“So…” I start once we’re alone again. “How are you feeling?”
“Um…yeah. Fine. Tired, but fine.”
“Have you had any morning sickness yet? I read online that it can start from as early as four weeks, but it’s more common a little later.”
“I’m okay.”
I want to accept her words, but the dark shadows around her eyes and the lack of color in her cheeks stops me.
“Are you sure? No nausea or anything?”
“Do you really want to know?” she asks.
“Yeah, of course. I mean, if you’re happy to tell me.”
She nods. “I’m a little nauseous in the mornings, but once I’ve eaten it’s not too bad.”
“And everything else is okay? Blood pressure stable?”
“Yeah, as far as I know.”
“Good. As far as I’m aware, there isn’t anything in my family’s medical history that you need to know. Of course, to be totally sure, I’d need to speak to my mom, but I haven’t said anything yet. Have you told your parents yet?”
“No,” she says. “Right now, only you, Sienna, and Hailee know.”
“And Casey and Freya,” I add.
“Casey and—” She gasps as she remembers. “Oh shit. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know who they were and I was freaking out and?—”
I reach across the table and take her hand in mine.
Her word vomit immediately stops.
“It’s okay,” I say, squeezing her hand. “I’m glad they know.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I mean, I didn’t feel that way when they turned up at my door and refused to leave until they forced me to talk about it. But I felt better after.”
“Are you sure you’re really okay with doing this?”
“It’s a bit late now, isn’t it? The deed has been done.”
“Yeah, I know. I just…I guess I wasn’t really expecting you to want to be involved.”
“I’ve fucked up a lot in my life,” I say with my eyes locked on the table, the weight of those words pressing down on my shoulders. I take a deep breath and look up again, my eyes locking with Bea’s light ones. “But I don’t want to with this. I want to be worthy. I want to be a good father.”
24
BEATRICE
Just like Everett promised, the food was incredible. And I have to be honest; the company was pretty decent as well.
Everett was different from the man I met before. I can’t say I’m surprised, but I am relieved.
That first night he was such a cocky jerk. He really thought that fucking him would make my entire year. And then the night he learned the truth, well, he was just an asshole. But tonight, he’s been sweet, thoughtful, and fun.
He seems to genuinely care about me and my pregnancy. And the thing that’s shocked me the most is that he’s clearly done some research. He knows how big our little one is right now; he knows about prenatal vitamins and the things I should and shouldn’t be doing.
