad.

Cory stepped out onto the porch and turned to her. “This isn’t over, Lex.”

“Yes, Cory, believe me when I say—it is.”

Finally able to swallow the dry lump, Alexis closed the door and slid to the floor. Covering her face with her hands, she fought tears. No. She wouldn’t cry. She wasn’t in love with him, and she didn’t need him. She never did. Stupid, stupid girl. Stupid guard. She did cry. No matter how hard she fought it, it happened. Tears were shed over a man she knew had been hiding something. She knew it from day one. Dammit. Why the hell didn’t she listen to her gut? What the hell was she thinking?

Mr. Dog nudged her arm and she raised her eyes to her concerned companion. She wrapped her arms around his neck and cried a few more tears. That was all she needed, Mr. Dog. He would forever be loyal and he sure as hell wouldn’t hurt her. 

“Just stop it, Alexis Rosaline McKinley. This is entirely all your fault, and you have no one to blame but yourself,” she accused out loud to no one but her inhuman friend. She regained her composure as much as possible and made her way to the kitchen. There were no take-backs and nothing she could do would change the fact that she’d been stupid. Again!
This too shall pass
, she reminded herself. She would get through this one just like the last one, but there would be no next time. That, she would bet her life on. Never. She tried to eat the leftover chicken and dumplings from the night before, but barely got a few bites down before dumping the rest down the drain for the garbage disposal.

The cordless rang from the wall, but she didn’t answer. The caller I.D. told her it was just Bernie. A text message would suffice for the night. She’d explain everything when she woke, hoping to wake up feeling better than she was at the moment.

Lex—I’m fine, just a little tired. I’ll call you in the morning. I’m probably just going to hang around the house tomorrow. Call me if you need anything.

Alexis placed her phone in the window, hit send, and waited, knowing Bernie would text right back.

Bernie—Okay, I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Call if you need me.

Alexis didn’t know what to do with herself, she didn’t want to sleep, didn’t want to watch TV, didn’t want to read, and she definitely did not want to feel hurt anymore. Once she remembered the pain pills from Dr. Brock, she decided to go that route. Maybe it would help with the numbing. Sleep it off—that sounded like the best plan. Things always looked better in the morning, wise words from her dad. She just hoped they held true. 

The empty water bowl caught the corner of her eye just as she went to shut off the kitchen light. Her neck stretched when she saw the headlights and then his car.

“You have got to be kidding me,” she audibly said with a stomp of each foot, all the way to the living room door.

“Hush,” she yelled at Mr. Dog when he heard the commotion on the porch.

Alexis opened the door with a hateful jerk and tried to speak in syllables. “Un-fu-fu-be-lieve-able.” Her eyebrows moved to the center and she stared at Cory. What the hell?

“Doggie,” the little girl said, excited to see Mr. Dog. She squirmed and wiggled her little body, freeing herself from Cory’s arms, and went to Mr. Dog.

“Were you crying, Lex?” Cory questioned.

Alexis ignored the question. She wouldn’t have admitted that if her life depended on it. “What are you doing here?”

“This is why I had to get home. There are no other girls in my life, except her and you, I hope. You heard me on the phone with her babysitter. I was messing up her bingo night. Beth Regal, do you know her?” he asked.

Alexis nodded, unable to take her eyes off this adorable little girl. Cory had a kid. Holy shit. Cory had a kid.

“Cory, is this what you’ve been hiding from me?” she asked in deep thought, putting the pieces together. The strange look about the tiny milk carton, the questions about her wanting kids, the phone calls he couldn’t take around her, and all the times he had to be home by seven. It all added up now.

“Yes, Lex, it is.”

“You stupid ass,” she said with her hand cupped over her mouth, getting closer to his ear so the little girl couldn’t hear her.

“I’m sorry.”

“God, you’re such a fu—an ass. Why would you think you have to hide”—she paused and looked at the little girl again—“your daughter?”

Cory nodded.

“Why would you think you have to hide her from me? I don’t understand.”

“Because I’m a stupid ass. I tried to tell you, but you kept—”

“Oh no you don’t. You’re not pinning this on me. You should have told me.”