I sit up, realizing that the room is quiet enough for Harley and Hunter to hear every word. “No, Mom. Look, I’ve just woken up. Can I call you back later?”
“I’m starting my shift now. That’s why I called you,” she says impatiently.
“I’ll call you when your shift is done, okay?”
“Okay.”
We say our goodbyes, and I drop the phone into my lap and rub my hands over my face. I feel so tired and nauseous.
“I need to use the bathroom.” In the harsh light of morning, I am very self-conscious. Grabbing the blanket that’s covering us all, I shuffle to the edge of the bed and wrap it around myself. As I stand, the wave of morning sickness hits me full force. Shit. I need to get to the bathroom. There’s no time to dress in something more appropriate. I rush from the room and across the hall, just missing Trey, who is rubbing his half-closed eyes, and dressed only in bed shorts.
“Sorry,” I hiss through gritted teeth.
I make it to the bathroom, trying to slam the door, but the blanket gets caught, and I’m swearing, and, in the end, I have to drop the blanket. I almost don’t make it.
There’s mumbling in the hall while I blink back tears and wash my mouth out in the sink. It doesn’t matter how many times this happens; I still feel like shit afterward. There’s a gentle tap on the door, and I reach out for a towel from the shelf, wrapping it around myself as fast as I can. “Maggie, are you okay?”
It’s Harley. I think I can tell the difference between their voices now, which is a cool realization in among the hideous fog of nausea. It’s not so much about tone, more about expression. Tugging on the handle, I find Harley standing in the hallway flanked by Trey and Hunter. I don’t think even my own mom has ever looked as concerned for me as these boys do right now.
“It’s a morning thing,” I say softly, my cheeks heating as I see Trey’s eyes raking my body.
He glances between his almost-naked brothers, and a grin practically cracks his face open. Reaching down to pick up the blanket, he hands it to Hunter. “Yours?”
Hunter nods, and Trey smiles even more. “I’m heading down for breakfast. Can I make you something to calm your stomach, Maggie?”
“No, thanks. I’ll come down and make some tea in a minute.”
“Sure.”
Shuffling back to the room with the twins behind me is awkward, only because who wants to end a perfect night with sickness? I can think of other things I would have liked to do this morning, but it’s not to be. My hand automatically rests against my lower belly protectively. Little Peanut is in there somewhere, tiny as anything, swimming around and causing chaos already.
As soon as the door is closed, Hunter takes hold of my hand and pulls me into a warm embrace. “I don’t like seeing you sick,” he says. “You know if you need anything, you only have to ask.”
I nod as tears prickle at the backs of my eyes. “Thanks, Hunter. I’m still getting used to everything… the changes.”
“Well, I don’t know much about pregnancy, but I do know that there are eleven men in this house ready to do whatever it takes to help you. All you gotta do is shout.”
“Hunter’s right,” Harley says, stroking my hair.
“I usually am.”
I snort against Hunter’s chest, finding the way they talk to each other so funny.
There’s a tap on the door behind us, and I swivel to see who’s there. It’s one of the triplets, but I have no idea which one. His eyes widen at the sight of me in Hunter’s arms, and then his face erupts into the broadest smile. It seems that the realization that I’ve hooked up with the twins is cause for celebration for all the other brothers. What are they thinking? Two down, nine to go! “I was going to ask Maggie if she wants to come with us to Walter’s. He’s asked for some help today. He’s running a big promotion over at his store.”
“What kind of help does he need?” Hunter asks. “Maggie can’t be doing anything strenuous.”
“Well, it sounded like she handled you guys okay last night, so maybe strenuous isn’t a problem.”
Daryl winks, and Hunter shakes his head. “Sorry, Maggie. The walls are thin in this place.”
“Exactly,” Daryl says. “You’re lucky we respect each other’s privacy, otherwise you could have ended up with a nine-man audience last night. It sounded like there was a whole lot to watch.”
“Nothing for you to watch,” Hunter says defensively as my face erupts in yet another blush. Ugh. This is so mortifying. “That’s not Maggie’s thing right now.”
“Exactly why we stayed in our rooms to be tortured by the acoustics,” Daryl laughs. “Anyway, I think Walter wants people there to hand out drinks and snacks and talk to the customers. Maybe show people to the restrooms, sweep up, that kind of thing.”