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Chapter Nineteen
Sunday wasn’t the first time they all gathered for brunch at Brice and Lena’s home. But it was different this time. Or maybe I’m just different.
Nicholas came running up to her to be picked up. Until recently, she would’ve patted him on his head and sent him on his way. This time, she scooped him into her arms and gave him a big kiss on the cheek. “Here’s my big boy. Are you going to sit next to me today?”
He nodded then wiggled to get down. Before she knew it, he was off and playing with Tyler. So much for me being his new best friend.
They all took their seats, and once again Lena outdid herself with the spread. There was enough food to feed everyone for a week. Zoey took a few bites, but she couldn’t eat. She’d been struggling with a stomach bug of some kind for the last week.
“What’s wrong, Zoey? You normally fight me for the last cinnamon roll,” Dean teased her from across the table. She didn’t want anyone noticing she wasn’t feeling well. The morning was perfect so far, and she didn’t want anything spoiling that.
“I’m fine. Just not hungry. That’s all.”
Bennett, however, didn’t find the need to keep quiet. “She’s been like this for days. Take a bite and count your blessing if she’s not running to the bathroom. Early mornings are even worse.”
Logan got up from his seat and went right to her side taking her pulse and feeling for a temperature, then checking her glands in her throat. “Open up and let me look at your throat.”
Zoey brushed his hands away. “I’m not sick. No sore throat. No fever. No cough. I’m just queasy. That’s all.”
“Every morning?” Lena asked.
“Every day?” Morgan asked.
Zoey nodded to them both. “It’ll pass. It always does. Must be something I’m eating that’s not agreeing with me.”
“I think you should stop at the pharmacy on the way home,” Lena said, leaning back with her arms folded across her chest smiling.
“Antacids don’t help.”
“I wasn’t suggesting medicine,” Lena added.
Zoey arched her brow, clueless as to why else she’d stop there. She was tired, and the nausea wasn’t helping. “I’m sure I have something at home I can take.”
“Unless it’s something you pee on then you don’t have the right stuff,” Morgan teased.
Pee on? “What are you ladies trying to say I need to get?”
In unison, all three ladies said, “A pregnancy test.”
Startled, Zoey knocked over her glass of orange juice, spilling it all over the table. Pregnant? Me? No way. I can’t be. Can I? Oh, this isn’t good. She wanted children, but she’d never even talked to Bennett about them. They weren’t even married yet. Heck, they only got engaged earlier that week. Breathe. Breathe. Don’t vomit.
She got up from the table and ran to the bathroom. Bennett followed her and was there before she could lock him out. Even though she didn’t have much to eat, she emptied the contents of her stomach. Bennett knelt by her side, holding her hair out of the way. When she finished, he handed her a cool, wet facecloth.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
She looked up at him, trying to process the possibility of being pregnant. “I should ask how you’re feeling.”
“I’m not the one with morning sickness,” Bennett said lightheartedly.
“You’re not upset?” Zoey asked and held her breath waiting for his answer. Surely he won’t want this. Surely he won’t want me.
He reached out and took her hand in his. “I love you, and I’m going to marry you. I was hoping we’d have a family together, so if you’re pregnant, I’m thrilled. And if you’re not, then I’m happy to keep working on it.” Bennett gave her a playful wink.
She was going through the dates in her mind. It had been more than a month since they were first together. She’d never been late for her period before. Now she was two weeks late. Placing a hand over her stomach, she looked at Bennett and said, “I think we need to stop at the pharmacy on the way home.”
He kissed her cheek and said, “I can run there now if you’d like?”
Zoey shook her head. “I am not taking a pregnancy test here at my brother’s house.”
