Chapter Ten
Wyatt
“Get the multipack.” I pointed to the larger bundle on the shelf.
He scowled. “Why?”
“Because we need to be sure.” I grabbed the bulk package of pregnancy tests since he was stalling, and I tossed it in the cart. “This is too weird to have to even contemplate, and I don’t want any doubts left.”
He looked around self-consciously. “I already have no doubts that you and your mom are insane,” he mumbled.
“Speak up. I wouldn’t want to miss one grumpy word.”
He sighed loudly, and we headed toward the check stand. I insisted on paying, and he didn’t argue. I guess the last thing he wanted was to put pregnancy tests down on his expense account.
As we walked out into the sunny parking lot, a car backfired as it rolled by and Blade instinctively moved in front of me.
“It was just a car,” I muttered, nudging him out of the way.
“Yeah, I know that now.” He shook his head.
This was going to be the longest week and a half of my life. Things had always been tense between us, but we couldn’t say a word to each other now that one of us didn’t snap at the other. Blade still didn’t feel well, and he was edgy and even pissier than usual.
We got in the car, and he backed out of the space, heading toward the main street. He seemed uneasy as he stared into his rearview mirror.
“What’s up?” I asked.
“I could swear that same black car was behind us on the way over.” He turned down a street that I didn’t recognize, probably trying to see if the other car did the same. “Shit,” he swore under his breath.
“They followed?”
“Yep.”
I glanced carefully over my shoulder to study the car. “It’s missing its front license plates.”
“I noticed.” He took another side street and headed back toward the main drag. His body was stiff, and he shot me a quick glance. “You have your seat belt on, right?”
“Yeah.” I frowned. “Why?”
“Just dotting all my ‘i’s.” He drove past the turnoff for our street.
“You really think they’re a problem?”
“I don’t know. But I would rather figure that out before I lead them straight to my house.” He still had his eyes pinned on the car behind us.
“I’m sure it’s nothing.”
He grunted.
“I talked to Tork yesterday, and he said he hadn’t heard any more chatter about that Russian.” I adjusted the air-conditioning vent. “Maybe we can cut the two weeks short.”
“Hey, sounds great. I just need the okay from my boss.”
“Darcy’s so cautious he’ll probably never let you off your leash early,” I grumbled.
“Well, we still need to prove I’m not carrying your invisible baby.” He smirked.
My face warmed and I held up the plastic bag that contained the tests. “Once you’re done peeing on five of these suckers, we should be in the clear.”
“I just hope I’m up to the task.”
“Feeling dehydrated?” My lips twitched.
“Yes. I cried myself to sleep last night.”
I snorted. “Right.”
He narrowed his eyes, and then he sighed. “Okay, they turned off onto another street.”
I was relieved. I didn’t think there was any substance to the Russian threat theory, but I knew Darcy and Tork weren’t stupid, and if they took the gossip seriously, I probably needed to as well.
He drove around for another ten minutes until he was satisfied no one was following us, and then he headed home. We walked into the house, and he went straight into the kitchen and downed a big glass of ice water.
“You just have to get some urine drops on the stick.” I undid the top two buttons on my shirt, feeling overheated. “You don’t have to fill five cups.”
He arched one brow. “You’re a big expert on pregnancy tests now?”
I laughed. “Not exactly.”
“Then let me drink in peace.” His smile softened his words. He set his cup down and grabbed the bag from me. He actually looked a little nervous as he headed toward his bedroom.
I followed along, also feeling anxious. I found him in the bathroom about to unzip his pants.
He gave me an annoyed glance. “What are you doing?”
I laughed awkwardly. “I want to know the results.”
“Well, I feel weird with you hovering. I can’t pee if you’re watching me.” He turned his back on me and frowned over his shoulder. “This feels wrong.”
“What if I turn around and face the door?” I did just that as I spoke. “Just pretend like we’re in a public restroom together and you’re at the urinal.”
He exhaled roughly. “I guess. But don’t say anything.”
“What do you think I’m going to say? ‘Come on big boy, you can do it’?” I laughed.
“Shhh.”
I shrugged and stared at the linen cupboards in front of me. I could hear him tearing open packages, and he cussed a few times. But I kept my word and I didn’t watch him.
“It says I’m supposed to pee on this first thing in the morning.” He sounded confused.
I grimaced. “Shit. Do you think it matters?”
“I have no idea.” He snorted. “It also says if the test is negative, but I still don’t have my period, that I should try again in a few days.”
I grinned. “God, I hope you get your period.”
“Like I don’t have enough problems.”
Another ten minutes went by with the rustle of clothes and tearing of paper. I was getting a little bored when he gave a sharp intake of breath.
“What the fuck?” His voice shook.
I turned and found him staring at one of the little white applicators with his eyes wide. He lifted his gaze to mine, and he shook his head. “What does it say?” I asked.
He moved his mouth, but nothing came out.
“Blade, answer me.” I moved closer, and he didn’t object when I grabbed his wrist and looked at the test. I couldn’t believe my eyes when the little word “pregnant” was in the results window.
