Uncomplicated(26)

As the staff slowly moved out of the room, his gaze fell on me.

"Don't, Jude. Just don't."

A tear rolled down his battered cheek.

It took everything in me not to wipe it with my finger. The feelings I  once had for Jude were there, but they were no longer love. Everything I  felt for him was deeply rooted in pity.

"You could have killed Lori." I was short and to the point.

"I know, I was stupid and there is no excuse for my actions. I am sorry.  I would like to see her, Jenny." He wanted to see her? Why? So he could  see exactly how bad he fucked up?

"I don't think that is a good idea right now. She hasn't woken yet, and  you aren't getting out of this bed anytime soon. Take care of yourself,  Jude."

I went to walk out of the room when a strangled cry stopped me.

"I care about her, Jenny. I really do. You broke me and I know it sounds  stupid because we never had anything, but losing you fucked me up. She  is it for me. Don't take her away."

It took me a minute to understand what he was trying to tell me.

"Jude, if you lose her...it is your own fault."

I had to walk away before I lashed out on him.

I only hoped his motives were pure and he knew what he was getting into  with Lori. Because if he ever hurt her again, I wouldn't let him walk  away a second time.







"Thank God you are here!" Nora ran for me in the foyer of our penthouse,  carrying a small giggling baby. "It threw up on me, twice! I am covered  in baby vomit. I have to go. I have to shower. God! I'm gonna do it  too!" Her gags echoed through the room as she shoved the small boy into  my arms.

"Hey there, little guy." I took him from her and cradled him on my hip. "Did you pick up any accessories for him?"

Mathis walked into the room, catching our conversation. "Did you just call baby stuff accessories?" He laughed.

"Yeah, you know what I am talking about, right? Like bottles and those  little baby seat things. Swings, all the shit babies need so they don't  scream for hours on end?" Right? Isn't that what babies need? Damn. I  was so new to all this shit. What the fuck would I do with a baby if  Mathis did end up getting me pregnant?

Hookers and dildos? I am a fucking pro! Babies and bouncers? Not so much.

Shit. What the hell was I in for?

"All of his stuff is in the kitchen. The only thing I couldn't pack up  and take with me was the crib, clearly too fuckin' big, Jenny." Nora  laughed as she strolled out the door. "I'll be back in the morning. Good  luck, my friend, may the force be with you!"

The door slammed and the baby started crying. Shit! How do I calm him? I  tried to bounce him on my hip, but his screams got louder. O-M-G! Help!  Where is that Super Nanny bitch?

I could feel my nerves getting the best of me when Mathis pulled the  little boy from my grip and startled to cradle him in his arms.

His smooth voice sent a chill through my body as he effortlessly calmed  the little boy. "It's okay, buddy. I'm sure you are scared, being here  with all these strangers. Momma will be home soon, I promise."

Holy hell. Mathis got even sexier, if that was even possible.

"You know, love. Babies can sense stress. You freaked out, so he freaked  out." He laughed and started walking through the house, heading for all  the baby goodies in the kitchen.

"How do you know all this baby stuff?" I was completely puzzled by his  baby knowledge and scared at the same time. "Please don't tell me there  are any illegitimate mini Mathis' running around." I took a deep breath  and sent up a silent prayer.

"Really, Jenny? No, I don't have any kids. I just have friends who do  have kids. Uncle Mathis here!" He laughed as he pulled out a can of  formula and started to prepare a bottle, one handed.

"God, that shit smells!" I gagged as I breathed in the smell of the formula.

"Yeah, I'm not fond of it myself. Looks like you'll be breastfeeding." He winked at me.

I looked down at my tits, palming them with my hands.         

     



 

"This whole baby plan is slowly starting to go out the window."

"Jenny, don't be silly."

Mathis interrupted my thoughts. God, was I really ready for all of this?  Maybe while we have Lori's baby here we should invest in a box of  condoms.

"Mathis, I am serious. I don't know if I am ready for all of this." I waved around the kitchen, taking in all the boy's stuff.

