Chapter 7
SEVEN
ADDISON
It had been two days since I spent the night with Ridge and watched over Beatrix and her tiny, adorable brood. It had been eye-opening and messy, but Ridge had taken it in stride even though he said he’d never had a cat before. She’d chosen him, wandering into his life a few months ago as he finished building his cabin.
After getting the new family settled and fed, we’d collapsed back into his bed and overslept. Although the wake-up portion had been spectacular, the freakout that followed had been embarrassing. I knew he had no idea I’d thrown up the dinner we’d finally had after the kittens were born. The irony of the situation had been—overwhelming.
I managed to clean up and brush my teeth using a finger and his toothpaste without him discovering, hopefully, what really occurred in the bathroom.
And I did something I’d never done before. I wrote him a note. Told him I’d call him later and snuck out. But I never did. For two days. Then he finally called me. Then texted me. And I continued to avoid him as I tried to make sense of the possibility that I was pregnant.
I’m not sure how I functioned at work as I alternated between throwing up and freaking out until I knew the only way to get through this was to stop freaking out every time I puked and call Zoe and Mika.
Checking my phone to confirm they’d both be home from work, I texted an SOS to meet at my place.
ME: brING ICE CREAM
My stomach protested…dang it. I glanced over at the bag from the pharmacy holding my triplicate purchases.
ME: NVM Bring saltines & 7up
MIKA: B there in 10
ZOE: Same. Wait RU sick
ME: Yeah, something but it’s not catching
Thumbs up from both friends. Now, how to break the news? Or at least what I think will be news. Big news. Life changing— I have no idea what to do next— kind of news that I really had never thought I’d be facing. I mean, we used protection. All three times.
Looking around my cute two-bedroom townhouse that I’d bought never thinking I’d have to baby proof—I mean there were stairs. Was it even legal to have non-carpeted stairs when you had a baby? Or when they became a toddler…oh, shit. I’m going to be someone’s mom.
And the dad? Well, he…he’d rocked my world, multiple times and told me he’s good with no strings and we’d barely tested those strings. And now this. Now I have to say, well at least I suspected, but really, I’m late, I’m queasy and I’m never late and I have an iron stomach.
A baby.
I’m going to have a baby with my one-night stand who, if I was honest, was the only man I could ever see myself having…”gulp”…real feelings for. And why all of a sudden are my feelings all over the freaking place? And oh, yeah.
Pounding erupted, followed by Mika and Zoe bursting through my front door. Um, shoot forgot to lock it. Where’s my mind lately? Ridge. Ridge and his hard body-orgasm providing-bedroom eyed-slow hands and unexpected humor, intelligence and kindness that maybe I already had feelings? Lots of feelings.
“Look at her, Zoe. She’s gotta be sick. She looks awful. Poor thing is holding her head in her hands and moaning.” Mika, the most outspoken of my two friends, didn’t pull her punches. And that’s what I loved about her.
“Maybe. But she never gets sick. Hey, babe. Tell us what hurts. Have you checked your temp?” Zoe, who was a born caregiver, couldn’t hide her skepticism while her nursing skills were on full display.
Before either of my besties could sit, I blurted, “I’m pregnant!” Then burst into tears.
“Oh, my god. Please tell me your baby daddy is that hottie from O’Malley’s? The one who is part owner of the Triple R.”
“Does he have a brother? Or a hottie friend. I’m not picky. I want a mountain man.”
“Mika! Can’t you see Addy is upset? And she has a bag with the local pharmacy logo on it clutched in her hands?” Zoe sat next to me and rubbed my back. “I don’t have to guess what’s in here, do I?” She pried the paper bag from my grip and opened it up.
“Three?” Zoe asked. “Sorry, that came out wrong. Here, blow your nose, hon.” She handed me a tissue while I slowed my breathing and got my tears under control.
“How do you know you’re pregnant if you haven’t taken them yet?” Mika stood in front of us, hands on hips. “Maybe you just ate something that was past its expiration date.”
Both Zoe and I just stared at her until her mouth dropped open. “Oh, yeah. Well, you ready to take them now? Just to know for sure?” Mika sat on the other side of me, gave me a hug, then she and Zoe followed me to the half bath off my kitchen.
“We’ll be right outside the door. Come out when you’re done and we’ll each hold a hand as you wait for the results.”
Sniffing, I looked at them through watery eyes and smiled. “Thanks. What would I do without you two?”
“Let’s not find out. Now, go pee.” Mika gave me a gentle push and closed the door behind me. I looked at myself in the mirror and almost started crying again. I looked awful and what’s worse, I felt like throwing up. My breasts hurt, and I knew I didn’t need any of these tests, but I did Mika and Zoe. And I needed to call, no I needed to go back to the mountain and see Ridge.