Calix lifts his head and his face falls when he sees me. “Everything okay?” I open my mouth to answer him, but nothing comes out. He looks even more concerned.
“She’s fine. We were just talking about my vaginal dryness and you interrupted us.”
Aeson plants her hands on her hips. Calix’s eyes widen for just a heartbeat, then he resumes cleaning up the floor with renewed vigor.
“Come on, Dami, let’s go finish our conversation where we won’t be disturbed.” I force my legs to move, and out of the corner of my eye, I watch Aeson give Torin a stare down while Calix is distracted with cleaning. The way she draws her black painted fingernail across her throat—giving the wolf a warning to keep his mouth shut—would normally make me laugh, but right now I’m too numb to do anything but accept the out she just gave me to get away from Calix and Torin so I can come to terms with the fact that I’m pregnant. Fucking hell.
A nervous laugh bubbles its way up my throat when we reach the stairs. I place my palm on the ground next to Aeson and she climbs aboard. “Vaginal dryness?” Gunnar pokes his head out of the bedroom, his hair still damp from the shower, and his eyes land on me.
“I can cure that for you.” He smirks.
“Oh you can, can you?” Aeson chirps.
Gunnar jerks his head back, not realizing Aeson was even with me. “Nope.” He pops the ‘p’ sound and ducks back into the bedroom, which makes me laugh even harder. We make our way into Kim’s room. I place my hand on the bed allowing Aeson to step off.
“Thanks, I needed that,” I tell her, referring to the moment of levity.
Aeson places the back of her hand on her forehead like some old-fashioned cinema damsel. “And that’s what killed her, folks. The rampant rumors of her dry pussy. She eventually succumbed to her plight and shriveled up and died from lack of dicking.”
“You’re such a drama queen. I’m sure we could find some poor sap who would give your arid pussy a jizz bath.”
Aeson gets a faraway look in her eyes. “Yes, I’m quite sure one load from the wolf and I would be soaked for days.” She throws herself back on the bed, spread eagle style.
My thoughts immediately return to the reason my best friend just threw herself under the bus for me. I’m pregnant.
My hand goes to my lower stomach. I’m tempted to try the meditation technique Grim taught me to see if I could feel that glow again. When I felt that warmth, everything seemed right. Now that I know what it is, maybe it would help abate some of this panic making my throat feel tight. Fear is not an emotion I’m used to.
Aeson senses the mood shift and tilts her head back to look at me, then she rolls over so she’s on her stomach with her palms propped under her chin. Put a little pair of wings on her and she would make the cutest goth Tinkerbelle ever. “I’m going to take that smile and the fact that you’re no longer threatening to throw up as a good sign,” she comments hesitantly. My smile slips. “Oh dear.” She sighs.
“I just never even thought about being a mom. I didn’t even know it was a possibility. Fucking hell, what if I would have gotten knocked up by some random hookup?”
“I don’t thinkthatwould have been a possibility, Dami.”
I start worrying the skin on the side of my thumbnail, something I haven’t done in years. Not since boarding school. “When should I tell them? How should I tell them? Am I going to have to go to a human doctor?” Horror fills me.
The thought of Grim, Calix, and Gunnar all standing in a delivery room threatening the doctor and nurses with death might be kind of funny though. Then I remember I’m going to have to push a baby out and I grab my pussy in sympathy.
“Now’s not the time to diddle yourself,” Aeson scoffs.
“I’m not diddling myself. I’m comforting my puss. She might never be the same after this.”
“Oh, shut up, you’re speaking like a daft man.”
“It’s gonna fucking hurt though,” I exclaim.
“They have drugs for that sort of thing,” Aeson counters, dismissing my concern.
“A baby.” I shake my head. There’s no denying the facts, but I don’t think it’s truly sunk in yet. I feel like this is both happening to someone else and me at the same time.
“Dami.” Aeson’s voice is in full comfort mode. “I want you to know this is your body, your choice. You don’t have to tell anyone.” Her eyes are blown wide, and she bites her lower lip as she finishes.
I get choked up even thinking about what she’s implying. I shake my head vehemently in refusal. “No, I could never.” I don’t ever want to think about that again.
Aeson’s entire body sags in what I’m hoping is relief. “Okay, good,” she breathes, confirming my interpretation of her reaction.
“I don’t know how they will feel about it though.” I try to imagine each of their responses and fail miserably. “Do I tell them together or separately, now or when we get home?” I’m rambling, but I can’t help it. My thoughts are shifting wildly.
“All of it is up to you, Dami. But if you’re asking for my advice, I would suggest you tell them sooner rather than later.” She reaches over and places her tiny hand on my leg. “My instincts tell me you’re worrying for the wrong reasons.”