"Relax, Jenny. When we have our own we will have plenty of time to  prepare and get ready. This..." he looked around the room, before his  heated gaze settled back on me, "is all last minute and we just need to  do our best for Lori right now."

I walked around the kitchen island and wrapped my arms around him as he continued to cradle the little boy to his chest.

"Thank you, Mathis."





Chapter Twenty-Eight

Three Men and a Baby

Mathis





Why did I agree to go see Jude in the hospital? Oh yeah. ‘Cause the guy  fucking called me, guilting me into feeling sorry for him.

Yes, I guess you could say I was still jealous and very possessive over  my wife. Wouldn't you be? After the shit he pulled, I had every right to  be claiming every second of Jennifer's time.

She still hadn't talked to him since she visited with him the first  time. She only went to see Lori and that was it. I attempted to talk to  her about Jude. Make her see reason. What can I say? I was going to  fucking win husband of the year after this shit. Because who really  campaigns for their wife to go see an ex-fuck buddy? The thought made me  cringe, but they needed to talk so we could all move on to whatever our  new normal would be.

I remembered the look of concern in her blue gaze. Concern for Jude? For  me? Was she worried that old feelings would resurface? Please. That  would be over my fucking dead body.

I knocked on the door to Jude's hospital room and waited.

A soft "come in" greeted me from the other side.

Opening the door, I stepped into the large private white room. Jude's  bruises were fading and he was now sitting up in bed. Definitely looked  much better than how I imagined. "How are you feeling?" I asked, pulling  up a chair beside the bed.

He nodded at the nurse and she smiled before leaving us alone.

Jude shifted in the bed. "Cut the small talk."

I frowned. "Jude."

He scrubbed a hand down his face and sighed. "I fucked up. I was  desperate to get Jenny's attention and I went about it the wrong way."  Well, at least he was being honest with me. I wondered why he had told  Jenny his sights were set on Lori, though.

I nodded, already knowing what he was telling me.

"I just...fuck." He huffed. "How will I fix this?"

"Time."

Jude's gaze met mine. "You think?"

I smiled. As much as I didn't like the guy, I kind of felt sorry for  him. "Jude, in my experience, time is the only thing that heals. Give  Jenny time."

"What about Lori? I almost fucking killed her. God, she has a baby! A baby I had no damn idea about!"

My stomach twisted. I didn't know what to say. I didn't know how to help him deal with the battle going on deep inside him.

I rose to my feet and placed a hand on his shoulder before giving a  light but firm squeeze. "I can't say that Lori will ever forgive this or  move on. All you can do is be patient. Don't push her. Women do not  like being fucking forced into something."

He let out a heavy sigh. "Thank-"

"Stop. I don't like you, but you're my wife's friend, so for her I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt."

"She doesn't know you're here, does she?" he asked.

"Not yet." And with that, I left. My heart felt bigger, fuller even. And  I made that my new life mission. To stop being the asshole I once was  and to be the better man my wife turned me into.







A couple of days later, I gave Jennifer the much needed break from baby  boy, Alexander. Lori's son was the spitting image of her with the dark  brown hair to the warm complexion. His bright blue eyes looked up at me  as I sat at the table in my club.

I hadn't even been in my own club, Club Maroon, since meeting Jennifer. I  couldn't very well blame her, but she was the main reason for my  distraction.

I smiled and cooed at the baby.

Lori had finally woken, but wasn't up much for visitors except for  Jennifer and Nora. And Jude? He was fucking out of the question. That  shit would not be happening anytime soon. I felt bad for her. From what  Jenny told me, she had been through a lot in the past couple of years. I  couldn't imagine holding it together the way she had.         

     



 

"Please tell me that's not yours."

I chuckled as Yan approached the table with Antonio following beside  him. They sat across from me and frowned at the bundle I was holding.  Apparently, a business man holding a squirming six-month-old was not  normal. Whatever. They could all kiss my ass.

"What's with the baby?" Antonio asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Jennifer and I are babysitting him for a couple of days," I explained  without giving too much away. They didn't need to know Lori's personal  issues or did they know-