6 Years Too Late

Thirty-Nine

⚠️TW//medium⚠️

Andi's POV

"Shit, Cal." I groan, shaking the sleeping man beside me.

"What what's wrong, Ann?" He startles, pulling his head out of the pillow.

"Doctor Edward Dow speaks out about being sued by 5 Seconds of Summer's Calum Hood and his fiancée Andromeda Hood for a minor mistake made in an ultrasound. Stating that what happened is being blown out of proportion and the couple has no grounds to stand on in pressing charges." I swallow a lump forming in my throat, feeling my hands start to shake.

"Fucking liar. We have everything to stand on. He told us our child died! And tried to lie his way out of taking responsibility for his little mistake after he realized he made it. Don't worry, Ann, I'll go down to the office and talk to Spencer about what our counter move should be. Silence, sharing our side, whatever it is, we will get through this together." He slides out of bed heading for the closet as I look back at my phone, a photo of doctor Dow on the screen.

"What do you have today, Ann?" He asks, sticking his head back out as he pulls a hoodie over his head.

"A writing session at Capital with an up and coming. I'm taking Bug to school on my way. That's all though."

"Keep your phone close, and take your anxiety medication today, please, baby."

"I will." I sigh, closing out of twitter and turning my phone off.

"Hey, you start to panic at all, you call me, and I will pick you up wherever you are. I don't want you losing it while you're driving." He comes back over to the bed, fully dressed now.

"I promise." I nod, reaching for him.

"I love you, Ann." He smiles softly, pulling me off the bed and into his arms. "Get yourself ready, I'll wake Kason up and make sure he is ready to go."

"Thanks. I'm taking the strong medicine, It's gonna be one of those days." I nod.

"I'm sorry, baby, we knew this might happen with the lawsuit though. I was really hoping it wouldn't, and I know you were too, but it is almost inevitable to do anything completely under the radar anymore. And that's my fault, so I'm sorry."

"Hey, it's okay. I just don't want to think about us losing Ashlyn, about how it felt when we thought we had... all of that."

"I know. It makes me sick to think about too. Go take a nice hot shower, Ann. We will see you downstairs in a bit." He smiles again, kissing my lips softly before heading out of our room and across the hall to Kason's.

***

"Good morning, Drama. It's been a long time since we've seen you in the building. Are you working with Mr. Horan again today?" Siena asks from her usual spot at the desk.

"No. I'm here to work with a new artist named Wendy Dray?"

"Oh yes. They are in the studio space directly across from the one Niall has been using this year." She nods.

"Thank you." I mumble as I head that direction, trying not to let the fact that I'll be so close to Niall worry me.

I don't know how it happens, my mind goes into autopilot or something, and I don't snap out of it until it's too late.
"Andi?" I look up quickly meeting the blue eyes of my former best friend.

"Shit. Wrong studio space, sorry." I say quickly pulling the door closed.

"Wait!" I hear Niall yell, and before I can reach for the door across the hall he has my arm, holding me just hard enough to keep me from pulling away.