Love in the Air: Lopez Island Series #2

by Jamie E. Matthews

  She merely shot him a look and checked her phone for emails while the video played out. When Adrian draped his arm around her and pulled her close, she put her phone away, and as the warmth of his body seeped into hers, her eyelids grew heavy. She gave in and laid her head against his shoulder, snuggled in a bit and closed her eyes—her night of tossing and turning was catching up to her. After a few minutes, Adrian nudged her.

  “The instructor is coming. Try to pretend you’re awake.”

  Nell snorted, but sat up and tried to look alert.

  A blond, broad shouldered kid who looked to be about 20 bounded into the room, rubbed his hands together.

  “Boring stuff is out of the way, am I right?” He grinned at them, and Adrian laughed.

  “Nell was riveted.”

  The guy held up his hands. “I know, I know. It’s the lawyers, what can you do? My name is Sam; ready to get started?”

  He led them to the course, explaining their options—a cooperative challenge, a competitive one, or a combination.

  Nell opened her mouth to choose competitive, but Adrian beat her to it and suggested they start off competing—with a wry glance at her—and finish with a cooperative game. Sam directed them up a tall ladder to a platform, and once there, he outfitted them with a harness and safety rigging while Nell surveyed the view from their high perch. He set them up to compete and race to the middle of the course, starting out with a zipline, then a balance beam, followed by a rope ladder and then an obstacle course.

  “That’s where I’ll wait for you,” Adrian smirked, pointing to the platform that marked the end of the race.

  “Whatever makes you feel better, honey,” Nell said sweetly, adjusting her grip on the zipline and grinning at him.

  The familiar thrill of adrenaline filled her as Sam counted them down. As soon as he yelled “go,” she pushed off the platform and slid down the wire, tucking her feet under her slightly and raising her eyebrows as the wind whipped around her. Holy shit, this zipline was fast. When she got to the end seconds ahead of Adrian, she whooped, a huge grin on her face. She beat him again over the balance beam, but the rope ladder slowed her down some—the man was like a damn monkey clambering over it. So, she pushed it through the obstacle course, throwing herself on the ground and burrowing under the low bars, and hopping over the tall obstacles. She jumped onto the platform a full 20 seconds before Adrian. Not that she was counting.

  “Suck it!” she crowed as Adrian jumped next to her, out of breath.

  “Second place,” he said, pumping his fist in the air, and she laughed.

  “You guys are hella fast,” Sam yelled, still making his way around the outside of the course to meet them. “Be there in a second.”

  Nell gave Adrian a quick, hard kiss while they waited. “Thanks for setting this up. I know I was grumpy about the safety stuff, but I’m actually having fun.”

  “It’s not super daredevil or edgy,” he admitted, wiping the sweat from his face with the hem of his shirt, exposing his muscular chest. “I was just looking for mindless fun.”

  “I might be over the daredevil stuff. A little, anyway,” Nell admitted. “I have to admit, this is pretty fun. My dad…” she hesitated, pressed her lips together, not having meant to go there. But, Adrian just waited, patient, his eyes on hers. “Well, I guess you heard the scoop from Paul. You go after the adrenaline rush all the time like he did, and you get immune to it, and keep pushing and pushing until you’re doing stuff that’s so dangerous it’s asinine.”

  “Yeah. I get that,” Adrian said. “For me, it’s always been the combination of the extreme sports and new places that gets me going. Parasailing off the coast of Italy is a lot different from parasailing in Hawaii, for example, but they’re both about the same level of danger.”

  “I haven’t tried that,” Nell admitted, leaning down to tighten the laces on her sneakers.

  She could feel Adrian watching her for a long moment before he spoke.

  “For someone who says they love adventure so much, it doesn’t seem like you’ve done a lot of the same sports that I have.”

  Nell shrugged, looked off to the side where Sam had started up the ladder to their platform. “I strap myself in a tin can every day and hurtle through the air thousands of feet above ground. I’m not that different from my dad, really. I just keep it under control. Another reason I’m probably just better off not being in an actual relationship—I’m destined to fuck it up just like he did.”

