Under My Skin (Skin Deep #2)

Finally, one of the doctors stepped back to talk to us. Before he could say anything, though, Sarah and Chloe came rushing through the door, Emma, Luke, and my parents hot on their heels. Damn, they’d gotten here fast!

“Okay, folks. I’m Dr. Michaels. I’ve examined Mr. Matthews and have some good news. Yes, he did, in fact, wake up from his coma and I’m confident we’re on the road to recovery. So far his lungs sound good and we’re taking him off the ventilator; the puncture has healed very nicely with no complications as far as I can tell. We’ll do some scans to be sure, though. We’re going to keep a close eye on him to see if there are any lasting effects from the head trauma; we’ve been rather worried about the slowing of his brain activity, but only time and testing will tell what we’re dealing with.”

He glanced around at everyone and said, “Since he’s just waking up, we’ll let you all see him briefly, two at a time, and then we’ll be taking him to get started on running the tests and scans. Try not to excite him or we’ll have to kick you all out. Okay?”

We all nodded and Sarah asked a few questions of the doctor as I sidled away from the group, moving closer to the bed. I could see Jackson’s eyes searching the room and they widened when they landed on my face. One of the nurses followed his eyes and motioned me over. I went, taking his hand in mine once more, and smiling like crazy when he gave it a small squeeze.

And just like that, my world began to right itself…

The last few days had been crazy since Jackson woke up and he was definitely on the mend. They’d moved him out of ICU last night, and so far everything was checking out great; no lasting brain damage or anything, the cast on his leg was getting ready to come off. He wasn’t one hundred percent, but he was alive and that’s more than I could ask for.

He was getting restless, but then again, who wouldn’t? He’d already been told that he’d need to do some therapy just to get back up to speed from being out for so long, but he didn’t bat an eye at it; he’d only asked when he could start. I hadn’t told him the news yet about the baby…but I think it might be about time. Brandon and I had been sitting there talking to him for a while, Emma and Luke had just left, and Sarah and Chloe were on their way. I hadn’t told anyone else just yet; I wanted to tell Jackson first. I took a deep breath and grabbed for Brandon’s hand. He held it, bringing it up to his lips for a kiss, and then nodded at me to go ahead.

“So…” I began, not really sure how to approach the subject.

“That sounds serious,” Jackson quipped, a smile quirking the corner of his full, kissable lips.

“Well, it is…sort of.” I sighed and decided to just blurt it out. “I’m pregnant.”

Jackson shifted in his bed, straightening up a bit, and then fiddling with the blanket. “That’s…wow. Are you…is it a good thing? I mean, how do we…?”

Brandon took pity on him and clapped him on his shoulder. “Dude…it’s a good thing. She’s happy, we’re happy, you’re gonna be a dad, man!”

Jackson caught my eyes, his brows raising in question. I nodded and he grinned, then hooted loudly and reached for me, capturing my face between his palms when I moved toward him, kissing me gently. When he finally let me go, I turned to Brandon and my smile slipped when I saw the sadness in his eyes. It was gone so fast that I wondered if I was mistaken, but my gut said I wasn’t.

Jackson’s voice broke into my thoughts. “How far along are you?” he asked excitedly.

I smiled at him and answered, “About a month and a half, two months? I found out the day…” My smile fell and my words trailed off. The day of the accident was the day I’d found out at the doctor’s office Emma had dragged me to.

His smile faded and a look of concern replaced it. “Allie, baby, I’m so sorry!” he said quietly.

I gasped and smacked his arm lightly. “No! You don’t apologize! It wasn’t your fault and you know it!”

He nodded, but I could still see the regret and sadness swimming in his gaze. I clapped my hands together and smiled, trying to lighten the mood. “Well, isn’t it about time for your sponge bath?”

Brandon laughed as Jackson’s face brightened and a grin split his face. He threw up his hands and said, “I’m outta here! Gonna go get some food, you want anything?” He patted Jackson’s shoulder, kissed me briefly, and left the room without waiting for an answer.

I watched him go, still smiling until Jackson cleared his throat and said, “Ahem. I’m waiting…get your sponge, woman!”

Chapter 21

“Daisy, Jr.”

I groaned. “No, Mom, I am not naming my child Daisy, Jr.”

“Okay, then how about Georgina after your father?”

“Don’t you have somewhere to be? And what if it’s a boy?” I asked her, shaking my head in exasperation. This wasn’t what I had pictured when I asked her if she wanted to go to my first doctor appointment with me. Jackson had wanted to go but, for obvious reasons, couldn’t. He would still be in the hospital for at least another few days, barring any complications.

My mom clucked her tongue at me and swatted my arm. “You wanted me to come and you know it!”

“Ughhhh…” I moaned, hiding my head in my hands. “Where’s Emma? She was supposed to be here by now…”

See? I’m no dummy. I figured my mom would end up driving me nuts, so I asked Emma to come, too. She was running late, but I knew she’d get here…she had to!

Finally, I heard the door to the office open and Emma came striding in, sitting beside me in the waiting room. “Hey! I’m so excited! Do we get to see the little peanut today?”

I laughed at her description of the baby and shrugged. “I don’t know, guess we’ll find out.”

“So, Emma dear, how’s married life?” my mom asked her.

Emma grinned and sighed, her eyes going all dreamy. “It’s great. It’s the same as it’s been since we started living together, but I get to call him husband now!” She giggled and I rolled my eyes.

A little while later, I was holding a picture of my baby. It literally looked like a little peanut sitting in my uterus, so I guess Emma had been right with her nickname. But the doctor and the tech told me everything checked out fine, that I was progressing nicely, and I was about ten weeks along, which is a little further than I thought. So, in about six and a half months, I’d be holding a squirming little bundle of joy.

Whoa. Six months. That’s not a lot of time…God, I have a lot to do!

After running some errands to pick up some stuff Jackson had asked for, I headed back to the hospital, pictures in hand to show him. When I got in the room, Brandon was standing beside his bed and they both had serious expressions on their faces.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, picking up on the tension in the room.

Brandon turned his head away but Jacks gave me a smile and said, “Well? What did the doctor say?”

“I’m fine,” I said, brushing his question away. “Now tell me what’s going on with you two. What were you talking about when I came in?”

Brandon ran a shaking hand over his head roughly and blew out a long breath. “Allie, you know I love you, right?”