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Chapter forty

Cecilia

Moldy coffee beans, or not moldy coffee beans. That is the question.

~ Six Weeks Later / End July ~

“HAPPY TWENTY-SIXTH BIRTHDAY, BABE!” Emma takes me into her arms, rocking us from side to side.

My birthday was actually last week, but Em was away on vacation with her boyfriend, and I couldn’t have my birthday party without her. So, we held off on celebrating until she was back.

Clay and Morgan had offered to have the birthday gathering at their place. But since Silas and I have been getting very reacquainted with one another, it made more sense to have it in our home.

If I’m being honest, I don’t even know why I haven’t moved back in yet. Silas and I haven’t talked about it since our anniversary, but I know he’s getting antsy about the subject.

I also know he doesn’t want to push me, which is probably why he hasn’t brought it up. But I’m thinking after this weekend would be a good time to come home. Finally.

“Thank you. But please stop reminding me of my age. I feel like ever since we hit twenty-one, the years have been flying by.” I touch my face as if I’m trying to hide my wrinkles, even though I don’t have any.

“Please do keep reminding my wife of her age. Because then it also reminds me that I’ll forever have a young, hot thing on my arm.” Silas comes up behind me, wrapping his arms over my chest.

I turn my head back and angle it up to meet his gaze. “Did you just call me arm candy? ”

He lowers his head and plants a kiss along my lips. “I sure did.”

“Hate to break it to you, babe. But that’s what you are,” Emma adds while Morgan and Aubrey nod in agreement.

Silas chuckles and kisses my nose. “See, everyone agrees.” He looks up to the girls in our kitchen and smiles warmly. “Good morning, ladies. Thank you all for coming over early to help get things ready for the party, but it really wasn’t necessary. We could have just hired help.”

“You seem to be forgetting that it’s literally my job to plan parties and used to be your wife’s, too.

Plus, Morgan is an expert in decor and a secret chef.

And Aubrey has some crazy skills when it comes to baked goods, so I think that pretty much makes us the dream team.

” Em points an angry finger at my husband with a glare as if his comment offended her.

“Don’t forget the muscles and unlimited bank accounts, we have two of those. One here,” Morgan says, waving a hand in Sy’s direction. “And the second one is on his way. He just had some errands to run first.”

Silas stands straight and frowns at her. “Nice to know all I’m good for is my money and my muscles,” he tells her dryly, making the girls giggle.

I turn in his arms and pat his chest with a soft smile. “Oh no, honey. That’s not all you’re good for.” I glide my hand down to his waistband for him to get the message.

He gives me a disapproving look. “That does not make me feel like a piece of meat at all .” The sarcasm is so loud you could hear it down the block, which makes me giggle and his frown turns into a scowl.

“Fine. I’ll leave you ladies to it. Call me when you need my money or muscles.” He kisses my forehead and walks away.

“A very sexy piece of meat!” I call after him, causing laughter to explode in the kitchen.

“All right, how about we make coffee and discuss what we’ll each be doing while we drink it, then we’ll get to work.

The rest of the party is set to arrive around two, and it’s just shy of nine.

That gives us five hours to get everything up and in motion,” Morgan instructs as she wanders over to the way-too-expensive coffee machine Silas insisted we needed.

“Oh God, yes! I’m in deep need of coffee. I’ve been so tired lately, and I have no idea what I’m doing to be so exhausted all the time,” I say, adding a yawn to prove my point.

“You mean who you’re doing,” Aubrey says from beside me.

I gasp and turn to her. Out of all three, she’s the only one I wouldn’t have expected to say that. She very rarely joins in on our sexual comments or jokes. Usually, she just giggles or turns red and goes back to her shy, reserved self.

“What? It’s true!” Now she’s turning red, realizing what she said.

“No, not true. Silas and I haven’t even been that active. In the last week, I think we’ve had sex six times. Which is very little compared to how much we usually do. I’ve just been too tired for more, and most of the time I end up taking naps during the day.”

“Damn, I would hate to have your life,” Emma says with an eye roll as she takes down four coffee mugs.

“Really? Six times a week isn’t a lot for you?” Brey asks quietly, her cheeks taking another pink hue.

“Oh, no. Normally we’d have sex at least three times a day. Every day. Hockey players have amazing stamina.”

Morgan nods her head with enthusiasm. “She’s right. Clay can go again a minute later, even if we just went at it for an hour. It’s truly out of this world. I could never go back to normal sex after being with him.”

