“They can have some.” My eyes move to where my brothers are watching our interaction with unveiled interest. “But only because I’m feeling generous.”
Mariah finishes baking the cookies while my brothers bicker amongst themselves, occasionally making her laugh with their antics. Once all the cookies are done and packed up, I’m practically shoving them out the door. I might not hole up in my rooms anymore, but that doesn’t mean I’m interested in dealing with ahouseful of people on a regular basis. The noise is like fingernails on a chalkboard.
Not to mention how big of a struggle it is to act normal when I know they’re analyzing everything I say and do in regards to Mariah. It puts me on edge because I don’t like wondering what they see. Or if they’ll be as good at ignoring what’s between us as I am.
Mariah is crouched down, loading the dishwasher, when I glance away from the counters I’m scrubbing and notice her expression looks wrong. So does the color of her skin. Her eyes lose their focus as I drop the rag in my hand and scoop her up, holding her against my chest. “I need you to not pass out.”
Mariah’s head drops to my shoulder, her eyes closing. “I wasn’t going to pass out.” Her lips curve, because somehow she even smiles at a time like this. “I was just thinking about it.”
Like last time, I sit on the couch, keeping her against me as I run my hand over her face, smoothing across her skin as I brush back the loose strands of hair. “Then I need you to stop thinking about it.” I’ve been waiting for her to tell me what’s going on. I haven’t wanted to overstep or make her feel weird, but I can’t keep going on like this.
It hits too close to home, and I can’t fucking take it.
“You need to schedule a doctor's appointment.” I wait for her to look at me, holding her gaze once she does. “I mean it, Mariah. You need to have this checked out.”
Her next inhale is shaky, and for a second I think she’s about to confess. Instead, she attempts another smile, this one less bright than normal. “I’m sure it’s nothing. I’m probably just?—”
I know what she’s about to argue, and I cut her off. “You’re not dehydrated. I make sure you get enough liquid every day.”
Mariah opens her mouth, ready to offer her second possible cause. I already know what it’s going to be too, so I don’t give her the opportunity.
“And don’t try to say it’s because you didn’t eat enough. Youaren’t consuming as much as you should be, but it’s still enough to keep you conscious.”
Now it’s my turn to force in a breath. I know what I’m about to say next is going to change everything. Possibly for the worse. But I can’t let her hurt herself. Especially when it’s to keep a secret from me.
A secret she never really had.
My hand stills in her hair, but I can’t make myself pull it away as I confess to what I already know. “You’re passing out because you’re pregnant. And I really fucking need us to find out how to stop it from happening again.”
13
Mariah
I’m not sure what’s more shocking. That Titus figured out I’m pregnant…
Or that he’s sort of referring to us as a team.
Us. He wantsusto find out how to stop me from passing out.
It would be a lot to process anyway, but since I’m filled to the brim with hormones that are wreaking havoc on both my libido and my emotions, hearing him insinuate I’m not completely alone has me tearing up and my breath hitching.
“Shit.” Titus’s forehead falls to mine, his eyes slipping closed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I shouldn’t have said anything.” His lids lift, expression filled with more emotion than I know what to do with when he says, “Please don’t cry.”
I swallow at the tightness in my throat, trying to get it together. “I’m not upset.” I don’t know how to explain what I am though. That seems to be getting more and more complicated with each passing day.
I should have let Titus stay in his rooms. Should have left him to his own devices and gone about my business. Maybe if I hadn’t paid attention to him, he wouldn’t have paid attention to me. We wouldn’t have exchanged notes. Texted most of the night. He wouldn’t have held me so carefully the dayI passed out.
He wouldn’t be holding me the same way now.
I manage a deep breath, stifling the hiccup that attempts to slip free so I sound convincing. “I’m okay. Just a little overwhelmed.”
Understatement.
Of.
The.
Century.
