Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 71246 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71246 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
When I walk back into Seb’s office to finish my filing, I avoid eye contact, hoping that he will just take it all in stride and not pay attention to me. I should know better though. Those Miller boys don’t let anything get past them.
Seb stands up, comes over to me, and touches me on the shoulder.
“Jude, is everything all right? You looked really sick.”
“I’m sorry. I must have eaten something that did not agree with me this morning. I’m sure I’m going to be fine. I already feel better now.” I avoid his eyes, not wanting to lie to my new boss. I just want to get on with my day.
“No, come over here and sit down, you honestly don’t look fine. In fact, you look...” He doesn’t finish his sentence, and I don’t want to urge him to. I’m sure he was gonna say something like, terrible. You look terrible. Just like I feel, and I really don’t want to hear that right now.
“Why don’t you go home and take the rest of the day off?”
“No, it’s my first day. Plus, I need the money,” I object almost immediately.
“Funny thing is, in this job, you get paid whether you are here or not. You just don’t get to keep the job if you take advantage of that rule. It’s the way we roll.” His smile is sincere, but I’m sure that he is giving me special treatment, and I’m not quite sure if I like it or not.
I smile at him limply, grateful, but too overwhelmed with nausea to really argue with him. I can feel the tickle in the back of my throat, and I have to get out of here before it starts again. I nod several times and walk out of his office as fast as possible.
After another vomit session in the bathroom, I discover I have to go back into the office again because I left my purse inside. Popping my head into his office, I make sure that he is not with a student before I walk in.
“Sorry, I forgot my purse,” I say, tiptoeing inside to grab it.
“Quit apologizing already.” Seb grins from his desk. I swallow down another sorry, spin around and walk back toward the door. Seb isn’t finished talking though. “And Jude, you need to tell Lex.”
Looking back over my shoulder, I see the look in Seb’s eyes, and I know he’s guessed my condition. His grin and his eyes flashing to my belly tell me one thing: I know you’re pregnant. And now I have no other option. I have to tell Lex. Sooner rather than later.
21
Lex
I’m out of work an hour early, so I decide to pick up a green tea smoothie for Jude before swinging by the school to pick her up. Just when I get back in the car, I get a text from Seb.
Seb: Jude is not feeling well, you should come and get her now.
Me: On my way.
Setting the smoothie into the cupholder, I start the car and pull out of the parking lot. It is her favorite, and I hope it makes her feel better. Because that, of course, will make me happy.
A few minutes later, I pull up in front of the administration building, and she gets in the cab, looking like she is ready to barf all over.
“I got you something to drink and don’t take this the wrong way, but you don’t look so good.”
“Gee, thanks. That’s what every girl wants to hear.” She gives me a wry look and a half smile, so I know she is not super serious. “I don’t think I can drink that.” She shakes her head and hugs her belly. “Yeah, I don’t think there is any way I’m going to be able to keep it down or anything for that matter right now.”
“That bad, huh?”
“Yeah, maybe worse than that. Can we just ride in silence on the way home? I don’t want to have to pull over, and I feel like every time I move or speak, I have to puke.”
I have been sick to the gills before myself, so I know exactly what she is feeling. Lots of drunken debacles that turn into hangover Mondays and a couple of cases of food poisoning. Yeah, I know exactly what she is feeling.
We ride in silence, and a couple of times, I reach over and touch her hand or arm, but I can tell she is not welcoming it. She is avoiding my eyes. I don’t know what’s up, but her being uncomfortable is making me increasingly uncomfortable.
For some reason, I get the feeling that this is more than her being sick. What is she hiding? That her parents showed up again? Somebody hassled her? What the fuck is going on?
I want to question her but decide not to push it. At least not yet. However, by the time we get to the street, and she still hasn’t even looked at me, my patience snaps.