  Adrian looked like he was about to disagree, but Sam arrived and began coaching them on their next challenge. Sheer walls without many footholds, yawning gaps they’d have to swing over on ropes, a rickety wooden bridge, and other similar obstacles would force them to work as a team—unlike the first challenge, slow and steady would win here. Growing up, Nell had always disliked team sports, tending more towards track and field that allowed her to compete individually. Still, as they set off to conquer the sheer wall, she had to admit that working so closely with Adrian wasn’t exactly a hardship. His hands lingered on her waist as he helped her up onto his shoulders, and she returned the favor, running her hands across his back, enjoying the muscles flexing under her fingers. He stood rock steady while she balanced herself, feet on his shoulders and slowly inched her way into a standing position, bracing her hands against the wall. It struck her as she glanced down at his dark head that she had no doubt at all that he’d hold her up, and if she did fall, he’d catch her.

  Once at the top of the wall, she anchored herself with the rope she’d found there, and then extended her arms down, helping him stay steady and get some momentum as he climbed up the sheer face. Panting, they strategized the next move—a large gap and a short rope that didn’t look like it would carry them across. Since Adrian was heavier, she figured he’d be able to launch farther, and guessed there might be some more rope at the other end. Sure enough, he managed to clear the gap—barely—and tied another length to the rope before sending it back her way.

  The course took way longer than the first challenge and put her muscles to work. She enjoyed the challenge and the frequent excuses to get close to Adrian. And, she appreciated the quick way his mind worked, his willingness to let her take the lead when she had a good idea—she even found herself liking the way he’d firmly shut her down when she started hell-bent down the path of an idea that he didn’t think would work.

  By the time they got to the end, a sheen of sweat covered her, and her muscles felt loose and limber—in some places even a bit achy. And, after watching Adrian climb, lift and pull, she wanted to nibble on that built body all over and wondered when they could be alone again. She gave Adrian a long look, and he stared back, his gaze heating up, and a slow smile creasing his face. Sam took them back to the office to give them vouchers for wine tasting at a nearby winery and encouraged them to come back again.

  As they walked back to the car, Adrian slid his arm around her waist, thumb moving over her skin in lazy circles that heated her blood. She leaned into him while she pulled out her phone to make sure she hadn’t missed any calls from work. Dread crept through, burning off the desire that was building—she’d missed two calls from Ben and three from Hannah, as well as several texts. Adrian pulled his phone out of his pocket, and he too, frowned at the screen.

  Quickly, she opened her texts, and her breath caught in her throat at the stark words.

  Hannah: Problem with the baby. Amy at Seattle Hospital.

  “We have to go.” Nell felt tears burn at her eyes and blinked them back, tugging at Adrian’s hand, but he was already running with her.

  His face set in grim lines, he jumped into the car and while Nell scrambled to put on her seatbelt, he peeled out of the parking lot.

  Nell closed her eyes, fingers clenched in her lap and pleaded with the universe. When Adrian reached out to grip her hand, she held on, hard, and dialed Hannah’s number.

  Chapter 14

  For the second time in just a few months, Adrian zipp
ed into the entryway to the hospital way past the legal speed limit, tires screaming as he slammed to a halt. He tossed the keys to the valet and raced around the car to join Nell, already on her way through the revolving doors. When she would have veered into the emergency room, he gently pulled her back and directed her toward the elevator bank. He’d called Paul and gotten the room location.

  “Maternity ward,” was all he said, as he punched the button for that floor.

  “Well, that’s good, right?” she asked, her mouth tight, and then answered herself. “Idiot. No, it’s not good. Of course she needs to be where the experts are.”

  Once out of the elevator, Nell would have gone charging past the reception desk if Adrian hadn’t grabbed her arm.

  “Honey, we need to check in,” he told her, familiar with the procedures from when the twins were born.

