Dr. Baylor and Lydia exchange a glance. “We should probably do a test,” he says gently. “Just to be sure.”
I nod numbly.
Minutes later, I stare at the small plastic stick resting on the counter. Two pink lines. Dark and unmistakable.
“How did you know?” I ask faintly.
Lydia smiles softly. “We see a lot of first-time moms here,” she answers. “Most very uninformed when it comes to pregnancy prevention.”
Moms.
The word echoes in my head, foreign and enormous.
I thank them both, my tone apologetic. “I’m sorry for… your trash… I’m sorry. And you’re so busy here, so I’m sorry for wasting your time this morning.”
Dr. Baylor studies me for a long moment. “You aren’t interested in the position anymore?” he asks.
“I… I just… With everything.” I bumble through my words. “I figured…”
“It’s yours if you want it.” He grins broadly. “With your references, the interview was a formality. The vomit, an added bonus.”
I apologize again, shaking his hand and thanking him for the opportunity before leaving.
This job doesn’t always follow the clock, and I’m home hours earlier than expected. The op wrapped up cleanly.We—the Aegis team—are apparently very efficient when it comes to certain lines of work.We were wheels-up the moment we were done, and the wind was on our side, making our flight just a little shorter than it should’ve been.
I probably should’ve called, but it’s been days since I’ve seen Blake and I want to surprise her.Standing in the open threshold of the front door, I am covert and silent.Accidental occupational hazard.Blake is in the kitchen, barefoot, wearing one of my hoodies and a pair of leggings, with her hair pulled up in a messy knot that’s barely holding.
The door closes behind me, and the metallic click of the latch clangs through the apartment. Surprise ripples up her spine as she jumps. She yelps, spinning around so fast she nearly drops the mug in her hands. “Jesus! Jagger! You scared the shit out of me.”
Yup, definitely surprised.
“I’m sorry,” I say immediately, holding up both hands in mock surrender. “I wanted to surprise you, not make you have a heart attack.”
Her hand is pressed to her chest, eyes wide, breath coming a little quick. The fear quickly wanes from her whole body, it softens and melts into something that looks like happiness. “You’re early!”
“By a few hours,” I acknowledge. “The job went smoothly. We were done quickly. In and out.”
Stepping toward her, I catch the faint scent of peppermint tea and toast. I suspiciously eye the cup because Blake is not a tea drinker. “I can’t figure out your complicated coffee maker. This is just to tide me over until I brush my hair and walk down the block.”
That makes much more sense.
“Ourcomplicated coffee maker,” I correct. “I brought you something.”
Her eyes light up immediately. “You did?”
I reach into my jacket pocket, carefully pull it out, and place it in her hands. “I thought you’d want this back.”
The photo catches the light. The one I found the first time I visited her apartment, uninvited. The one of her between her parents, her smile wide and unguarded, her dad’s arm slung proudly around her shoulders, and her mom leaning in close. They look happy, untouched by the sadness they don’t yet know is coming.
Her breath catches, and she stares at it for a long moment before looking up at me with tear-filled eyes. She presses the photo to her chest like she’s giving a tiny embrace to the people in it. “Thank you.”
I can feel the weight of her gratitude as she places it on the counter with care. On her tiptoes, she flings her arms around my neck and places a kiss against my lips. I instinctually wrap my arms around and pull her from the ground and into me as I breathe her in.
“This… this means so much to me,” she says, muffled against my collarbone. “I thought it was going to be lost to me forever.”
I can’t help but smile into her hair. This moment was worth the extra twenty-five minutes we spent on the ground.
Blake pulls back enough to look at me, confusion knitting her brow. “Wait. How did you…?” Her eyes widen slightly. “You would’ve had to go back to Jadiriah.”
