“Later.” He leans in and kisses me before letting go and turning back to the stove. “Now stop distracting me before I burn this food, wife.”
“I can’t wait to be your wife,” I say quietly behind him.
He looks over his shoulder once more and offers me an affectionate smile. “Me too, Angel.” His eyes drop down to my necklace that I never take off then back up to my face as his eyes fill with emotions.
He clears his throat and looks away. “Wine?”
Furrowing my brows, I look down at my belly. “Umm… are you having memory loss? Is the old age starting to catch up on you?” I laugh.
He finishes stirring the pan filled with veggies, then puts the spoon back down and lowers the heat. Facing me again, he puts his hands on either side of the counter behind him.
His muscular arms strain with the action, veins popping out along his forearms. I lick my lips as my eyes roam over his broad chest, stretching out the fabric of his dress shirt. He’s even dressed fancy, while I’m wearing a simple white sundress.
“I see my girl is getting mouthy tonight.” He smirks mischievously as his eyes darken. “I meant non-alcoholic wine. I picked it up earlier for you. I thought we could try it out.”
“I’d love to.”
I watch as he pours us each a glass of deep-burgundy wine. I’ve come to realize that Shane isn’t much of a drinker. Similar to me, he only drinks when he’s with company, and even then, he’ll only have a glass but never more. So, despite us having a huge wine cellar and any alcohol you can think of, it rarely gets touched. Of course, the fact that I’m pregnant is a big reason behind us not drinking, and no matter how many times I tell Shane I’m fine with him having a glass during dinner or in the evening, he never does.
He hands one glass to me and takes the other, holding it up in front of mine. “To our wedding, our growing family, and to us.”
“To us,” I whisper back as we cling our glasses together and take our first sip, looking into each other’s eyes.
The second the liquid hits my tongue, I know I’ve made a mistake. My stomach recoils as Shane chokes on his swallow in front of me. The horrid taste spreads over my tastebuds before I can stop it, activating my gag reflex.
I quickly set the glass down and run to the sink, just in time to spill my guts out. I’ve been nauseous from time to time during the pregnancy but never to the point of actually being sick.I guess this fake wine was the exception.
Shane hurries up behind me, pulling back my hair and rubbing up and down the length of my back. I can hear all the pups barking at our feet and jump around, wondering what’s going on. “Let it out, sweetheart. I’ve got you.”
When my stomach finally settles down, I turn on the tap and rinse my mouth as well as the sink.God, what a way to ruin dinner.I straighten, ready to get back to our night when my head begins to spin, and I tip back against Shane who quickly catches me.
“Woah, take it easy, Angel. Let’s sit you down.” He lifts me into his arms and carries me out of the kitchen and off to the living room, setting me down on the couch.
He rushes out of the room and comes back with a granola bar and a glass of water. “Here, drink this and then eat the bar slowly.”
I grab the glass from him with trembling hands and drink small sips, then take tiny bites from the granola bar once he’s ripped it open. Once I feel a little better, I lean back against the couch cushions and continue to take deep breaths until my heart rate returns to normal.
“Wait here, I’ll get your pressure machine.” He hurries back out of the room and returns a minute later with my portable machine, securing it around my arm as he crouches down in front of me.
Cupcake jumps onto the couch and rests her head against my thigh, whimpering. “I’m okay, Cupcake. Just a little lightheaded,” I reassure her, stroking her fur once my pressure is taken.
“Eighty-three over fifty-six.” Instantly, my mood drops and my eyes swell with tears as Shane calls out my reading. He quickly notices and cups my face. “Hey, it’s okay, sweetheart. This isn’t your fault. It only dropped lower because you were sick.”
I know it’s not my fault and I can’t help it, that it’s just how my body is responding to the pregnancy. But that doesn’t stop me from feeling like it is, like I might be doing something wrong that’s causing it.
I nod my head as my lip wobbles, and I take a shaky breath.
Shane sighs. “I should have tasted that wine before giving you some… I’m sorry.”
I let out a wet giggle. “That really was horrible.”
He chuckles along with me. “It was, wasn’t it? Clearly, I’m not an expert at wine-picking.” His hands drop to my thighs.
I bring my own up and caress his cheek. “That’s okay, you’re an expert at everything else.”
“I’ll always try my best for you, Aubrey,” he says softly.
“I know.” I smile, until a stench reaches my nose, causing it to wrinkle up. “But Shane, I think the food is burning…”
