The Proposition (Hush Hush Duet #2.5)

Chapter 10

Ten

G lancing down at my ringing cell phone, I swipe to the side and finally answer Natalie’s call.

“I swear, if you’d hit the fuck you button on me one more time, I was going to fly to New York and shake some sense into you. How could you leave me hanging like that? You call before the romp and then disappear? I waited for you! What happened to the old ram jam? Don’t tell me marriage changed you. You know, you deserve to have your best friend card revoked for this.”

I giggle, despite the nausea roiling through my stomach. She’s basically reading me the bestie riot act. “I’m sorry, girl. But I’ve had food poisoning since we got back. I think it was the oysters we ate before we boarded the plane. I’ve been sick ever since. I’ve been dry heaving for days.”

We’ve been home for a solid week now, and I’m just finally coming back to myself. I’ve dodged all of Natalie’s calls, even though I was dying to tell her about my hot night with both men. When the night was over, I sent her a few text messages saying how sore I was and I’d get back to her the next day because I needed rest.

The guys wore me out. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to share what happened, but between sleeping and feeling like my stomach was eating itself. I couldn’t get out of bed. James called out of work one day to take care of me, worried about the low-grade fever I developed. He waited on me hand and foot, even held my hair back when I threw up. Today was the first day I felt well enough to show my face at Sanctuary. I made it through a half day and then decided to leave so I can climb back into bed. I’m in the town car headed home to the flat in Brooklyn James and I live in. Thank goodness I have an incredible team of women who help keep the business afloat when I get knocked down.

“I talked to James, but he doesn’t sound sick,” Natalie says.

“He felt a little queasy, but nothing like what I’ve been going through.”

“Man, I thought the dicks took you out. I was about to put out an Amber Alert.”

I fight the giggle again and shoot a fleeting glance toward the rearview mirror to see if the driver is listening. I pray Natalie’s voice doesn’t carry over the phone. I never put her on speaker in public for this reason. She can’t be trusted.

“Well, they kind of did,” I admit. Reflecting on that night causes my panties to dampen. If our driver heard anything, he doesn’t show it. “I’ll tell you when I get home. Promise.”

“I know you will because we aren’t hanging up until I’ve heard every last detail.”

“You’re insufferable sometimes,” I say. “Rode hard and put up wet is the CliffsNotes version.”

She gasps. I plan to tell Natalie everything. She has no choice but to listen to me about this one.

“Maybe you’re pregnant,” she suggests in a passing way. “I don’t think food poisoning lasts this long.”

I’m going to be sick.

“That’s not funny,” I say.

“Pregnancy is always a possibility. I won’t take the chance. With my luck, Luca will have super sperm and I’ll end up with triplets from one egg that just won’t give up. I always make Luca wear a condom even though I’m on birth control. He fucks me like he hates me for it. Makes the sex so much better.”

My heart starts to beat faster, my chest tightening. Could there be a possibility? I guess there’s always one super sperm that makes it through and that’s how women end up pregnant. But that won’t happen to me.

I decide to shift the topic. I’m not pregnant. Symptoms don’t even happen that fast.

Right?

Exhaling a suddenly tight breath, I say, “I made your dad go hiking. He couldn’t catch his breath. I wish you could have seen him. I think climbing a mountain helped with his fear of heights. James didn’t realize how far he’d reached until he looked down. He was so impressed with himself.”

“He hiked? Never thought I’d see the day. I’m sort of surprised you did.”

“I dreaded it at first, but then we were surrounded by the most insane view of the forest. I was so glad I did it. The hike led to a private plunge pool that was basically a hot spring. Afterward we went on a chocolate tour. I smuggled some back for you.”

“Thanks, bestie!” she says excitedly.

“Our room had its own garden attached.” I pause. “It was one of the best vacations we’ve ever taken. On New Year’s Eve, James surprised me with a helicopter ride over the entire island. If I could marry your dad again, I’d do it in Belize. I’m trying to convince him to buy a vacation home there.”

“Was Reece there for that too?”

“No. I mean, he was there, but not with us. He had his own room. I have no idea what he did with his time.”

“Where’s Daddy now?” Natalie asks, her voice sugary sweet.

I snort. “You’re such a brat.” The car comes to a rolling stop. I unbuckle my seat belt and thank our driver, exit the car, then walk up the stairs to the red brick building.

“He’s bringing me home soup and saltine crackers. It’s all I’ve been able to handle,” I tell her.

“I say take a test, just to make sure you’re not preggo.”

