Chapter Sixteen
Ivy
March 2023
The past few months have been total bliss and sadness.
Bliss, because who knew I’d enjoy life so much more without my every waking moment being planned and dictated by a man I thought had been the love of my life?
While I felt a sense of happiness with the way things were going, I was missing Abel.
A lot.
Even though we only shared one magical night together, I missed everything about that night, him, and what could have been.
The way this man talked to me, as if he’s known me for an eternity, brings a smile to my face.
He made me see that I am so much more than I ever could have imagined.
Closing my eyes, I imagine the way his hands felt as they roamed across my naked body. I can almost feel those big, firm hands of his caressing my body like the finest silk as I sit here and think about him.
The way he called me Marrone Dolce, sets my pussy on fire each time it graces his lips. Lips that are the perfect size for kissing, licking, nibbling, and sucking. I can feel the feathery softness as if he were pressing them against mine.
Before I know it, I’m moaning.
“Shit.” I groan, bringing myself back to my sad reality.
I want and miss Abel.
Thankfully Cam and I have been having a best friends’ day every other week, allowing us to unwind from the stress of school and getting my mind off Abel. Travis comes on the weeks he can. What makes it even better is walking around the park, the mall, and the nail salon, sandwiched in between two equally hot guys. I get blank stares from other men, but lustful and devilish looks from women who dream of being with two guys, living out their dirtiest fantasy.
That’s right, ladies. Eat your hearts out because they’re mine.
When I say we did everything together, I meant it.
I didn’t have many friends growing up, and I’m still not sure how Camden and I became friends. Being raised by my grandmother was the best, but I craved the love of my father who refused to acknowledge I was his kid and a mother who left for whatever reason.
God is the only one who knows why.
My gran did the best she could which was everything in my eyes.
Never once did she bad mouth either of my parents to me because she was that type of person.
I’d done that all on my own.
It was really hard keeping your mouth shut when the school bullies would tell you stories about your parents.
Not the good kind of stories either. They would call me an orphan because my parents didn’t love me enough to keep me. ‘You’re loveless, Poison Ivy.’ Tabitha was one horrible little bitch. I hold grudges and if I ever see her again, I’ll fucking deck her.
At any rate, she’s the reason I harbored ill feelings towards my parents because as the years came and gone, we grew up. She didn’t of course, and the stories never ended.
Whore!
I haven’t seen or spoken to my mother since she left. She didn’t even come to my grandmother’s funeral when she passed away, and that hurt more than her leaving me ever could.
‘Don’t cry for me, baby.’ I can hear my grandmother’s voice as if she were right there with me. ‘As long as you’re here, I don’t need anyone else in this world, my sweet baby.’ She hummed. ‘But you need that boy over there just as much as he’ll need you. Be there for each other… Always.’
And with those last words of wisdom, she died, surrounded by the two people who loved her most in the world.
Camden was the boy she spoke of, and he was there… Every step of the way.
Enter Travis into the equation, and you had a bond that could never be broken. They’re the very best of friends a girl could ever ask for.
I’m not sure why I’m sitting here, thinking about all that while I wait.
It’s the wait that has me thinking.
Glancing around the waiting room, getting more depressed with each passing second, I don’t admire the interior.
A rather putrid gray color that does not instill happy thoughts into anyone’s mind is painted across the walls. There should at least be a red accent wall to draw even the smallest slither of happiness from the occupants, but it does nothing to dull the way you already feel.
Magazines litter the coffee table sitting directly in front of me, Moms-to-be, Parenthood, and Women’s Day are all strewn on top. Funny for a primary care doctor’s office.
Nothing against pregnancy and all, but they can have it. I don’t plan on starting a family until I’m maybe thirty years old, fully invested in my own art gallery, and have a man that cherishes the ground I walk on.
Leaning over, I pick up one of the magazines and start flipping through. I see picture after picture of mommies with their bellies on full display while their younger kids cling to their legs, looking up at them with so much love, it makes me smile.
“Well, doesn’t this cuteness overload make my ovaries hurt?” I whisper.
It does, but not enough for me to go out there and get pregnant, but just enough for me to want kids down the line.
“Miss Huntington?” I hear someone call my name.
Placing the magazine back on top of the others, I rise from my seat, plaster a smile on my face, and walk over to meet the person looking around for me.