“Ugh! Can we stop talking about how amazing your sex lives are? It’s only nine in the morning, and you’re making me want to drink,” Emma says, frowning down at the mugs and doesn’t give us any eye contact. That look worries me.

“Em? What’s wrong? Is something going on with Tommy?” I walk over to her side.

“No, not really. I mean, everything is fine. It’s just hearing you guys talk about how amazing it is kind of makes me realize how.

.. not amazing mine is. At first it was great, but lately we’re lucky if it happens once a week.

And even when it does, it’s a bit… lacking. ” She chews on her bottom lip.

I can sense there’s more going on in her head, but I’ll wait until we’re alone to talk about it. I know Emma doesn’t enjoy showing her emotions in front of everyone, even if they’re her friends.

“Have you tried talking to him about it? Let him know that your needs aren’t being fulfilled?” Morgan asks while she finishes filling the coffee mugs.

Em nods. “I have, and he apologized, said he was just stressed with some cases at work and that’s why he hasn’t been performing great.

I really like him, so it doesn’t really change anything, but it still sucks.

I’m just hoping it’s a phase and will pass soon.

” She turns to pick up her cup while Morgan, Aubrey, and I exchange a look.

Tommy seems like a really nice and charming guy on the outside.

I get why Emma fell for him. But the truth is, every time I’ve been in his presence, I get this strange, unsettling feeling.

I know Silas had picked up on it and from that moment, he didn’t want me anywhere near Tommy without him being there .

I hate to think it, but I have a feeling Tommy isn’t the loyal type. And from the looks I’m getting from both Aubrey and Morgan... they agree with me.

Morgan passes out the mugs as we sit at the kitchen island. I’m about to take my first sip before everyone else when I’m hit with a strange sour smell. One strong enough to make my stomach turn.

“Wait! Don’t drink it! I think the coffee beans might not be good anymore.”

I bring the cup closer to my nose and inhale deeply, instantly regretting it as bile rises in my throat. “Oh my God, nope. Definitely not good.”

“What are you talking about? I think it smells fine,” Morg says.

“Yeah, smells delicious to me,” Em adds, taking a sip. “And tastes delicious, too. Mmm, I’m going to need this machine at home pronto.”

I look back down at my coffee with a frown. I bring it slowly to my lips and take a tentative sip, then quickly put it back down and gag. Are they crazy?! This tastes horrible! My stomach churns, and I suddenly feel extremely nauseous. Oh God, please tell me I’m not sick again.

When I give up on drinking my coffee, I push it away and lean back with my arms folded in my lap.

I feel eyes on me to my right, so I turn my head in Brey’s direction and find her staring at me with wide eyes.

I don’t understand the look she’s giving me right away.

My brows furrow as she reaches over and grabs my cup, smells it, then takes a sip, and places it back.

She doesn’t make a face like I did while she swallows, then she whispers so only I can hear, “Cece, it tastes fine.”

I’m confused by why she feels the need to share it as a secret. I get it, apparently, I’m the only one who thinks it smells and tastes bad. I’m probably just too ti—

“Oh God!” It hits me like a freight train.

The exhaustion, the smell, the taste, the nausea.

I grab onto Aubrey’s arm and stare wide-eyed into her large brown ones. “OH MY GOD!”

Brey detaches my claws from her arm and takes my hands in hers. “It’s okay, just breathe. Everything is fine.”

“Sweetie? Are you okay?” Morg says, leaving her chair in a hurry to stand beside Aubrey.

At the same time, Emma leans over the island, trying to get a better look at my panicked expression. “Babe? What’s wrong?”

I can feel the blood drain from my face as pieces begin to click together. Why I’ve been more hormonal, why my boobs felt sore recently, but the biggest one clicks. I’m such an idiot !

“I haven’t had my shot since December. I was due in March, but with everything that happened, I never went to my appointment and didn’t reschedule another.” I’m staring straight ahead, my voice completely void of any emotion.

I’m trying not to freak out while my mind goes into overdrive. I don’t know how to feel about this. Silas and I are finally in a good place, I’m scared of what impact this could have on everything.

“I don’t understand?” Morgan says, followed by Emma’s, “What shot?” In the meantime, Aubrey still holds my hands, rubbing the surface soothingly.

“My birth control. I haven’t had it since December! And Silas and I never use protection!” Now I’m shouting, clearly losing my cool. I need to calm down before Silas hears us and comes running. Because I know I won’t be able to gain control of my emotions in front of him.