Just as I enter the restroom corridor, I hear her whisper-shout, “It’s starting soon.”
I make it as far as the family restroom and I know I won’t make it to the ladies, so I slip inside.Technically, I’m a family,I think as I race over to the toilet. Dropping to my knees, I empty my stomach into the bowl. Whoever called it morning sickness has a pucking sick sense of humor because I feel sick all the pucking time. How Kal hasn’t clued in yet is beyond me but then again, he has been preoccupied with today.
Dropping forward, I rest my head on the edge of the toilet seat and take a few deep breaths; in through my nose and out through my mouth. It works for a few fleeting moments but then the last of lunch decides to make an appearance.
Finally the wave passes and I push myself up. Walking over to the sink, I wash my hands and rinse my mouth. Drying my hands under the hand dryer, I spin and lean against the wall. Dropping my head back, I wipe my hands down my face. Keeping my face covered, I take another deep breath. Feeling somewhat human again, I swing open the door and step out into the hallway only to come face-to-face with Stefan. “Shit, Stefan,” I pant, “I’m sorry, I didn’t see you there.”
“Are you okay, Chels?” He reaches out and rests his hand on my arm. That caring gesture reminds me of the man he once was.
Shaking my head, I quickly refute his claim and offer a smile, which I know isn’t coming across as sincere. “I’m fine, Stefan.”
“You look a little green, Chels. You sure you’re okay?” I nod my reassurance again and then he tacks on, “For a minute there, I thought you might have had a bun in the oven.”
My eyes widen and when he sees my reaction, his open too, mimicking mine. “Fuck me, you’re pregnant?”
“Yes,” I hiss, “but Kallen doesn’t know and you can’t tell him. Don’t be a douche and ruin my Christmas surprise.”
“You are the worst secret keeper ever. How does he not know?”
“Please,” I plead with him, ignoring his secret jab. “I ... I, please don’t tell Kal.”
“Don’t tell Kal what?” the man in question asks, stalking toward us like a man on a mission.
“That she’s still in love with me,” Stefan cockily taunts my husband.
“Yeah, I call bullshit on that.” He looks to me. “What are you not telling me, babe?”
“I … I … I was sick again, Kal.”
“Again?” he repeats, concern laces his one-word reply. He steps in front of me and rests his palm over my forehead, checking my temperature and being all swoony. “I really think you need to go to the doctor, you’ve been sick lots lately, baby, and I hate seeing you like this. You don’t have a temperature, so that’s a good thing.”
“I’m fine,” I tell him, sliding my arms around his waist for a cuddle.
“Maybe she’s pregnant,” Stefan unhelpfully adds. Looking over my shoulder at him, I glare and give him the evil eye.Pucking douche, I think to myself.
Kal pushes on my shoulders and grips my upper arms. “Are you?” he asks, staring intently at me.
My mouth opens and closes. I’m at a loss for what to say. I want to give him this as a Christmas present but I also know I’m a shitty liar and I don’t want Kal thinking the worst of me. I’m so pucking screwed, looks like I’m going to have to ruin my Christmas surprise. However, before I can confess, Stefan begins to gag from behind me and then he rushes into the bathroom I just exited. From where we are standing, we can hear him dry heaving through the door.
“Maybe you both have food poisoning?” Kal voices before stepping over and knocking on the door. “You okay, Däuchmen?”
“Fine,” he yells out before heaving again. Hearing him heaving sets me off and I race into the ladies’ restroom, but I don’t make it to the toilet, I throw up in the sink. A hand begins rubbing my back and I know it’s Kal. “Kal,” I whisper, “this is the ladies’ restroom.”
“I know, but my wife needs me.”Swoon, how can my va-jay-jay swoon to life when I have vomit mouth? “And I’m not going anywhere.”
“But your wife needs water, can you go get me some? Please?”
“Anything for you, baby.” He places a kiss on the back of my head and leaves me to dry-heave in peace. Looks like my stomach is finally empty.
Kal returns a few moments later with water and Lexi. “Babe, I need to leave you with Lex. Doucheman and I have to do our thing now.” He pauses and scrunches up his face. “I really hope he doesn’t vomit on me.”
“I’m sure you’ll both be fine. I’ll be out in a moment to watch you shine.”
“You just look after you.” He leans in for a kiss but I turn my head and vomit again, clearly my stomach wasn’t empty after all. He pats my head and leaves me with Lexi. “Ugh, this better pass,” I tell her.
“It will and if it helps, strong morning sickness is a sign of a healthy pregnancy.”
“Doesn’t really help, but I guess this ongo—” I don’t get to finish because I throw up the water I just drank.