I can put off moving back to England until he is ready and he’s had time to get to know his sister a bit better. Or maybe, somehow, I could convince Sasha to move here.
“I’m going to go home and get a change of clothes,” he says, leaning against the doorframe, his ever-present half-smile on his face. “How are you feeling?”
“Much better, thank you.” I take a sip of my tea and rest my head on the headboard. “Just tired. Sorry I threw up on you.”
He chuckles. “It happens. As long as you’re okay, I don’t care, Sugar. Can I get you some Pepto-Bismol or something in case you feel nauseous again while I’m gone?”
“Sure, there should be an open bottle in my medicine cabinet.” I yawn. I wasn’t joking, I’m exhausted. “I’m not sure if it’s out of date, though, but there’s a new one somewhere in there, too.”
“I’ll check the date and throw it out if it is.” He comes over, placing a kiss on my forehead. “Rest up.”
“Thank you,” I murmur as he walks out. Maybe I should give him a key for when he comes back? Provided he wants to after I barfed all over him. Gah, stupid pregnancy sickness. They should teach you all this stuff in school. What to expect and everything else. Not just to pee on a stick if you miss your period.
My eyes widen.
Shit.
Fuck, fuck, fuck. I fling the blanket off me and hop out of the bed, running to the bathroom.
Please don’t be out of date Pepto-Bismol. Please, please, please.
I swing the door open and come to a halt.
Hayden is leaning over the bathroom bin, a white stick in his hand.
Fuck.
“What is this?” His face is unreadable as his eyes move from the pregnancy test in his hand to me.
“Covid test?” I laugh awkwardly. He doesn’t laugh with me. “I was goin—”
“You’re pregnant?” The knuckles on the hand holding the test go white. I nod, unable to use my words. “And you didn’t tell me? How could you, Natasha? How could you keep this from me?”
“I—” I have nothing to say. A million thoughts, a million reasons, and not one wants to come out.
“I don’t understand, do you not want this baby?” He shakes his head.
“I do,” I say desperately. “Hayden, I—”
“I can’t believe this…”
“Hayden, I—” I take a step forward. His eyes dart back to mine. A myriad of emotions behind them, not a single one of those recognizable to me. “Hayden,” I repeat in a small voice.
“I have to go,” he says, determination painted on his face as he looks me straight in the eye. “There are things I need to take care of, Natasha.”
There’s a lump forming in my throat. Unable to speak, I nod as he walks past me. He stops briefly by my side and places a chaste kiss on my cheek. Is this his way of saying goodbye?
“It’s too soon,” he murmurs to himself quietly, but I can still hear it.
I shake my head, trying to keep the tears at bay.
“I’ll see you later,” he says, walking out of my bathroom, out of my apartment, and out of my life.
To my credit, I don’t break down until I hear the front door shut. Yay me.
ChapterSeventeen
I fall asleep curled up on the bathroom floor.