I insert the key into the bolt and turn it. “I just got a new pill, remember? I basically doubled up.”

“It doesn’t work like that. Most doctors suggest using protection for at least three weeks so the pill has time to be effective.”

Panic runs through me. “Don’t say that.”

But she keeps pushing. “These are considered your childbearing years. I’d be extra careful if I were you.”

“You’re the worst friend.”

“It’s not like you have to worry about who the baby daddy is.” She pauses. She’s quiet then says, “You used a condom with Reece, right?”

“I’m on birth control. Reece is clean. James made sure.”

“Sperm doesn’t care,” she says as a matter of fact. “That’s why I double bag. If it gets through the second layer, then it deserves a fighting chance.”

Shaking my head at her logic, I throw my keys on the foyer table and drop my purse next to them. My shoulders sag as moments of the trip flash through my mind. I don’t want to tell her that Reece didn’t wear a condom.

I continue. “I got really sick one night and threw up. I thought it was because I drank too much alcohol, but now I wonder if it’s because I drank sink water from the bathroom after we got back from dancing and that’s why I vomited. Then the night with Reece.” I pause. “I have cognac with James often.”

“The baby is already doomed,” Natalie says in a serious tone, probably to mess with me.

But I’m not laughing. My nerves coil until it’s almost hard to breathe. “Stop fucking with me, or I won’t tell you about my raunchy night. Do you think it’s possible I could be?”

I can’t even bring myself to say the word.

Natalie sobers marginally. “Stranger things have happened, like my bestie marrying my dad. If you’re worried, just take a test. I don’t think symptoms happen that fast, but then again, I know nothing about kids and I like it that way. I’m telling you right now that I’m not changing diapers.”

My head lulls back with a loud groan. I don’t want kids. James and I already had this conversation and have taken the proper measures to make sure it wouldn’t happen.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Why did the birth control I’ve been on for years stop being manufactured? Pregnancy never crossed my mind. I really thought it was the seafood and that my stomach is weaker than James’s.

“If I could reach through the phone and punch you, I would,” I say, though my voice doesn’t match my words. I sound like I’m moping.

“Are you going to bring this up to James or just take a test?”

I pull in my bottom lip and bite down hard, running my teeth back and forth over it. “I don’t know. Maybe I give it a couple of more days?” I put Natalie on speaker so I can slip into something comfier. I pull out a pair of cashmere pajamas and run my palm over the baggy pants. “I’m going to ask your dad to get a vasectomy.”

Natalie bursts out laughing. “I wish I could be a fly on the wall for that conversation.”

“Do you think he’ll say no?”

She’s quiet for a moment, like she’s actually giving the question some thought. “I’m sure he won’t like the idea of being neutered, but I bet he’d do it for you.”

Natalie has a way with words that always brings a lightness to the gravity of the moment. While most people probably wouldn’t like it, I do. Sarcasm blends well with stressful moments. At least for me it always has. Walking into the kitchen, I begin making a cup of peppermint tea. It’s been soothing on my stomach lately.

“I might even have my tubes burned too,” I tell her as I put the kettle on the stove. “That way nothing gets through.”

“Very extreme. I like it. Now that you’re home, tell me everything and don’t leave a single thing out.”

“Isn’t it like two in the morning there?”

Natalie hesitates. Lowering her voice, she says, “I can’t sleep when Luca isn’t home.”

A smile spreads across my face. I laugh and goad her for actually caring about her husband.

“Sometimes I like him,” she admits.

I begin replaying the eventful night. Just like in the past, I start at the beginning and don’t leave a single detail out. She asks questions, and I answer them. More than two hours go by when I’ve finished confessing my night. Luca strolls into their house, and she has to hang up. Perfect timing. I need to run down to the pharmacy before James gets home. I want to pick up a few tests since sometimes they can be wrong.

“We need to plan our girls trip,” she says.

“Let’s do it next week,” I suggest, and she agrees.

We say our goodbyes. After placing my teacup into the sink, I slip my feet into a pair of boots and pull on my winter coat. With my wallet in my hand, I march down the stairs and walk a few blocks to the pharmacy.

On the tampon aisle is where I find an assortment of tests. Funny how I’ve never noticed them before. My eyes scan the shelves. I blink rapidly at the words that are jumbled before me.

I’m suddenly overwhelmed. There are so many brands with various detection dates that I don’t know which to pick. My first instinct is to call my husband, but I decide against it. He’s at work, and I don’t want to worry him. He doesn’t even know what I’m doing.

Using the self-checkout, I purchase seven tests and walk home.