Page 55

“Who said being in a relationship means giving up your independence?”

I throw a hand over my mouth and hold up a finger, burping slightly.

“Lovely.” She scrunches up her nose.

“Acid.” I wince and then start to puke all over the floor in front of me.

My best friend rubs my back. “Yeah, it’s home time now, babe.”

Felicity setsa glass of water on my nightstand and then helps me into bed, pulling the duvet over me. “Thanks, Mom.”

“How are you feeling now?”

“About as well as when you pulled over for me to puke on the sidewalk.”

“Yeah, that wasn’t a good look.” She hands me the glass of water. “Try and take a few sips.”

Holding the glass to my lips, I roll my eyes. “Only Jensen’s baby could be this troublesome.”

Giggling, she searches through her large black tote. “Here, try nibbling on some of these tonight. I know you don’t feel like eating, but the most important thing is fluids, and these biscuits may help. Ginger can also help settle the stomach.” She hands me the packet.

“Where the hell did you get those?”

She shrugs. “They’re one of my favorite snacks. I always keep a packet on hand.”

“You are Mary Poppins; you know that right?”

“Have you called Jensen back?”

“Nope. I texted him.”

“And told him what exactly.”

Tentatively, I nibble on the edge of the biscuit. “This isn’t as bad as that chamomile crap you consume. That looks like piss, but it’s actually worse.”

She ignores my mindless jabbering. “Told him what?”

“I told him I was at work and busy in meetings and not to worry.”

“So you didn’t mention that you were texting him from a bathroom floor, covered in your own puke?”

“It’s just the usual morning sickness, babe. I’ll be fine tomorrow.”

My stomach rolls again, and I sit back in my pillows and groan. “I hope.”

“Please do not come into work tomorrow if you aren’t up to it. I get that you don’t want to say anything until twelve weeks, but if this carries on, then you might need to.”

“I’ll tell Easton after the twelve-week mark, but I’m not telling my parents. Ever.”

“Hmm.” My best friend comes to sit on the bed next to me. “I say rip the band-aid off and tell them ASAP.”

“You’ve met them a couple of times, and they’re only nice to you because you work with me, and you aren’t direct ‘competition.’ It would be pointless telling them, more trouble than it’s worth.” I scoff and then burp again. “It’s not like they would step up and support me. And don’t get me started on the way they’d treat Jensen.”

Felicity knits her brows together. “Why? Yeah, he’s a bit over the top, but he’s a good man and will more than step up.”

“Abitover the top?! Girl, you’re way too conditioned by Jon.”

“Okay, he’s a bit more than over the top. But he’s, you know, he’s got…” She trails off and purses her lips together.