  A nurse with a tired smile and kind eyes directed them to the waiting room, where they found Paul, Hannah and Tom waiting. Paul paced up and down the room, and Hannah and Tom held hands, Hannah’s head resting on his shoulder.

  “What’s the news?” Nell asked, breaking free of Adrian’s hold and heading straight to Paul, who enveloped her in a hug.

  Adrian told himself the twinge of jealousy that surged through him was completely inappropriate, especially under the circumstances. Still, he breathed a bit easier when Nell pushed away, waiting impatiently for an answer.

  “We don’t know. She’s been tired the last few days, complaining of a killer headache. Ben said she woke up today, her face, hands and feet swollen, feeling dizzy. There was some bleeding. When he called her doctor, they told her to get to the hospital immediately.”

  Nell pushed her hands through her hair and sank down next to Hannah, who draped an arm around her.

  “I called her parents,” she said. “They’re on the first flight up.”

  Adrian had a sinking feeling in his gut. The symptoms sounded like preeclampsia—Olivia had been put on bed rest the last month of her pregnancy with the same diagnosis. He pulled out his phone, stepped out into the hall. He dialed his mom, and when she answered, explained the situation.

  “That sweet girl I met at Cinco de Mayo?” she exclaimed in dismay. “Oh, that’s so awful. I’ll pray for them right now.”

  Despite the circumstances, Adrian’s lips twitched. His mama’s religion only kicked in during times of need, when her “prayers” consisted of her scolding her god for allowing such terrible things to happen, while in the good times she ignored any kind of spiritual presence altogether.

  “But of course, her parents should stay with me,” she said, as he started to tell them how they were on a flight up from California.

  “Thanks, mama. Love you. I’ll text you with details.”

  “Let me know if you need food while you’re waiting—you know Alex would deliver.”

  “Good idea. I’ll keep you posted.”

  Adrian headed back to the waiting room, where his friends had fallen silent. He sat down next to Nell, reached over and took her hand. She held on tight. Ten minutes dragged by before Paul’s phone dinged.

  “Ben says her blood pressure is high. They’re concerned she’s developing preeclampsia, so they’re running a test and keeping her here to monitor until the results come back.”

  Shit. Adrian let out a breath. This was bad, especially given that she’d just barely gotten through her first trimester.

  “I don’t know anything about that,” Hannah admitted. “Do you guys?”

  Adrian hesitated, but Nell happened to catch his expression and pounced.

  “You know something. What?”

  “I know a little,” Adrian hedged. “But there hasn’t been a diagnosis, so I don’t want everyone to freak out about something Amy may not even have.”

  “More information is better than nothing,” Hannah said.

  Paul nodded. “I agree.”

  Adrian surveyed Tom and Nell, who both nodded.

  “When Olivia was pregnant with the twins, Alex was a mess. When twins are involved, there’s increased potential for things to go wrong during the pregnancy. Early on, she showed some signs of high blood pressure, and they warned her about the possibility of preeclampsia. She was super freaked out, so he told her he’d read up on it so she didn’t have to. Only what she didn’t know was that he was already obsessing over every single symptom she had.”

  “That’s so sweet,” sighed Hannah.

  “I knew he was obsessing because I was the one he’d come to in a panic. So, when this came up, I told him she needed to keep her blood pressure down, and if he was stressed out, it wouldn’t help her. He needed to stop immersing himself in all the worst case scenarios and just try to be there for her and enjoy the experience. I moved back to Seattle for the rest of her pregnancy and designated myself the expert who would handle the worrying for Alex and Olivia. I came to doctor’s appointments with them, and did a lot of reading about preeclampsia.”

  He explained to the group that high blood pressure was a key symptom as were headaches, swelling, and dizziness. However, they were also common signs of early pregnancy—except maybe the blood pressure. The complications could cause kidney damage, prevent the baby from developing properly, and in severe cases, lead to eclampsia, which could cause seizures and death—although he tried to tone that down for them. No such luck, though.

  “How serious is it? Don’t dance around it,” Nell said, narrowing her eyes at him.

