It lasted a full week. One full week of pure torment was what God thought I deserved. It was either him or karma telling me that sleeping with my best friend was a mistake. Everything revolving around my experience in Las Vegas was a mistake. I don't think I ever want to go back there again.

Jamie barely said anything to me the entire time he'd stayed with me. He'd called Rhoen and explained that I had to be out of work for medical reasons. I wasn't sure if he'd told him anything else but I highly doubt it. He'd called his boss and said much of the same. He was staying with me because something had happened.

I had miscarried. I had miscarried Jamie's child.

On the third day I'd asked Jamie to leave because most of the cramping and heavy bleeding had stopped by then. It had stopped but my mental torment had continued. Every time I looked at him I couldn't help but feel sad.

I don't know if it was all the hormones flowing throughout my system or what, but every single time I glanced at him I wanted to cry. I thought of having his child, something I'd never ever thought of before. I thought of us being together. I thought of a lot of things and with him there it hurt all the worse.

So, he'd finally agreed to leave and I had been left with my dreary thoughts alone. Every single time I'd fallen asleep I dreamt of a little baby with red hair skewed across their head. I didn't know if it was a boy or a girl. It didn't matter because I felt their warmth in my arms.

I felt it until I'd wake up.

I'd wake up to a bout of cramps that were a reminder that the dream was just that; a dream. The likelihood of Jamie and I ever even having sex again was slim to none, let alone having a child together. Not that he was anywhere near fatherhood. Not that I was anywhere near wanting to be a mother. At least I'd never thought about it being one before.

Now, images of a younger version of Jamie play throughout my mind every so often. I picture having a spunky miniature version of him. One that picked up his father's accent, the same one my best friend had still held onto even after all these years. It had grown faint but it was still there. Every time he cooed certain words to me, things he'd said a million times previously and I'd felt nothing, had made a warmth spread throughout my body.

I feel the tears prick my eyes, yet again. They begin to flow down my cheeks just as the cold flood of sadness trickles throughout my veins. Empty. I feel completely and utterly empty. Never in my entire life have I ever felt as incomplete as I do now. Jamie is gone and he's my best friend no longer. We'd ruined that.

I don't even think I can look at him the same way ever again. Every time I had throughout the few days he was here just about drove me into near depression. I can't imagine seeing him again. He'd just be a reminder.

No, I can't think like that. He's still my best friend. He's— He's— He was the father of my child.

I close my eyes to combat my inner turmoil. It does me no good though. I see his hand running through my hair while telling me how beautiful I am. I feel his arm wrapped tightly around my abdomen as my backside snuggles into his front. I can almost taste his lips on mine. I bring my fingers up, touching them softly as a few more tears slip down my cheeks.

My phone rings, bringing me out of my pit of remembrance. I quickly pull my fingers away from my lips and reach over to grab my it. I check the number and see it's Rhoen's flashing on the screen.

  I hadn't talked to him since that day. I hadn't talked to my boss either. Who knows if I'd even have a job after this since there's no way in hell I'm disclosing the true nature of my medical hiatus.

After a moment I finally pick up with, "Rhoen?"

"Amelia?" He let's out a sigh of relief and continues, "how are you?"

"Well, I'm uhm, I'm—" I look around my apartment that looks like a complete mess, "feeling much better." Horrible. I'm feeling absolutely horrible.

"That's good. Do you think you're up for coming to work next week?" It's been two weeks since I've even been to the office. I'd only worked there for two weeks for Christ's sake and I've already taken a medical leave for the same amount of time.

"Do I still have a job?"

"Of course you still have a job." His tone is incredulous. "How could you even ask that, Amelia? I'd never let Cole fire you over... over whatever it is that you're going through." From the tone of his voice it almost sounded like he knew.

Jamie wouldn't have... Maybe he would if he thought my absence would cost me my job.

"I know you spoke to Jamie the other day." He doesn't say anything so I ask, "have you talked to him since?"

"I had a conversation with him yesterday. We actually had a meeting right after he and Luke returned to Vegas." That's not giving me the answers I want and there's no way I'm going to ask him flat out.

"So, I guess I'll be there after the weekend. I should be fine by Monday." I tried to sound enthusiastic but something tells me I failed miserably.

