Kaden shifted on the bed. “Can I, erm, ask you something?”
“Sure,” I said slowly, feeling unsure all of a sudden. The playful atmosphere had disappeared and now I was left wondering why Kaden was speaking to me so hesitantly.
“Are you pregnant?”
Shock ran through me. For a moment I couldn’t speak, too startled to respond. I gathered myself enough to say, “What?”
“I asked Rafael and he wouldn’t tell me, not outright,” Kaden said. “He said it was a conversation I should be having with you.”
Had Rafael told Kaden about my tryst with Axel? Cold dread seeped over me like icy water. But why would he do that? He had no reason to betray my trust like that. My brain fought my emotions and overturned them long enough for me to realize that Kaden wasn’t talking about Axel--he thought I was pregnant with Rafael.
I stared at Kaden probably a moment too long as the gears worked in my mind, sorting out all the truth and lies until I had an idea of the full picture.
“Are you asking me if I’m pregnant with Rafael?” I said.
“Yes.” He shrugged, like it was no big deal. But then his next words filled me with unease. “I mean, that’s why I was making sure you liked him.”
“What do you mean, making sure?” I asked slowly.
“Well, because I wouldn’t want you getting knocked up by some guy you don’t even know,” Kaden said with a slight laugh, like the mere idea of it was ridiculous.
My heart sank to my stomach.
So that was how Kaden really thought, was it? Would he look down on me if he found out my potential baby was Axel’s and not Rafael’s? Would he judge me for it?
If Kaden knew the truth--that I’d slept with an alpha who was almost a total stranger in hopes that I’d get pregnant--what would he think of me? He’d already said the words. There was no taking them back. He obviously thought it was shameful, not something anyone should be doing, but especially not me, his friend and roommate.
Anger, betrayal and shame all mixed in my gut until I felt a lurch of sickness. Before I could stop it, bile rose in my throat. I nearly tripped over the cats in my desperate bolt to the bathroom before I emptied my already-empty stomach in the toilet.
“Shit, Sky, are you okay?” Kaden demanded. I felt his hand on my shoulder and I shrugged it off with a groan.
“Just go away,” I said miserably. “Please.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him frown, deeply concerned, but he backed away and left me to commiserate in the bathroom alone.
Oh god,I thought suddenly.This isn’t… No, it can’t be. It’s too early.
Was I experiencing morning sickness?
* * *
I exitedthe bathroom twenty minutes later feeling shaky and cold. I washed my hands three times to get the clammy feeling off my palms, but it persisted anyway.
Kaden sat in silence on the couch, and frowned when I emerged.
“Maybe you should call out today,” he suggested.
“I feel fine.” Lie.
Obviously Kaden didn’t believe me anyway. “You don’t look--”
“I said I’m fine!” I snapped.
He winced, but didn’t push further.
We both got ready for work, and despite my sickness earlier I felt physically fine, apart from an anxious fluttering in my chest--and not the nice kind. Still, I looked forward to the distraction of work so I wouldn’t have to sit and stew in my own emotions.
Kaden and I walked to work together, not speaking the entire time. He did stop me at the door and murmur, “You should tell everyone else about that guy.”
