CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Later than evening, my quest to finally have sex with Andrew is again thwarted when horrific cramps suggest my period is on the way. And sure as hell, I wake up to my cycle. My back aches, cramps rip through me and I feel like death.

“Want me to sing you to sleep?”

I laugh and look up from my resting place on his bare chest. “I don’t want to go deaf.”

Pretending to be heart broken, Andrew tells me that he actually can hold a tune.

“Seriously?”

“Yep, I used to sing myself to sleep when I was a kid. I would listen to my mother sing to Aaron then I would do the same.”

My heart aches as the beats seem to freeze.

“Oh, Andrew,” I sigh, hugging him close, wishing his childhood had been different.

Our eyes meet. “No pity party please.”

I nod, understanding the implication.

I grab my phone and tap the Pandora app already set for LifeHouse radio. The singer’s raspy voice fills my bedroom.

“This is a good song,” he says.

A smile cracks. “You like them?”

“Well, they’re okay. I saw them in concert in Aspen. The drummer is pretty good.”

“What’s life like out there for you?”

He shrugs. “Low key actually.”

His curt response suggests he doesn’t want to talk about it.

The familiar sound of one of my favorite song seeps through the speaker.

“This is my favorite song!”

Listening to the lyrics, lead vocalist Jason Wade sings about finding peace, having strength to walk, finding hope to trust and having a light as a guide out of the dark.

A soft, chaste kiss graces my lips before Andrew murmurs something in French. The only word I vaguely recognize is angel.

♦♦♦

Rolling over, I moan and hiss in pain. “I think I’m going to work from home today.”

“I can stay with you.”

I shake my head adamantly as I roll onto the heating pad then moan, clutching my abdomen. “No, it’s okay. I don’t really want you to see me like this.”

Andrew’s face wrinkles and smooths into a grin. “I’ve had my face between your legs and now you want to be shy?” he asks with amusement.

“That’s different,” I counter, throwing a pillow at him. “Please. I just want to sleep and eat candy.”

“Fine, but I’ll bring you lunch. Maybe a little hot soup will make you feel better. It’s supposed to be chilly today.”

“Okay.” I nod. “Text me later.”

“Who knew I could be a pretty good boyfriend,” Andrew chuckles against the crook of my neck.

“Boyfriend?” I screech, surprised.

“What? That’s what you said yesterday at the restaurant.”

Ashamed, I admit that I say that to anyone who asks about my status. It’s much easier than explaining that although I’m newly divorced, I’m not interested in meeting anyone’s cousin’s best friend’s brother-in-law.

“But boyfriend does have a nice ring to it,” I offer quickly when I notice his expression.

“Is this going to be enough?”

My eyes drop to his black boxers. “You’re definitely more than enough.”

♦♦♦

I wake to the sound of the front door shutting and hear footsteps leading to the kitchen.

“Hi,” I call out and crawl out of bed to use the bathroom. “I hope you come bearing food. I’m starving.”

Upon my return, I find Andrew sitting on the edge of my bed with his head hung low.

“What’s the matter? Do you have your period too?” I laugh but quickly notice his somber stature. I sit cross-legged beside him and lean into his shoulder. “You okay?”

Blue eyes filled with anguish look up and meet mine, his countenance ghostly white.

“Oh my God, Andrew. What’s wrong?” Panic taints my rising voice. “Is someone hurt? Are you hurt?”

He nods his head slowly. “You.”

“Me?” I gasp, puzzled by the sound of my name.

“You’re going to get hurt by this and I’m so sorry.”

“Jesus Christ, you’re scaring the shit out of me! What are you talking about?” I demand as I place my hands on his shoulders and force him to face me.

“Just when my life is finally in order, this happens.”

“What happens?”

Swallowing thickly, Andrew inhales, mustering the courage and strength to deliver the devastating news that will no doubt change the course of so many people’s lives.

He rubs his hand over the light scruff covering his jaw. “Paige,” he forces another swallow. “She’s pregnant.”

To be continued...