Chapter 45 Stone
FORTY-FIVE
STONE
“God dammit.” I groan, crawling out of bed.
“What’s wrong?” Vanna croaks, peeling one eye open and then the other.
I rub my ass, wincing. “Let’s just say, you’re much gentler.”
She giggles, igniting little lights to flare inside my soul. Leaning over, I plant my lips to hers and cradle her face.
She sighs happily before dropping back down to her pillow.
“We’re getting marr-”
Turning around, I find her darting from the bed and running to the bathroom. The door flies open, slamming against the wall before swinging shut with a loud bang.
“Fuck.” I push to my feet, following after her.
Inside, she’s kneeling at the base of the toilet, her head inside the bowl. Rushing over, I pull her hair into my fist and rub soothing circles on her back.
She heaves, her body jerking as she vomits and I can’t help the way my heart stutters. After another two rounds of purging, she slowly lifts her head and narrows her eyes at me.
A smile cuts clean across my face.
“You better hope I'm not pregnant.” She warns as she takes my hand to pull her up.
“So, what if you are? Would it really be such a bad thing?” I ask.
“I said after the wedding. Besides, I’ve been taking my birth control again. I’m probably just getting my period.”
“Nah. You were supposed to get your period weeks ago.”
I haven’t tampered with her birth control since that first time, so as farfetched as this may seem, Vanna being pregnant would be a complete accident.
She glowers at me as I stand, towering over her. She’s so small in my arms, her darkness a complete contrast to my light.
“Why the fuck do you know that?”
Shrugging, I lead her back to bed and lay her down.
“Stay here. I’ll grab you some crackers and a test.”
She springs up and immediately regrets it, lowering her face into her hands. Groaning, she tells me to wait. Slowly, she peers back up at me, probably checking to see if the room is still spinning.
“I don’t think I need a test.”
“Vanna.” I shake my head. “Just humor me, okay?”
“Fine. Grab me some ginger ale too.”
Heading out of the hotel room, I jog over to the nearest convenience store and fill a small basket with everything I think might help. Saltine crackers, her soda, some sour candies, and of course, the pregnancy test.
As I check out, I can’t help the anxious jitters. It was one thing to expect this, but an entirely different feeling when it comes as a surprise.
Inside the hotel room, I find Vanna still lying in bed asleep again, so I nudge her awake.
“Come on, Darkness.”
“Later.”
“It says here that morning pee is the best. So, I think now is good. Besides, we have a wedding to get to.”
Her eyes pop open and she stares at me.
When she finally realizes the time, she pulls the covers off her and stalks into the bathroom. Following behind, I hand her the box, but she just lays it on the counter.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“What if it’s positive?”
“Then we’ll have a baby on the way.” I chuckle.
She rolls her eyes and sucks in a deep breath. Reaching around her, I tear the box open and pull out the stick. Unwrapping it, I place it in her hands and because I can’t fucking help myself, I tug her shorts down for her.
She slaps my hand away and I chuckle but drop a quick kiss to her stomach before pushing her back toward the toilet.
“You’re something else, you know that?” She grumbles, lowering herself.
I wait eagerly as she takes the test and sets it down on some tissue for the two minutes. She takes this time to wash her hands and brush her teeth, urging me to stop peeking and get ready.
Reluctantly, I do because we are on a timeline here.
In just a couple hours, we’ll be heading to Capitol State Park where we’ll have the ceremony at Ella’s tree.
I was happy to do it in New York. Fuck, I was happy to do it anywhere, but Vanna chose the tree.
If there was ever a single moment I had a doubt about this woman, it vanished the moment she decided the spot.
Having a piece of my sister there means everything to me.
After Vanna finishes washing her face, she leans back against the sink with her arms crossed.
“Go ahead.” She sighs.
My stomach swirls with excitement as I pick up the stick.
Two pink lines.
I flip it to show Vanna and her face pales. At first, I think she’s going to vomit again, but she holds it together.
“What the fuck.” She breaths, her shock almost inaudible.
Pulling her into me, I crush her between my arms, leaving kisses anywhere my lips can touch.
“It’s going to be okay.” I promise her. “You’re going to be an amazing mother. I’m going to be right beside you the whole way.”
There’s still a look of shock coloring her face. Words seem to evade her in this moment, so I just hold her.
“Thank you, Darkness.”
“For what?” She murmurs.
“For allowing me to have your forever. For loving me. For gifting me your body, your soul.”
The color in her cheeks flood back, and her muscles lose some of that tension they held moments ago.
“Always, Lover Boy.”
“Now let’s go get married.” ?