  “There’s no cure,” he admitted. “The only way out is by giving birth. Which is why they’re taking this so seriously with Amy, I’m sure. It usually develops later in the pregnancy. Olivia started showing symptoms five weeks before her due date. It escalated rapidly, and that late in the pregnancy, she had to go on complete bed rest for three weeks before they decided to induce her.”

  “So the longer she has preeclampsia, the worse it is for her and the baby, if this is what she has,” Paul summed up.

  Adrian nodded. “That’s my understanding. But, again, they haven’t diagnosed Amy yet, and it’s not like I’m a doctor. What I learned with Olivia’s pregnancy is there are so many weird symptoms that it’s best not to jump to conclusions.”

  Hannah nodded. “Sweetie, I appreciate you trying to calm us down, but it sure does sound like that’s what she has.”

  Nell had her phone out and was scrolling through, frowning.

  “I’d suggest not looking it up,” Adrian said. “It will freak you the fuck out.”

  “Internet diagnoses are the worst,” agreed Tom. He reached around Hannah to pat Nell on the knee. “Put it away, or I’ll take it away.”

  Nell raised her eyebrow at him. “I hate it when you get all bossy.”

  “I like it,” Hannah said with a wink, but her joke seemed forced, and they all lapsed into silence.

  Adrian’s phone beeped, and he glanced over to see a text from his mom.

  Agata: Send me the flight info, and I will pick them up. Quicker than a taxi.

  “It is the way you drive,” Adrian mumbled, then smiled when everyone stared at him. “Sorry. I called Mama, and she’ll host Amy’s parents at her house. She offered to pick them up at the airport.”

  “I didn’t even think of that,” Nell said, brows drawn together in frustration. “Of course they need a place to stay. I can go pick them up, no need for your mom to bother.”

  She jumped up, ready to head out, but Paul shook his head. “Their flight isn’t due for another few hours. I’ll text Agata the flight number and arrival time.”

  “You should stay here in case Amy needs us,” Hannah said.

  “Right. You’re right.” Nell blew out a breath, sat back down.

  Adrian knew it was killing her to sit there, with nothing to do. For someone like Nell, who was used to simply demolishing any obstacles in her way, this was the worst possible scenario—to wait, helpless, for news she had no control over.

  “Hey,” he said quietly to her. “I know no one wants to think abo
ut food, but we’ll be here at least a few more hours, if not longer. At some point, we’ll all need to eat. And, Amy might appreciate something besides hospital food. My brother Alex can deliver from one of his restaurants—do you want to look at the menu and pick out what you think everyone would eat?”

  Their eyes met, hers glistening with unshed tears. In her face, he could see that she knew he was just giving her something to do—there was no need to put in the order now. She laid a hand on his cheek, then leaned in and brushed her lips against his.

  “Thanks,” was all she said, before pulling up the menu on her phone.

  The minutes, then hours, crawled by, with Ben texting periodic updates. They’d tested her blood pressure again. Still high. They’d had her pee in a cup and were waiting for the results. Some of the swelling in her hands and feet had abated now that she’d been lying down for much of the day. They didn’t want her to have visitors with the fear that it could stress her out and raise her blood pressure more, although Agata had dropped off her parents, who were allowed in the room, at her request.

  The next update: the baby’s heartbeat was strong and normal.

  At that, Nell stood up abruptly.

  “Gonna get some fresh air.”

  She speed walked out of the room. Both Hannah and Adrian got up to follow her, but Hannah met his eyes and nodded. “You go.”

  Adrian hustled out, caught a glimpse of Nell rounding the corner, banging open the door to the stairs. Once outside, he caught up to her, slid an arm around her shoulders that she tried to shrug off.

  “I need to be alone right now,” she said, avoiding his eyes.

  That stung, but he shrugged it off. “Tough.”

  She said nothing, her face stony. He steered her off to the side where the hospital had planted a walled garden for patients and families. When the path curved, they were sheltered from view by a row of trees, and he turned her to face him, tipped her chin up so she was forced to meet his eyes.