Chapter Seventeen
Eddie
I wished I could have been more excited when they’d found Harris, but I’d suddenly been overwhelmed with fatigue. I’d barely touched my dinner too before a bit of nausea sent me to bed with a cold washcloth on my head.
The next morning, I’d woken up feeling ten time worse, but after I got sick, I suddenly felt better. My body felt like it hadn’t gotten enough rest, but I at least had the energy to make Hollis breakfast. I wasn’t too hungry, but I was thirsty. I drank three glasses of milk before I realized what I was doing. The milk tasted so much better than it ever had before. It was as if my body craved something in it.
I didn’t want to drink all the milk, so I switched to ice tea after my third glass. I’d heard that your blood volume doubles in early pregnancy, so pregnant Omegas could experience excessive thirst, but at the time, I just thought I was dehydrated from working the farm and not drinking enough water. The fact that I was pregnant didn’t even cross my mind as I fried up eggs and made toast for Hollis and Jada. She didn’t usually get table food, but I figured she deserved a treat after rescuing a child. A half slice of toast wouldn’t hurt, and the egg was good for her coat.
After I’d put the breakfast on a tray, I walked into the bedroom and set it down on the nightstand. I thought that breakfast in bed was a good way to show Hollis that I was proud of him for helping find Harris.
“What’s this?” Hollis asked sleepily.
“I made you breakfast in bed,” I said. “I wanted you to know how proud I am of you for putting your differences aside and helping Mead find Harris.”
I could swear that Hollis blushed, and he nervously brushed his hair back from his face. “I did that for you. I didn’t do it for Mead.”
I knew he was lying, but I let him hide behind his gruff exterior. Hollis was starting to soften up, but I thought it was best to let him do it in his own time.
“You’re not eating?”
“Uh. I’ve got a touch of a stomach bug or something. I seem to be able to keep liquids down just fine, but I’ve been a bit queasy.”
“Already?” Hollis asked with a smile.
“Already what?”
“Oh come on, Eddie. It’s obvious.”
“What’s obvious?”
“Are you just not admitting it to yourself because you don’t want to be?”
“Don’t want to be what?” I was starting to get frustrated, but then it hit me.
Hollis could obviously see the light bulb go on in my eyes. His smile spread wide across his face and my hand instinctively went to cover my belly.
“Are you upset?” Hollis asked.
“Are you?”
“Oh, baby,” Hollis said and pulled me onto the bed next to him. “There’s no way I could ever be upset about you having my baby. You’ve changed my world.”
“You don’t think this is all happening too fast?” I asked. “I don’t want to scare you off.”
“I want you to marry me, Eddie,” Hollis said. “I was afraid to ask you because I thought you’d be scared off, but now that you’re having my baby, I can ask you.” He took my hand. “Eddie, will you marry me?”
“Yes. Of course,” I said and kissed him.
“You know that life as an outcast can be hard? Maybe you should think about it first?” Hollis said as concern flooded his face.
“I understand,” I said. “But our family is worth fighting for.”