“Hi. I’m Miss Huntington.”
Extending her hand out to me, she says, “It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Natalie.”
Placing my hand in hers, I answer, “Thank you.”
“So, what brings you in today.” She asks, moving at a pace that’s hard for me to keep up.
“Originally, I had a stomach bug that just didn’t want to go away. Now, I’m convinced it’s never cleared up because I’m sick a lot, but instead of losing weight, I’ve gained like seven pounds.”
“Interesting. When was your last menstrual cycle?”
“I haven’t had one in a few years since I started this new birth control.”
She flips some papers on her chart. “Ah, yes, I see that right here.” She clicks her pen, “Tell me about your other symptoms.” She leads us to an exam room, motioning for me to hop on the exam table.
I do it with a little struggle, but once I’m situated, I fill her in. “Fatigue, sensitive boobs, which always happens when it’s that time of the month without it being that time of the month if that makes sense.”
“Absolutely.” She says, silently nodding for me to keep going.
For the next few minutes or so, I tell her what else has been going on as she takes my temperature and vitals. In the midst of all that, she takes out a sample cup. “I’m sure you know the drill.” Rolling my eyes, I shake my head yes. “Goodie. Bathroom is down the hall to the right. Pee in the cup, leave the sample in the little doorway over the toilet dispenser, come back here and Bethany will be in to take some blood. When was your last PAP?”
“Seven months ago… I think. I have it in my calendar.” I say, going to fish it out when she stops me.
“No need to have an accurate date, I just wanted to make sure it wasn’t within the last month or so.”
“Oh. Cool.”
“Alright, I’m gonna step out, Beth will knock three times before she comes in and the doctor will be in shortly after.”
“Thanks, Natalie.”
“My pleasure. Have a good day.” I love her bubbly attitude.
Taking the cup and following her instructions on how to get to the bathroom, I do my business, leave it where she said, and return to the room.
Beth raps on the door three times before she comes in and takes blood. That was super fast, like she was watching me from around the corner I giggle to myself.
“All done, hun. The doctor will be in soon.” I return her smile. No sooner than the door closed I lay back on the exam table.
In this position, I can see how pudgy I’ve gotten. People always say being in a healthy relationship will do that to you, but that’s a complete lie. I’m not in a relationship with my two besties, but we do eat well.
Josephine’s Sweet Delights Bakery is part of the blame. Out of the three of us, I’m the one with the most restraint. Lately, I’ve been caving under the pressure.
“Damn, Camden. It’s all his fault for introducing me to that place.” I mutter to myself as the door pops open.
“Hello, Miss Huntington. I’m Doctor Micha Shepard.” His hand extends out to me and I quickly sit up to greet him. “Is it your first time here?”
“No, I usually see Dr. Forbes, but since he retired, they set me up with you when I called to make an appointment.”
“Ah, no worries. I’ll just check your vitals while you tell me what’s been going on.” So, once again, I tell him everything.
I’m so wrapped up in explaining things, I never even noticed Natalie walk back in the room.
Helping me lay back, he says, “So, you’ve been having abdominal pain?”
“Not really pains, just the occasional cramp here and there.” I admit.
“And when do you normally get those?” He asks.
Tapping my fingers against the plastic sheet covering the bed, I think about it. “Usually when I’m super hungry or gassy.” He begins prodding and feeling around my belly, for what, I’m not entirely sure.
He asks a few more questions, tells me that he’s waiting on my labs to come back, and that he’ll be back shortly with the results.
This gives me a moment to think about the what ifs.
What if Abel were thinking about me as much as I think about him lately?
What if I were to go back to that club just to see if I could find him again?
What If - My thoughts are cut short when Dr. Forbes and Natalie come back in with smiles on their faces. “Well, it looks like congratulations are in order.” He says, clapping his hands.
Frowning, I ask, “What do you mean?”
“You’re pregnant.” Lies.
“No, I’m not.”“Actually you are, about eleven weeks to be exact.” He reassures me.
“No, I can’t get pregnant. I’m on the pill.” So many emotions run through me as I try to process what he’s saying.
“That may be true, and you need to stop taking those. Have you taken antibiotics within the last few months?” He asks, prompting me to try and remember that far back.
I had an ear infection that one time, but… And then it hits me like a ton of bricks as I whisper, “Amoxicillin.” And then my world goes black.