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“At least it wasn’t the dress?” Sebastian suggested.
“That’s what I said!” Jasmine replied.
“I can’t blame you,” Albert added, noting the pile of tulle peeking out beneath the dressing room door.
“That dress is an affront to dresses everywhere,” Jasmine declared.
Sebastian glanced toward the dressing room, “Is that …”
“Oh, that’s the petticoat,” Jasmine said.
“Am I the only one that’s kind of terrified of it?”
“No, I’ve spent the past three weeks dealing with this dress, and I think most people respond with abject terror,” Jasmine said.
I sighed. “Can I go home?” I asked. I was exhausted and starving. I needed a nap. But then I realized: I was supposed to work.
“Shit,” I grumbled, fishing my phone out of my purse.
“What’s wrong?” Sebastian asked.
“I’m scheduled to work at four. There’s no way I can go in. I feel like garbage. I need a nap and a smoothie,” I said.
“Really, you’re taking a sick day?” Jasmine asked.
I nodded and called Ella, who was scheduled until three, and asked if she could stay an extra hour. She said yes, then I called one of the high schoolers working for the summer and asked if they wanted some extra hours. Even though it was short notice, they said yes.
“I’m all set,” I told Sebastian and Jasmine. We went and got smoothies at a small cafe near the bridal shop, then Albert drove Sebastian and me home.
“Do you want to lie down?” Sebastian asked when we got back to the penthouse.
I nodded sleepily.
I made my way to the bedroom and changed into a pair of sweatpants, setting my smoothie on a coaster on the bedside table. It was strawberry and mango, with spinach, protein powder, and coconut water. Though it looked a bit like what I left in the planter this morning, it was delicious. I’d been drinking a lot of smoothies lately. My OB said I needed the extra calories, and they were easy to keep down.
I fluffed a pillow and pressed it up against the headboard so I could lean back a bit and watch television. I’d never taken a sick day before. This week, Olivia and Jasmine gave me countless pep talks about listening to my body. Usually, I would try to push through it, but something about today and the complete disdain in my mother’s eyes made me realize that I deserved better. I deserved to rest. Even if I wanted to work throughout my pregnancy, there was no denying that things were about to change. I told myself I would rest my eyes, and I woke up later, in Sebastian’s arms, with a fluffy blanket draped over me.
“You’re up,” Sebastian declared, kissing my forehead. He lay in bed beside me, with his arm slung around me as he typed on his laptop with his other hand.
“How long was I out?” I asked.
“Like two hours,” Sebastian said.
“What?” I shot up and tried to wrench the blanket off me. Sebastian stopped me.
“It’s okay. You needed the rest,” Sebastian said, his green eyes brimming with kindness.
I leaned back against him. “You’re right. I’m exhausted. But we’re still working the farmer’s market tomorrow, don’t think you’re getting out of your shift that easy.”
Sebastian laughed. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
Chapter 17
Sebastian
Sebastian
Tomysurprise,Beccawoke up before me the next morning. My alarm went off at seven, and the bed was cold. I brushed my teeth and shaved before heading into the kitchen to find Becca presiding over a pan of scrambled eggs—a food that made her gag last week.
