Chapter 3
Ivy
Istared at the bruise on my hip but didn't remember bumping into anything. Then again, I woke up to a weird sensation in my ass. I wondered if it had anything to do with all the raw meat I ate. When I googled it, I found that while it wasn't recommended, it was a common craving for pregnant women.
All I knew was that it made me feel better, and the awful stomach pains were gone. It wasn't something I could discuss with anyone. They would have me committed, but I couldn't go back to feeling ill again.
I was brushing my teeth and saw a pile of towels in the laundry basket.
That was strange. I’d only washed them a few days ago.
I remembered folding them up before putting them in the bathroom closet.
I scratched my head and decided to look up baby brain later, hoping it wouldn't affect my ability to do my job.
◆◆◆
“Mmmm. That is weird as shit,” Sadie said around a spoonful of ice cream.
I poked at my own melting scoop. “I feel like I’m losing my mind, but—”
“But?”
I leaned in, whispering: “When I wake up, it feels like I’ve had sex.”
Sadie’s spoon halted mid-air. “Oh, you lucky bitch. You’re sleep-wanking.”
“How?” I gestured to my belly, a planet between me and my thighs. “I’d need a fishing rod to reach around this.”
Her grin faltered. “How often does it happen?”
“Every morning—for the last two months,” I confessed.
“And you're telling me now?”
“I thought you would have me committed.”
“Eh, that's a valid reason. I would definitely try to have you committed.”
I knew it. Luckily, no one knew about my raw meat diet.
“Set up a camera. Maybe your flat is possessed,” Sadie said, glancing at my neck.
“That's a good idea. I tried to stay awake but didn't get past midnight.”
“Want me to sleep over? Play guard dog?” She waggled her brows. “Unless you roll over and crush me to death.”
I threw my napkin at her head, laughing at her nonsense.
“Talking of death. Did the police find Alex?”
I shrugged my shoulders. “I tried to call his mum, but she hung up on me.”
“She probably thinks you killed him. Do you want me to sleep over for a few nights?”
“Yeah, it would be nice to have some company,” I nodded. “I wonder what happened to him.”
“Hopefully, it was karma catching up to him. If things got bad, would you move back home?”
I shook my head. “My parents love having their freedom, and they deserve it.”
“True. They are more active than I am,” she said, piling more ice cream in her mouth.
“Are you okay?” I asked, worried about her.
“Yeah, I just—kinda feel as if I'm stuck in a rut.”
“Hey,” I said, holding her hand. “We all feel like that at times. Why don't you go out and bang someone?”
“No way. Look what happened to you,” she snickered.
I licked my spoon and wondered if a high flyer like Nicholas ever thought of a pleb like me. Most likely not. I smoothed my hand over my belly. We were fine on our own.
“Do you really not want a baby shower?” Sadie asked, but her eyes dropped to my neck again. She tugged at my neckline, trying to hide the strange bruising.
“You know I don't like a fuss.”
She sighed but smiled at my stomach. “And you're not finding out if it's a boy or a girl?”
“I want to know on the day I give birth to him or her.”
“Your baby will be the closest I will have to a niece or nephew.”
“Likewise, since we don’t have any siblings.”
“I think I’m more the fun aunt type.”
“That’s what I used to think,” I said, patting baby bean.
“Don’t jinx me.”
I rolled my eyes at her. “Come on. Let’s do some retail therapy since I can’t get drunk with you.”
◆◆◆
I stared at the thick red mark across my neck. It appeared this morning, but I recognised it from my one-night stand. The belt Nicholas had used to hole me down, choke me and whip my ass with. I don’t know how he was doing it, but he had been fucking me ever since—
I stared at the mirror. My cheeks were full, and my hair had never been this glossy.
Ever since I started to eat raw meat.
I lifted my top up, but my bump was normal. It was a normal baby. Not—
Why did I need raw meat?
I thought of when I licked the blood from the packaging, tasting its rich iron but craving more. My mind denied what I suspected until I remembered Nicholas wouldn’t come into my apartment until I’d invited him.
“Oh, bean,” I said, rubbing my belly.
I needed answers, and only one person could provide them.
I messaged Sadie to cancel the sleepover.