Caleb
As exciting as the news of the pregnancy was, I unfortunately still had to go to work. It had been a few weeks since we found out the news, but we didn’t tell anybody just yet. I didn’t want to steal Benji’s thunder, so to speak, since Lark was brand new to the world and everyone was head-over-heels for her - as they should be.
I kept on going on with my life as normal. Even though I didn’t love my job or anything, it was nice to have the routine, especially now that everything else in my life had fallen into place. I lived in a nice cottage, had some savings built up, had a great boyfriend, and now we even had a baby together.
As I was getting changed into my uniform, Adriel knocked on the door.
“Come in,” I said.
He entered and leaned on the wall, his eyes on me and my half-naked body. He was staring at my lower half.
I blushed and said, “As much as I’d love to have a quick fuck, I don’t think I have time to take another shower before work.”
Adriel’s eyes met mine. They looked strangely mischievous.
“What?” I asked when he didn’t say anything. “Is there something on my face?”
“I’ve been thinking,” Adriel began. He pushed off the wall and circled around me. “I realize you didn’t want to arouse suspicion by changing your routine and drawing attention to yourself, which I understand. But in a month or so, your pregnancy will likely begin to show, and there won’t be any hiding it from Benji or the others.”
Not sure what he was getting at, I just blinked. “Yeah?”
“Therefore, you won’t have any reason to keep up the routine,” Adriel said. “Unless youwantto.”
“I don’t get what you mean,” I said. “Are you saying I should quit my job or something?”
Adriel stopped in front of me with a smile. “That’s exactly what I’m saying.”
I hadn’t even considered that before, so the idea left me dumbstruck. “Uh… I mean. What would I do about money? The whole point of me moving in here was to be safe from Margaret, and also to build up my savings. I don’t wanna be disrespectful of Pierce by quitting my job…”
Adriel shook his head. “Pierce will understand once we explain our relationship to him. He’ll be happy to have you as one of the family, believe me.”
The idea fizzled in my mind, like a newly kindled flame. Could I really leave my job so easily? I had no doubt Adriel would take care of us financially, and we were in no danger at this point.
“If you like your job, then by all means, keep it,” Adriel said, holding his hands up. “I don’t want to pressure you. I’m simply letting you know the option is right there in front of you.”
I nodded.
“And…” A smile spread across Adriel’s face. “You would have more time to work on your writing.”
My heart flipped. Hearing him say that fanned the fire of excitement inside of me.
“Okay,” I said, a bit breathless. “If you’re sure, I’ll put in my two-weeks notice today.”
“The decision is entirely up to you,” Adriel said. “I’ll support you either way.”
I bit my lip as joy bubbled up in my chest. “Yes, I want to. I want to work on my real passion.”
Adriel smiled, wide and genuine, and opened his arms. The invitation for an embrace sent me over the moon with happiness. I threw myself at him and he hugged me hard.
“Now come on and get dressed,” he said. “You have a big day today.”
* * *
Ever since Margaretpassed and my illness never returned at work, I expected Adriel to stay behind, since the necessity for a bodyguard was gone, but he came with me regardless. Since Lewis couldn’t - and probably didn’t want to - say anything remotely negative to a Tenebrae, he kept his mouth shut about it. Jess was just happy to see the both of us looking healthy.
The urge to tell Jess about my pregnancy kept nagging me, too. Nobody knew except Maxwell, Adriel andmaybeTheo, if he’d managed to guess the reason for my nausea that day. But now that it was progressing faster than expected, it was harder to keep it a secret.
It was a slow shift. Lewis lounged in the back, doing paperwork, while Jess and I tidied up the storefront. Adriel stood behind the counter, completely motionless except for the way he forced himself to breathe in and out to appear more human.