"Amelia?" Rhoen's voice was deeper, "it's okay to not be okay." The words made tears automatically form in my eyes. "If you're not ready to come back yet then—"

"No, I'll be fine." My voice sounded a touch thicker then it had before. Damn these hormones for making me such a soppy mess. "Have a good night, Rhoen." I immediately hang up the phone with him as I feel another overwhelming wave of sadness wash over me. "Stupid hormones!" I sob out. "Having a fucking miscarriage just isn't enough physical torment. No, just throw the never-ending emotional tidal waves on top of it." Jesus fucking Christ, will this ever stop?

I need a shower and a solid nights sleep, not that I'd really get one. Well, I could get sleep but there I'd find my dreams. With a heavy sigh I push myself off of my couch. I go to set my phone down and realize the screen is still on.

Oh no. Oh no no no no no.

I reach forward with shaky fingers and tap the screen to see if it isn't just frozen or something. Nope. The seconds are still ticking by which means he's still listening on the other side. I tap the red button, effectively ending the call this time.

Rhoen had heard my hormonal breakdown and not just that. He heard everything. He knows everything. Nausea hits the pit of my stomach like a bunch of bricks.

✩✩✩

I spent my entire weekend doing much of the same thing I'd been doing for two weeks straight. It actually felt good to get up this morning with something to look forward to. Not that most people look forward to going to work but I was thrilled to have something to take my mind off of all of my depressing thoughts.

I'd walked in and greeted Betty with a warm smile. Then I'd gone straight to my department where everyone bombarded me with questions about my health. I'd told them that it wasn't anything life-threatening and that I was more than okay. The former hadn't been a lie, at least.

Mr. Edison had been in meetings all morning, so I hadn't seen him yet. That was about to change though as I'd gone over the Belvedere numbers. The head of our department had signed off on the documents but something just wasn't sitting with me right about the estimates.

I looked over to Betty, who was currently on the phone. I gestured to the door and she'd given me a warm smile and a nod. With the okay to enter, I give a swift knock before I push the door open saying, "Mr. Edison, I've gone over the—" I stop mid-sentence when I see two men in the room. Not just any men either since one of them is Rhoen.

"Amelia!" He gives me a warm and rather enthusiastic smile. "It's so good to finally see you. Welcome back." I can't help but smile back at him.

"It's nice to be back, Mr. Edison." I glance over to Rhoen and then immediately back to him. "But let me not keep you from your meeting. I'll catch up with you later."

I go to make a quick exit when he says, "that's nonsense! You remember my business partner and brother-in-law, Rhoen Rearick." He gestures to Rhoen but I don't look at him.

"Yes, Sir, I do."

"That's right! I keep forgetting the two of you met on a flight to Vegas." He raps his knuckles on the desk. "Continue what you were about to tell me, Ms. Lemieux. You were saying?"

"Really, Mr. Edison, I'll just go over it with you later. I've got a lot more work to catch up on anyway. I'd rather be able to just go over everything with you when you have the time." I say the words as sincerely as I can but I know Rhoen isn't buying any of it.

"Very well. We'll meet up later today then?" I give him a quick nod before making my way out of the room.

I blow out a breath before heading back down the hall toward my department. The moment I walk past the conference room I have to stop. I quickly take a peek inside and immediately regret doing so when I feel my hormones betray me. Tears well in my eyes and when I make a beeline for the bathroom I realize that just makes things worse. The moment I'd reached out to put my hand on the knob I'd flinched away like it had physically burned me.

I take a step backward, petrified of the damn thing and am met with a solid mass. Startled, by whomever it is and the blasphemous door, I let out a loud squeak of a noise.

"Amelia, it's just me." I turn around to see none other than the man I'd just been trying to escape from.

"Hey Rhoen." I say the words as nonchalantly as possible, managing to blink back the tears that'd been about to fall.

"About the other night on the phone—" I hold up a hand, cutting him off. "Amelia, seriously..."

"I don't want to talk about it." My tone completely serious and flat.

"I just wanted to apologize to you and Jamie." He shakes his head but just the mention of him makes a pang ring out in my chest. "If I would've known you were pregnant I never would've kept pursuing you. I would've stopped trying to get in touch with you when you went back to Boston."

"I didn't know I was and uhm," I blink back the tears that've managed to resurface on their own accord, "Jamie and I are not going to be seeing much of each other any time soon. We broke up before I left Vegas."

His brow furrows as he says, "so, neither of you knew until..."

"Nope." His face falls and so do my tears.

"I'm sorry, Amelia."

"Yeah, me too, Rhoen, me too."

He wraps his arms around me and I know I should care about where we are but I don't. I wrap my arms around him, finally finding some sort of comfort.