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“No, this is all a huge mistake. I have an IUD.” Cici began to paw around the bed. “I can call my doctor right now. They’ll tell you.”
“It’s quite rare. But it does happen with IUDs. They shift internally and can allow pregnancy to happen.”
Cici’s hands slowed until finally, those fiery-painted nails were just moving over her bed, her thighs, as if unable to stay still. “This is real?”
“Very much so. I’m sorry you had to find out this way.” The nurse’s eyes were as big as dinner plates. She clutched her arms across her chest, backing away quickly. “I’m going to step out. Congratulations, Ms. Grove.”
Unbelievably Kevin stepped into the space vacated by the nurse. “Cici, let’s talk about this. I can take care of you.”
My carefully maintained temper had had enough. “Are you kidding me? You’re not taking care of anybody. That baby, it’s mine, and you need to go.” I opened my mouth, my body throbbing head to toe with a vicious possessiveness I’d never felt before. “You should go—”
“Brady, easy. Let me.” Cici’s voice was firm, her complexion returning to a more normal tone. “There’s no way this baby is yours. We hadn’t slept together in months. As in over six months. And I’m definitely not six months pregnant. What Brady said is right. This is for us to discuss, not you.” Her voice grew ever softer as her frustration with him must’ve been overwhelmed by the realization of what she was saying.
Kevin’s gaze shifted to me, and his mouth flopped open and closed several times. I stepped forward, in front of Cici. Watching the douchebag’s eyes widen as I stepped into his space satisfied this overly masculine need that controlled my brain right now. “It’s time for you to go,” I said.
His pitiful, bloodshot eyes looked over to Cici one more time before he followed the nurse out the room.
Silence suddenly fell around us, only broken by the rhythmic beeping coming from a room nearby. Cici’s face was closed down, her eyes distant as she clenched her hands into the bedding by where she sat. “Oh my God. I’m pregnant.” Her voice caught on a sob.
I ran my fingers soothingly up and down her leg on the bed, my heart still pounding in my ears. “Cici, it’s going to be fine.”
“I’m going to stop you right there.” Cici held up a hand, which shook in the air between us. “This is too much. It’s just too much.” Using my shoulder, she hopped down to the tiled floor. At first I thought she was looking to be held, or even to be comforted, but instead she started to the small cabinet and quickly grabbed her personal items. Her bare feet padded on the floor as she brushed by me and escaped into the hallway.
“Am I good to go?” she called to our nurse, who was standing in a corner, talking excitedly to a group of other nurses. They cast us wide-eyed looks as Cici barreled through. No doubt wondering if she was in fact some kind of real-life reverse harem leader.
Instead of answering, the nurse gave her a thumbs-up sign. And that was all it took. Cici turned, and after giving me a quick, desperate look, she darted up the hall and out of the exit door.
I was hot on her heels, the adrenaline pumping through my system making me light-headed. “Cici, wait!” I called after her, my voice echoing around the hallway. “We need to talk about this.”
“I just need a minute. Please, Brady, leave me alone for just a minute.” Cici glanced back, the raw pain and emotion in her voice nearly causing me to come undone. She needed me, and yet she was pushing me away. Just like she said she would.
“You know I can’t do that. Let me take you home.” We’d made it to the emergency room waiting area. A few people raised their heads from their doom scrolling to stare at the spectacle of us.
A deep, familiar voice rang out in the room, sharp with authority. “Brady, why the fuck are you yelling?”
Together, Cici and I looked to the turnstile across the waiting room. Liam and Ashlyn had arrived.
Cici let out a whimper that sawed at my heart before hurrying their direction.
Liam stood staring at me, his arms crossed as he tried to make sense of the whole scene. Ashlyn was less reserved and marched straight up to her aunt and sent a scathing glare my way.
I raised my hands, palms up. “Ashlyn, why are you looking at me like that?”
“I’ve got her. You can go.” Ashlyn wrapped Cici in her embrace and drew her closer, that glare still perfectly in place.
Liam kept his eyes on me. “I don’t know what’s happening, but you look like shit, man.”
I charged forward.
“No, no. Come on. Give her some space. We all heard her.” His arms banded around my shoulders like steel.
“We just found out…” My voice trailed off as Cici allowed Ashlyn to escort her back towards the door, her arms tight around Cici’s slender waist. Cici looked like the entire weight of the world had just landed on her back. And maybe it had.
“Get some rest and call her tomorrow. Okay?” Liam didn’t let go until I nodded.
Just before they turned to go outside, Cici’s blue gaze rose to find mine. The tears there were a punch straight to the gut.
“Cecelia Grove, I’m crazy about you, and I will absolutely be here for whatever you need. Whenever you need it.”
