“It’s just stress.”
“Stress doesn’t cause you to look like you’re going to throw up if you even think about eating.”
“No, but it can give you a stomach bug, right?”
“I’m not a doctor, but I can call one if you want.”
“I’m fine.“
Mackenzie left Nico on the couch and went to grab a bottle of water from the kitchen.He turned off the stove under the food, then made sure to close the kitchen door so that the smell would stay contained, even though he suspected it was too late.
He half expected Nico to be ready to leave when he got back, but instead, Nico had curled up on the couch and was hugging a pillow to his stomach.He smiled when he heard Mackenzie, and Mackenzie was once again shocked by how pale his boyfriend was.There was definitely something wrong.
“What are you feeling?”he asked.
Nico looked amused.“You just said you weren’t a doctor.”
“I’m not, but maybe there’s something I can do to help.I really don’t think this is just stress.”
“I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
“I’m not saying it won’t be, but I’d like to help.”
“I’ve just been nauseous, mostly.I haven’t thrown up, so you don’t have to worry about that.”
“You know I’m going to worry anyway.”
“Yeah, but you don’t have to.I’ll feel better soon.”
He sat up and grabbed the bottle of water Mackenzie was handing him.“It’s just a lot, you know?There’s Silas, and working with my father, and I don’t like hiding our relationship.”
Mackenzie sat on the coffee table in front of his boyfriend.He didn’t want to rush Nico into anything, but he had thoughts.“Maybe it’s time to stop that.I know you’re wary of telling your father, but as long as you don’t think he’d react too badly, I think we should.What’s the worst that can happen?”
Nico snorted.“I don’t know.My father could change his mind about me being his heir.He could kick me out of the house.”
“Do you really think he’d do either of those things?”
Nico sighed.“No, he wouldn’t.He’s not that kind of person, or that kind of father.He could be disappointed, though.”
“Then maybe that’s something you’ll have to deal with.I’m sure you’ve disappointed your father in the past and that you’ll disappoint him in the future.I know I did with my dad.No one’s perfect, Nico.I don’t know your father, but from what you’ve said about him, it’s clear that he loves you.He might not show it all the time, but I really think he does.I think you should give him a chance to show you that.And if heisdisappointed, we’ll deal with it together, all right?But I don’t see why he should be disappointed just because you’ve decided to date a human.”
“It’s more that I decided to date at all.My brother met his boyfriend, and he suddenly didn’t want to be the next alpha anymore.”
“Haveyouchanged your mind about that?”
“No.It’s hard, and I’m terrified, but I still think I could do a good job eventually.”
“Then I don’t see what the problem is.I’m not going to force you to talk to your father, but if it’s making you sick, maybe you should.”
Nico took a sip of water and bit his lower lip.He was looking away from Mackenzie, and while he seemed to be a bit better, Mackenzie was still worried.He’d be surprised if stress could make Nico feel so bad, and as far as he knew, stomach bugs usually spread like wildfire.The only other person he knew who’d been throwing up recently was his brother, but that was because Dean was pregnant.
Mackenzie blinked.Nico was a carrier.There was a possibility that he was pregnant.There shouldn’t be because they’d used protection, but condoms failed sometimes.There was no way this happened to them, right?Mackenzie hesitated, but the chances weren’t zero, so he decided to ask.“Do you think you could be pregnant?”
From Nico’s expression, Mackenzie could tell he’d thought about it.He hadn’t mentioned it, but it had to have crossed his mind.
“We used protection,” Nico said.
“And it’s not infallible.”
