Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 26475 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 132(@200wpm)___ 106(@250wpm)___ 88(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26475 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 132(@200wpm)___ 106(@250wpm)___ 88(@300wpm)
I laugh because it’s required, but maybe Lina has a point. After all, I’ve wanted to call Damon ever since the incident occurred. Maybe I just needed someone to tell me it’s okay to go with my gut, and to let my emotions guide me. I open my mouth to thank my buddy for the guidance when suddenly, a rush of nausea gushes up in my throat. I leap away from my desk so fast that my chair tips over and falls to the carpet. Then I dart to the bathroom and vomit into the bowl. It’s disgusting as green and brown chunks splatter into the porcelain. Ugh. I’ve never felt this sick in my entire life.
When my stomach’s done, I hear Lina’s voice on the other end of the phone asking me if I’m okay. Holy shit, I’m still clutching my cell in one hand! I groan and reach for the handle to flush the toilet noisily and then press my back against the door of the bathroom and bring my phone to my ear.
“Sorry,” I say weakly. “God, that was awful.”
“I know, I heard,” she says wryly. “But Rach, listen to me,” she adds carefully, “when was the last time you had your period?”
“Oh, that was just last…” I trail off, suddenly realizing that it’s late. “Shit. My flow was supposed to come last week.”
“You need to take a pregnancy test ASAP.”
“Oh my God, oh my God.” I press a hand to my belly. “Lina, what if I’m pregnant?”
My friend stays positive.
“Then we’ll figure it out, okay? But first: take the test. Honey, Tim’s calling me so I have to go, but let me know the minute you have the results, okay? I’m here for you.”
“Thanks,” I say in a weak voice.
With that, we hang up, and I cover my mouth with my hands. Tears spring to my eyes and slide down my cheeks, but my heart is full even if I’m scared. After all, it’s Damon’s baby who’s growing inside me right now, and I want this child. He or she was conceived in love, and even if Damon’s not on board, I will still adore the little human that we made together.
However, there are important things to do. I need to take a pregnancy test to confirm my suspicions, and then I’m going to have to tell Damon. After all, the baby is his too, and the alpha male deserves to know.
11
Rachel
* * *
After I got off the phone with Lina, I had every intention of telling Damon the good news, but now it’s been a week, and I still haven’t called him. I don’t know what happened; my confidence plummeted the moment I peed on the stick. Then, looking at the plus sign threw me into shock, and I literally couldn’t move for about three minutes.
But now, I’m just procrastinating. I tell myself I’ll call Damon after class or after I finish studying or after I eat a meal, but never actually follow through. Part of it is that I’m terrified that he’ll hate me for breaking up with him the way I did, and then he’ll hate me even more when he finds out I’m pregnant with his baby. After all, it was an accident. We try to use protection all the time, but there were a few instances when the moment was just too hot and he came in me bare. I suppose it’s as much on him as on me, but right now, I just feel really tense.
Taking a deep breath, I stroll into the physical therapy wing of Prescott General Hospital. As part of the Wellness Atrium’s curriculum, I have independent study hours during which I practice on a real client. I’m usually supervised during these sessions by a senior physical therapist, but today, I’m on my own for the first time. It’s fine though. I’ve been at this for years, and it’s time I began handling patients by myself.
Once inside the locker room, I head over to the metal locker that keeps my things. I pull out my lanyard from my purse and slip it over my head and then shove my purse into my locker and begin to close the door. But after a moment of hesitation, I grab the pen that Damon got me and stick it into my breast pocket. To be honest, I thought it was more of a gag gift, but now, it makes me feel closer to him to have it with me. Sappy, I know.
Then, I lock up my things and check the whiteboard that’s drilled into the wall. It’s a schedule with our appointments on them, and I find my name while squinting. Okay, today’s patient is is Will Simpson and he’s recovering from a shoulder injury. Easy-peasy, because I’ve done tons of shoulder injuries before. Humming a bit, I gather my hair up in a high bun, and then head out of the locker room.