Scarred ➵zauren

Chapter 11

Lauren's POV

"Good morning pumpkin," I smiled at Ryan over the phone. His hair was visibly longer and I wondered if that was his choice.

"Morning mommy," he yawned. "What you doing?"

"Just hanging out with Zayn, we just finished lunch bud."

"Can I say hi?" His sleepy face perked up at the sound of Zayn's name. It still surprised me that they'd connected so deeply.

"Of course," I chuckled, turning the phone towards Zayn who was watching me from his wheelchair.

"Hi rye bread!" Zayn waved at him. Ryan giggled at the funny nickname Zayn had coined for him. "You doing good bread stick?"

"I am good Z," Ryan smiled. "Look, Tia Mani got me a Ironman pillow for when I sleep over!" He showed Zayn the long pillow behind him.

"That's so cool dude. I want one, you lucky duck!" Zayn whined, making me chuckle at his childishness.

"Speaking of that Tia of yours, where is she?" I wondered, knowing she must be near by since Ryan was using her phone.

Ryan turned the phone a bit to reveal Normani who was sitting right next to him on the bed.

"Hey Mani," I smiled when I spotted her growing baby bump.

"Hey Lo, hi Zayn," she smiled weakly. My mind automatically worried, knowing Normani was usually a cheery person.

Zayn waved with a smile on his face, though I think we were both a little surprised she addressed him. Most of my family knew Zayn was a patient of mine, as they usually knew about my patients by hearing about them from me, but Zayn was buddies with my son, so now they really knew who he was. Still, no one ever really greeted or acknowledged him, they left that business to Ryan.

"Where's Liam?" I wondered.

"Sleeping still, Kev too," she informed. "Rye and I are early birds. Or should I say Rye and Joyce," Normani looked down at her bump briefly.

"Aww," I chuckled lightly. "Let me see my little niece."

Normani adjusted her phone for Ryan and exposed her round belly.

"She's getting big!"

"I know, I'm starting to feel her little kicks and man she just loves to move around at the crack of dawn."

"Well you are naming her Joyce, what can you expect besides a happy little ball of energy," I smiled.

"You're right," Normani smiled too. "Hey, do you think I can talk to you alone for a second?"

"Uh, yeah, is everything okay?"

"Yeah, I just have to talk to you about something."

"Alright, give me a sec," I paused the FaceTime call and looked over at Zayn who was watching me again. "I'll be right back."

"No stay, I'll roll out and roam the halls a bit. It's more private in here," he smiled.

"You sure?"

"Of course babe," he touched my cheek softly before pulling me toward him for a brief kiss. "Don't miss me too much."

I chuckled as Zayn moved himself out into the hallway. Once he was outside, I unpaused the call and saw Ryan's face up close to the phone.

"Mommy! I gonna go now so you can talk to Tia. Abuelo is gonna take me to my baseball game today, I gotta get ready!"

"Okay nugget, good luck, I love you!"