He pulled away and opened another test. “These aren’t made for men. For all I know my male hormones are throwing off the results.” He sounded breathless, and he turned away from me and used the next test.
I was in shock. The only reason I’d suggested going this route was to prove my mom wrong. It hadn’t occurred to me the test might come back positive. I felt light-headed with shock as I stared at the pregnancy stick.
“No fucking way,” he growled tossing the second test onto the counter and ripping open another package with shaking hands. His face was flushed and his eyes bright as he met my gaze in the mirror.
“Even if your male hormones did affect the results…” I swallowed hard. “It wouldn’t give you a false positive, would it?”
He scowled at the third test, and he threw it against the wall with an angry growl. “This is bullshit. It’s not possible. It’s just not.” He shook his head.
I grabbed the box and read the instructions. “It picks up pregnancy hormones. That’s how it gives results.” I lifted my gaze to his. “You must have pregnancy hormones in your body, Blade.”
“Do you even hear yourself?” he yelled, his voice breaking on the last word. He clenched his jaw and looked like he was about to cry. “I’m not fucking pregnant.”
I grimaced and stared at him wordlessly.
The rage on his face slowly drained until all that was left was confusion and fear. I’d never seen him afraid. It was unsettling to see such a strong man so obviously rattled, and I knew he’d hate that I was witnessing it. He sat on the edge of the tub and stared into space.
I knelt in front of him, driven by some instinctive need to comfort him. “We’re in this together.”
He winced at my words. “Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“Pity me.” He pinched the skin between his eyes. “It’s worse if you feel sorry for me.”
“I… I don’t. I’m trying to say that this is both of our problem.” I had no idea what to say or how to act. I was as panicked as he was.
He closed his eyes. “If… if this is real… then I’ll just get an abortion.” He flicked his eyes open. “Jesus fucking Christ. What is happening? This can’t be true.”
“How many tests did you take?”
“Three.” He swallowed.
“Maybe you should take the other two.” I stood slowly and grabbed the box.
“No.” He shook his head. “I can’t. Three is good enough.” He stared at the floor.
“My mom will know what to do,” I whispered. “Let’s go see her.”
He groaned and covered his face. “I’m a fucking freak of nature.”
His obvious agony made my heart ache. I wanted to comfort him so bad my entire body tingled with the need to hold him. But he was upset, and I wasn’t sure he’d want that from me. I decided to at least try and soothe him because I couldn’t just stand back and not try. It was torture watching him suffer.
I sat next to him and put my arm around his shoulder. I expected him to shove me away and tell me to fuck off. But he didn’t. Instead he seemed to melt into me, and so I wrapped him in my arms and held him close. His hot breath puffed against my neck, and his body trembled.
“It’ll be okay,” I said softly.
He clutched my shirtfront and didn’t speak.
“I know this is crazy, and I… don’t know what the right thing to say is. But you’re not alone. I promise you that, Blade. Okay?”
He nodded but stayed quiet.
I put my finger under his chin and made him look at me. His eyes were wet, and his mouth trembled. He was terrified, and it hurt to witness his fear ravaging him. It struck me that he really had no one. No family to turn to. He only had me, one of his most loathsome acquaintances and the father of his child. I realized he must feel hopeless and lost with only me as his ally.
“We’ll figure this out, okay?” I stroked his stubbly cheek. I wanted to kiss him so bad, but I controlled myself. He had enough problems right now, and I was afraid he’d misconstrue my need to comfort him with lust.
“Abortion is really the only option.” He hardened his mouth. “I’m not having a fucking baby.”
A strange sadness came over me when he said that. That emotion made little sense. It wasn’t like we were a couple and we’d planned a baby together. “Whatever you say.”
He grimaced. “How the hell do we find a doctor who will abort a baby from a man?” He paled. “Shit. I’m not going to be able to find a doctor like that.”
“My mom will have answers. We don’t know what we’re doing, but she can guide us. She’s in contact with the Ancients. They must know what to do. There have been other solar eclipse omegas, so there has to be some game plan for this.”
He scowled. “I hate being dependent on others. I don’t want to need anybody.” He pinned his angry gaze on me. “I especially don’t want to need you.”
I was surprised how much his words hurt. We traded insults all the time, but for some reason his complete rejection of me stung more than usual. “I know you don’t like me, and that’s fine. But you can’t do this alone, Blade. Even a stubborn asshole like you needs help right now.”
He looked like he wanted to argue, but then his eyes fell to the discarded pregnancy tests on the counter. He straightened his spine. “Don’t you dare start treating me like I’m some weakling.”
I stood and huffed. “I won’t. While you’re kind of a jerk and you annoy me more than any other person on this planet, one thing you’re not is weak.”
He looked pleased, and he got to his feet. “So long as we understand each other.”
I grunted as I turned to exit the bathroom. “One thing I will not pretend to do is understand you.”
He zipped up his pants and followed me out of the little room. “When can we see your mom?”
I was surprised at how eager he sounded. “I can call her and see if she’s busy tonight?”
“Do it.” He swallowed and pressed a hand to his stomach. “I just want this over with.”
I nodded and dialed my mom.