NOT YOURS TO LOSE, EX-HUSBAND

Roxanne's POV

After a lot of coaxing, Lennox lends me his phone to call Reese, but he hovers around, watching me like a mother hawk about to swoop in and save her child.

The call goes to voicemail the first time after ringing ceaselessly. But on the second try, I hear a slight cackle before a breath.

"Reese?"

"Oh!"

Camilla.

"It's you. Are you done being a crybaby because your food got tossed out? You can come back home if you want to. I mean, I'll talk to Reese so he doesn't get mad at you. But you really didn't have to be that dramatic and run off."

I make it a point to ignore her. "Where is Reese? I want to speak to him."

"Asleep," she says curtly. "And he has had a long night. He doesn't want to be disturbed. Call or come later. Whatever you decide."

The line clicks dead, and I look up at Lennox.

"What do you want to do?" he asks.

"Can you take me back home?"

A huge part of me thinks he is going to start another fight, but he just nods, slipping his hands behind my knees as he lifts me into his arms.

"I can walk, Lennox," I protest as he moves out of the room, Isaiah taking the rear.

"I know," my best friend responds. "But I want to do this. You've just been through something traumatic. It's the least I can do."

I nod and wrap my hands around his neck, feeling the balls of his feet rock me gently until my eyes flutter closed. I stay asleep throughout the ride, nestled in the back seat.

Until a pair of hands pushes me out of my dream world.

"Hey, Mrs. Beaumont," he whispers just as my eyes open slowly. "You're at your husband's place."

I notice the way he says husband's place and not my place, but I ignore it, pushing myself up into a sitting position. Do pregnancies make people feel sleepy around the clock?

"Lennox went in first," he explains when I start looking around the car. "He wants to be sure if Reese is in the mood for guests."

"Reese?"

"Isn't that his name?"

"I didn't tell you."

Isaiah's fingers push a stray curl getting in the way, tucking it behind my ear. He lingers for the most fleeting second that I might have imagined it.

"He owns a company. It isn't hard to make the connection."

"You call me Mrs. Beaumont."

"I'm sorry, but I don't have that much respect for him."

Isaiah helps me out of the car and places a hand firmly on the small of my back as he leads me inside. In the living room, Reese and Camilla are sitting on the longest couch. She has her feet propped up against his thighs, staring at Lennox, who seems bewildered at the situation.

But when I walk in, she drops her feet.

Or more like Reese gets on his feet and leaves her no option but to pull back.

"What is this?" His voice is thunderous, rocking the whole building. "Where the hell have you been?"

Reese's eyes narrow in on Isaiah's hand still on my waist, and it looks like he is about to go up in flames. Turning around slowly, I face Lennox. "You have to leave. Please."

"Roxy...."

"I'll be fine, Lennox," I whisper. "Reese is my husband. He can't hurt me. At least, not intentionally."

"And if it's not intentional?"

"Please."

Lennox sighs and stalks out, leaving Isaiah, who is now staring at Reese. His upper lip raise in a smirk before he regards me one last time, walking the same way Lennox went. My gaze follows their retreating figures until I can't see them anymore.

Isaiah.

There is something about his presence that leaves him anchored to the spot even when he's no longer there. I can still feel his hand on my back, burning through cotton.

"Reese...."

"You spent the whole night out, Roxanne, and you returned to my house with two men. What do you want me to make of that?"

I think that is so hypocritical of him, seeing as his best friend practically lives with us. But I don't let that materialize past my thoughts as I step closer to him.

"Babe," I whisper. "I spent the night in the hospital. When you... I understand that Camilla had to go to the hospital too, so I called Lennox over."

"You weren't really hurt, were you?" He accuses, narrowing his gaze at me.

"I was," I breathe. "I almost lost the baby."

My husband stops, and his eyes widen a fraction. "The baby?"

I nod, my face breaking into a smile. "Yes, Reese. I'm pregnant."

I couldn't tell that Camilla was off the couch and beside Reese until she says something in a snicker. "You think that would work?"

I blink. "Work? I am...We have been trying for a child for years now."

She looks at Reese. "Don't tell me you believe her. She's only trying to get attention after the other night, and it's understandable since you are both married."

And then, she turns her attention back to me. I cannot help but notice that my husband has taken in every word.

"Roxanne, I really understand you. I do. But you don't have to lie to get away from what you did the last time. I almost died because of your jealousy."

"Reese, are you going to let her talk to me this way?"

"She's right, you know?" he mutters, sighing.

"What are you saying?"

"You have always tried to see the worst in our friendship, it makes me wonder if it's not just you projecting your own acts. I mean, you have a best friend of the opposite sex, and not once have I heard Reese complain about it."

"Yet, you accuse us of cheating, even if you never say the words." And then, tears start streaming down her eyes. "Roxanne, you need to know that I can't do that to you."

"Reese...."

He keeps quiet, his hand on her back, trying to get her calm.

"You know what?" Lennox was right. I shouldn't have come here. "I am leaving."

I move towards the door, not seeing through the blur of tears gathering in my eyes.

Reese's voice follows me. "Roxanne, the moment you step out of this house will be the end of our marriage."

My hands finds the doorknob. It feels just like our marriage, hard and cold. I feel the defiance inside of me. It is very small, but present nonetheless. I am going to protect myself from him. I am going to protect my baby from him.

I leave his words behind me, charging out back into the night.

And I don't look back.