Book Two: Adaptation

•18•

•Abel•

•Saturday•
October 01, 2016

Walking back and forth in front of the couch, I sip on some hot tea while I wait for Nava to come down so we can leave out for the SNL studio that's downtown.

For some odd reason she's taking her sweet time like I don't have to be there by ten and it's eight twenty five now.

"Can you sit down please, you're making me anxious and I'm not the one performing" I hear Lamar tell me.

"What the hell are they doing up there?"

"Just go see, we have to leave soon" Cash looks at his watch.

About to put my cup down to do just that, I turn to find Wesley coming down the stairs alone.

"Where's Nava?" I ask.

"She's... trying to breathe" Wesley nods. "She said to go on ahead and she'll catch up"

"What? No. What's wrong with her?" I frown ready to go see myself.

"She's nervous, Abel. This is all new to her"

"I'm aware of that" I sit my empty cup down.

"Then give her a minute and go ahead. She'll ride with Dominic"

"Yeah, I'm not going anywhere without her" I step past to head up the stairs.

Making it to our room I peer inside to see her pacing back and forth as she twists her fingers together.

"Come on, you can do this. It's not a big deal, it's just a bunch of people with cameras" she tells herself and I step inside concerned.

"Nava?" I say and she turns to me as if surprised.

"I told Wesley to tell you to go ahead"

"I'm not leaving without you. What are you nervous about?" I come in to close the door.

"I don't know. I was fine until my stomach started feeling funny, then I threw up twice and... I just need a second but I swear I'm coming" she rambles.

Shaking my head I step up to pull her in my arms, "What kind of husband would I be if I left you in the middle of a panic attack?" Her body shaking, I hold her tight. "You don't have to go. We don't have to go public tonight"

"But I want to be there for you" she peers up to me.

"The baby obviously isn't agreeing with that idea" I smooth my thumb over her cheek. "Just stay-"

"No" she cuts me off. "I'm going whether this baby likes it or not" she tells me and I smile.

"Then let's go"

Staring at me for a second she finally nods her head and pushing out of my arms she grabs her purse, "Okay.... I'm ready"

Hand in hand, we make our way downstairs.

"You okay?" Wesley wonders when she sees us.

"Yeah, I'll be fine" Nava puts on a big smile. "We have to go"

Calling the elevator, we step on to ride down to the underground parking garage where Freddy, Cash, and Dominic have the SUV running. Once we climb inside, Freddy takes off towards downtown.

The traffic not as bad as I suspected it to be for a Saturday night, we make it to the SNL studio in about forty five minutes. Pulling around back I hear Nava take a deep breath when we stop in front of the back door and security opens the door for us to get out.