Hendrix (Caldwell Brothers)

“Let her go. What the fuck are you trying to do, suffocate her?” Jagger shoves his shoulder.

He lets go and steps back. “You okay?”

“I’m fine.” She looks at all of us and then at me. “Is everything all right?”

I walk up and grab her hand. “How was work?”

“Hendrix, what is going on?” she asks, eyeing us suspiciously.

“I think the guys missed you last night.” I grab her hips and pull her toward me. “I missed you last night.”

I lean in to give her a kiss, and her eyes grow wide. “Hendrix, people.”

“I don’t give a shit.”

“This is work.”

“Nah, this is family.” I lean in and kiss her lips.

She freezes.

“Livi?” I say against her mouth.

“Yeah?”

“You’re making me look like a chump.”

I feel her lips turn up, and then she kisses me back. When I step back, she is smiling, yet still looking confused.

“Was it that bad last night?”

“Yes,” all three of us reply at the same time.

The rest of the night is crazy busy; as a result, whenever I get a chance to come out of the kitchen, I do.

Jagger and Morrison are keeping the coolers stocked, and Livi is walking around with her head held high in spite of Sadi being here.

Sadi is on her way out, though. I’m not having this shit with Livi.

The weekend passes by in a blur as it, too, is crazy busy. Livi is tired, and I am suspicious of that. I mean, I Googled pregnancy signs, and being tired is one of them.

I make sure she doesn’t come in Sunday. Jagger opens for me again, so we spend the day in bed, talking, fucking, and fucking some more.

After finally asking about her job yesterday, I show up at the hospital on Monday. I fucking hate hospitals, but I like Livi, a lot. I’m not letting my hate for this place ruin my day off as well as the chance to chill with her.

I get off the elevator on the fourth flour and walk down to her office. The door is open, and I hear her voice, so I peek my head in. She looks up, smiling.

“You free for lunch?”

“Uh-oh, what did you do to make the boss come to find you?” Toni jokes.

“Um, nothing.” She turns all red and shakes her head back and forth. “I can meet you in ten minutes. The lobby?”

“Oh, hell, come on in and wait.” Toni lets out a laugh.

“Everything okay, babe?” I ask her, wondering if she isn’t feeling well.

A bar straw could have dropped and you would have heard it, followed by a whispered, “Oh, my God.”

“I’m fine.” Livi stood up and gave Toni a dirty look. “I’ll be down in ten.”

I nod then turn to Toni. “Nice seeing you again.” And I walk out, yet don’t go far.

“You better spill it,” Toni says.

“What?” Livi asks.

“You and Hendrix Caldwell? Jesus, Livi, you hitting that and didn’t even tell me? So not fair.”

“Well, that’s because it’s my private life.”

“First, the guy in the closet at the fundraiser, and now the hot, tattooed bartender?”

“Owner. He owns the bar and…”

“Spill it.”

“He is the guy in the closet,” she whispers.

“And why the hell am I just hearing about this!” Toni squeals.

“Shh! Again, private,” Livi hushes her.

“I am so pissed I took half a day today, but I am coming to get you after work, and you’re spilling it all!”

“Shh! Um … I … um…”

“Livi?”

“I’m staying with Hendrix.”

“Are you fucking—?”

Then everything’s muffled.

“I’m gonna take my hand off your mouth if and when you can refrain from yelling.”

“We’ll talk tomorrow.”

I hear Livi coming closer, so I bolt to the stairway and haul ass down the four floors to the lobby. Right as I hit the other side of the stairwell’s door, the elevator opens, and she walks out.

“Was this a bad idea?” I ask, wanting to take her hand.

She shakes her head and smiles.

“A real date. It’s not dinner, but—”

“You’re taking me on a date?”

“Yeah.” I nod. “Let’s go.”

We end up at a place across the road, since she only has half an hour.

After we order, I pull out a little package and hand it to her.

She smiles. “A date and a gift?”

“I owe you both. It’s nothing big. Just open it up.”

I’m nervous as hell, more so than I thought I would be. She holds them up as she laughs and fists them. “You bought me panties?”

“I’ve ruined a few pair of yours, so I thought it was only fair. Let me be honest here, though, I hate that you need them to feel strong.”

“I have relied on them for a long time.”

“Livi, you can rely on me.” I lock eyes with her. “Read ‘em.”

She looks down then shakes her head. “Hendrix, I took a test this morning at work.”

I have no clue what she is talking about. “How’d you do?”

“It was negative.” There is sadness in her voice, and I catch on.