Her support was well meant, and I truly loved her. There were just some things a guy needed to do by himself, and finding his sexy mate was one of them.
A couple days of being at home and there was no improvement. An elf healer was called. They frowned a lot, used their magic to scan me, and ushered my parents out of the room.
“Do you know?” she asked.
Amethyst was the head of the clinical team at the local surgery. My parents really had pulled out all the stops to get me looked at. A home visit was even more special. I kind of felt bad about this preferential treatment, considering what I was hiding.
“About the baby? Yeah.”
“Who is the father? I assume it’s not Orson or he would be here and your parents would know. They didn’t mention it.”
“It’s a secret until I can tell the father.” I picked nervously at a thread on the blanket covering me. “It’s not Orson. I met my fated mate…”
“And you had heat sex with him?” She was so matter of fact.
“Yes.” I could feel theheat rising off my face.
“What aren’t you telling me, Sullivan? I need to know so I can treat you correctly.” She scrutinized my expression. “Nevermind. I shall guess. You were rejected, correct?”
“Yes,” I whispered.
“I’m sorry.” Clearly, she meant it. Her manner softened, expression sincere. “That must be difficult for you. It is part of why you are feeling ill. A sort of mourning for your bond. It will pass. A few more days and you should be fine.”
“What are you going to tell my parents?”
“That you are having a reaction to the heat suppressants you were on and need some rest. Everything else is yours to share when you are ready. I assume you know—“
“That I’ll start showing signs in about a month? Yeah.”
Unlike a quokka who carries a pregnancy for twenty-seven days and then holds the joey in their pouch for six months, I would be pregnant for around seven months, give or take. My parents would notice the changes in my scent and body around the month mark. The town might take a little longer with the inhibitor, I forgot if it hid the telltale scent, but I wouldn’t be able to hide a bump forever.
“Okay, good. Come to the clinic next week for a check up, alright?”
I told Amethyst I would, and she left soon after. My parents fussed over me a while longer until they had to go to the hotel. With me out, they had to cover, and my siblings wanted an update on me anyway.
Orson texted.
Orson
Are you well enough for a visitor? Your parents said I should keep you company while they are out. They are keen for us to plan another date. I could bring one of those coffees you like?
Sully
Please. Company would be nice.
My parents had left the door unlocked. Orson came straight up, following the directions I’d given him. The first sip of my drink was heavenly until I worried about the baby and caffeine. I shrugged it off. One coffee a day wouldn’t do much harm, would it? I put it on a mental list to check out later. I was so uninformed about pregnancy!
“You’re doing okay?”
“Yeah, I’ll be fine. Just need to rest up a bit.”
Orson took the chair near the bed my mom had facing the screen mounted on the wall. I was watching the movies Trisha had sent over for the third time. I let it play as background noise.
“Oh, I liked these books.”
“You did?” I stopped the movie, ready to restart it if he wanted.
“Yes. My parents thought they were silly. I’ve never watched the movies before. Baxter would—“
