Then it hit me. I couldn’t go in feeling like this. Phoenix I couldn’t avoid, but the last thing I wanted to risk were the little ones. I’d message the group in a bit to see what they thought.
Thankfully, the nausea seemed to pass again as quickly as it came. I snagged a sleeve of crackers and plopped down to read my latest book.
My mind was a mess, and I gave up a few pages in, opting for that shower instead.
Warm water and steam surrounded me, washing away the last bits of fatigue clinging to me. The mental roller coaster of the last month had definitely taken its toll.
I hated that she’d been dumped like that, but I loved having Phoenix here. We were kindred spirits in a lot of ways, and watching her go from that quiet kid when she arrived, to the one teasing me now, was incredible.
The guardianship was temporary, and my lawyer was ready to fight if need be, but I wasn’t sure what Phoenix would want.
At some point, I’d have to sit her down and talk it all out. I just wanted time for things to settle first.
Snagging my body wash, I flipped open the cap. The scent of strawberries flooded the shower and my body reacted as if I’d stuck my face in a dumpster. My stomach rolled and I had to scramble out of the shower. My wet body slid across the tiles before I stumbled to my knees.
My stomach was already empty, but the dry heaving was pure hell.
What was going on? That was my favorite body wash.
Then it hit me.
Holy shit… it had been over a month since that crazy one-night stand turned heat. Could my birth control have failed?
Because this sounded a whole lot like morning sickness.
Guilt twisted my stomach more than the nausea now. They’d given me so much space and I’d all but avoided talking to them.
Fuck. I needed my besties.
Me
SOS I need you guys. I have to stop by the pharmacy on the way there but I’m FREAKING OUT
Dani
Uh oh.
Taryn
We’ll be here.
I threw my phone on the bed and went to the closet to find something a bit more work appropriate. If my suspicions were correct, then I wasn’t sick at all… just pregnant.
Fuck. I had a teenager now. This was a mess.
Not to mention, I’d all but ignored my pack. Who was to say they wouldn’t do the same back to me. Something told me they wouldn’t do that, but the fear still lingered.
One step at a time, Bea.
The girls were always on my ass for dressing up but I wasn’t about to show up in faded tees. I grabbed a cute little black dress that had crochet sleeves, it was one of my favorites and felt right for today.
To show off the cute sleeves, I pulled my black hair into a slick, high ponytail. All this nausea had me snagging flats instead of heels. I’d be walking and if I needed to move quickly, they’d work much better.
I topped the look off with diamond studs and a matching necklace. Looking myself over, I couldn’t help but feel a bit better. Sometimes being put together on the outside helped calm the storm raging inside.
Knowing I couldn’t avoid it any longer, I snagged my things and hurried outside. On the way to the store, I stopped in thepharmacy. The self checkout was open and I opted for that, otherwise Willow Lake would be spreading rumors by lunch.
I even went as far as tucking the small bag into my purse the moment I stepped outside.
