46. Katie
KATIE
T he next morning when I wake up, I can tell that my stomach isn't happy with me. Upon lifting my head off the pillow, the saliva starts pooling in my mouth and I'm doing my best to swallow it down. I've never felt this way before.
Trace's arm around my waist tightens as I try to escape his hold. I'm trying to fight him and he's holding tighter, until I pry his fingers from around my waist. "Let me go," I beg, before rolling myself out of bed and making a mad dash to the bathroom.
I give it a gallant effort, trying to hold back everything, but my throat muscles are working against the gag reflex in my throat and everything I've eaten over the past twelve hours comes up and my stomach thankfully empties quickly, but as I sag back against the cold, tile floor, I wonder if I've gotten food poisoning or what the hell is happening.
"Are you okay, Katie?" Trace asks as he comes in behind me, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
I hate how good he looks right now. I'm sitting here feeling like I'm about to die, and he looks like he could be on the cover of a magazine about fitness and ranchers. It's disgusting how good he looks because of how bad I feel. "Okay is a relative term," I groan as nausea washes over me again. I'm unsure who I angered in another life, but whoever it is, they're coming back to haunt me. "I kinda feel like I'm about to die."
He runs a hand through his unruly hair. "Want me to go see if we have some crackers downstairs? Or some Sprite?"
Neither one of those things sound good, but I know they'll help me feel better. "Yeah, if you don't mind."
He's up and out of the bedroom before I can say anything to him. I drag myself back to the bed and grab my phone, hoping whatever is happening on the internet can take my mind off of whatever is happening right now. As soon as I turn the phone on, I see a notice across it from one of my apps telling me that my period is late. Immediately I sit up, and then wish I hadn't. As soon as I do, the room starts spinning and I feel like I'm about to puke again. Putting my hand on my forehead, I try to remember when the last time I had my period was.
It was before the wedding.
I'm almost positive it was before the wedding. Because I had been so stressed, and we’ve been having unprotected sex in the time since then.
Thumbing through the app where I kept track of it, I see it was before the wedding. Before I met Trace at the bar, and we had our first night together. We used protection in the truck, but we haven’t since then. I’ve never been the girl who had to guess about when her period would be. It's always been within a few days of when it should be. I can't believe I didn't realize I haven't had a period in almost two months. But then again things have been so crazy, and I've been stressed. It's also not as far out of the realm of possibility that I overlooked it.
Immediately I know I have to get a test as soon as possible. If I am pregnant, I'm carrying the heir to two huge dynasties.
"I'm back," Trace announces as he comes into the bedroom. He's holding a can of Sprite, along with a sleeve of crackers.
"Thank you," I give him a soft smile. I wish I could share with him what I think is going on, but I don't want to tell him something that isn't true before I know for sure.
He gives me the Sprite, and then opens the crackers, handing me a couple of them. I carefully put a couple in my mouth and chew around them. Breathing through my nose, I pray to everything that's holy to keep these down. I hand him the Sprite, letting him crack the can open before I carefully take a drink.
The lemon-lime flavor has never been my favorite, but this? When it hits my tongue, it's the best thing I've ever tasted. Instead of taking just a sip, which I thought I would be doing, I drain it in just a few gulps. It's quenching a thirst I wasn't even aware I had. Trace watches me with wide eyes. "What?" I ask, panting to catch my breath, and then trying to push back a burp threatening to work it's way out of my chest.
"I can't believe you just drank that so quickly," he has a bemused look on his face. "Especially after just puking the way you did. Were you thirsty?"
"I didn't realize I was, but I guess so. I think I can eat another cracker now, but would you mind going and getting me another Sprite?"
"No problem, do you need anything else?"
That drink is making my mouth water and its the only thing I need. I shake my head to the left and right. "Nope, just another drink."
"Be right back then."
He leaves again, and I'm left with my thoughts, trying to figure out how I'm supposed to deal with this. I wish I could tell Trace, but it puts us in a precarious position. As soon as his parents find out what's happening between us, they're going to try and rip us apart. I know it with every piece of me, and we're the best we've ever been.
We're in trouble, and the sad thing about it? We know this time where the threat is coming from, and there's absolutely no way we'll be able to stop it.
Running my hand down my chest and stomach, I stop over my stomach. It's possible, more than possible, there's another life underneath the flesh. I know with everything I am that I'll do whatever it takes to keep this baby safe. They won't be auctioned off like the pawn in a chess game. I'll protect this child better than mine and Trace's parents protected us. They won't ever have to wonder where they stand, and they won't be the people who save the family.
Instead, we'll be the ones who save them.
Trace comes back into the room, this time holding two green cans. "Brought you an extra, in case you get thirsty again," he holds one up with a smile on his face. "Are you not able to keep eating the crackers?" He indicates the sleeve still sitting on my lap, only a few crackers are gone.
It's easy to let the lie roll off my lips. I'd much rather be sure than make an educated guess. "I was thirsty and didn't want to dry out my mouth. Didn't want to have to puke again, ya know?"
"Do you think you should make a doctor's appointment?" Trace asks, having a seat next to me. He puts his hand on my thigh, squeezing. It's the reassurance I need to know he's going to be the type of man I need him to be.
"I think I'll give it a few days and then I can decide what I think I need to do." The truth is, I'd like to get a pregnancy test and take it before I go to the doctor. I'd rather not make a trip not knowing whether I've had a positive one first. The last thing I want to do is go in there without some idea of what the doctor might say.
He seems as if he wants to say something else, but he doesn't. It appears it takes him everything he has to hold himself back from making a demand on me. "You let me know what you need from me, and I'll be there whenever you need it."
Unlike how we were before I left a few weeks ago, this time I believe him. I know it's the truth. Reaching over, I grab his hand, holding on tightly. "I love you, Trace, and I have no doubt you'll take care of me."
He pushes my hair back from my face. "With everything I am. You''ll always be the most important thing in the world to me."
I swallow against the dryness in my throat and mentally calculate when I might be able to get a pregnancy test. I know the next time I work will be easiest. The only other thing I need to figure out now is how I'm going to keep this information to myself. I'm halfway afraid I'm going to blurt it out.
My heart expands like a river as I look at him. He's possible the father of my child, and I can't wait to give both of us the things we never had.
It's the most important job I'll ever do in my life.