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“I’d like that,” I said, following the directions that the GPS was spitting out. I could enjoy our last bit together then get back to the real world, where hopefully I could come back to my senses and get on track with the divorce.
I hoped.
Chapter Thirty
~Nicole~
Somehow, in the span of just a couple months, my life turned from a horror story into a fairy tale.
And I loved it, I absolutely loved it.
I was almost through my fifth month of pregnancy and the morning sickness had worn off quite a bit. I still got it from time to time -especially if I smelled something a bit too obnoxious- but those instances were getting further and further apart.
My belly was also really starting to take off. I went from a rounded stomach that looked like it was probably pregnancy, to full on there’s a baby inside here in just a matter of a couple of weeks. When I had my next checkup, the doctor said that I was a bit bigger than average, but nothing to be worried about yet.
James had been relieved at that, because of course he had been there. So far, he had been to the two other appointments I had and stayed for the rest of the weekends.
Those weekends were the best part of the whole deal. We did everything from watch movies, to walk around St. Louis, we even went up in the arch. If either of us wanted to do something, instead of sighing and saying ‘well maybe someday’, we got up and did it.
Except for sex.
It was weird. After that amazing time in the bathtub, I would be absolutely lying if I said I wasn’t tempted to have James throw me down and work me up and over again, but something was stopping us. Don’t get me wrong, we slept in the same bed every night, cuddling and holding each other and honestly that was legitimately magical, but there was no hanky panky at all.
Perhaps that was for the best. Because I was pretty sure that I could maybe be falling in love with him.
I knew that was a terrible idea, especially since we were getting divorced, but I couldn’t help myself. He was kind and handsome and charming, and after the whole bankruptcy and Jason thing, I felt closer to him than ever.
Of all the people in the world, I trusted him the most. I enjoyed spending time with him the most. He was my closest friend, so how could I help it that my feelings were deepening or strengthening? Even the divorce hovering in our future didn’t seem to make much of a different to my heart.
I snorted at that and got back to work. It was a Wednesday, and yet my hump day was depressingly lacking in any sort of actual humping. I remembered reading once that pregnancy could make women quite horny, and now I was experiencing it full hand. Even though my body seemed to be taking me on a rollercoaster ride that I was completely out of control of, most of it being gross and uncomfortable, I wanted to go for a roll in the hay and then some.
“Hey, Nicole. We’re going to be working a special Saturday this shift for a project. Any chance you’d be willing to come in?”
I looked up from the appointment I was writing, surprised to see my boss. “Oh, I’m sorry, no.” I said, trying to look relatively contrite. “My child’s father is flying in and he’s already bought his tickets.” Naturally I left off that he was a billionaire and could buy more tickets at the drop of a hat, but that wasn’t necessary.
“Aw, you sure? We could certainly use you.”
But I held fast. I wasn’t giving up my time with James if I could help it. There once would have been a time where I had no choice but to snatch up any sort of overtime shift, but James had pretty much taken care of that. I had a cool grand hidden away even with needing a new battery, an inspection and registration all in the same month.
“Sorry, if you let me know earlier next time, I’ll see what I can do.”
“Alright. Maybe next time.”
He wandered off, looking mildly surprised at my reaction, but I was more than pleased with myself. It was pretty liberating having the power to say no whereas in my past all of my choices were forced by my need for money. James had opened so many doors for me and I was eternally grateful.
I finished up my shift still feeling quite proud of myself and headed out the door. Maybe I would treat myself to some nice salmon as a treat for a day well done. After all, I was out of groceries and James almost always took me out on the weekends, so I needed to eat something homemade while he was gone.
