Chapter 9
Eventually, I stopped trying. Let her believe whatever made her feel better about herself. I no longer cared.
“Jocely!” Benji growls, anger boiling in his voice.
“It’s o…” I don’t get to finish.
My stomach drops. All of a sudden, the world tilts violently and then everything goes black.
The sharp scent of antiseptic brings me back. I open my eyes but then immediately close them again when the lights blind me.
When I open them for the second time, slowly this time, I realize where I am.
A hospital.
I sit up too fast, and nausea slams into me like a freight train. I bolt toward the bathroom, barely making it in time before my stomach empties itself into the toilet. I heave again and again, body trembling, until there’s nothing left.
I collapse against the cool tile, panting.
What the hell is wrong with me? I’ve had an upset stomach for a week. None of the home remedies have helped, not even my mother’s tea. Hell, even the over–the–counter meds have done little to ease my upset stomach. 3
Maybe it’s food poisoning? I did tell Lilly the café we went to last week looked sketchy but she insisted, saying it was a hidden gem.
I scoff. Some hidden gem it was. Now I’m paying for trusting her blindly.
“Sierra p>
Hearing Benji’s voice, I open my eyes.
“In here,” I croak and then quickly flush the toilet.
He steps into the doorway, brow furrowed in concern. “What are you doing on the floor p>
“I just threw up and don’t have the energy to get back up p>
He smiles softly, then crouches to help me. “Let me help you p>
He lifts me like I weigh nothing and gently guides me back to the room.
“What happened? Are you the one that brought me here?” I ask.
“What’s the last thing you remember p>
I frown, trying to recall. “Jocely stirring up shit”
“Well, you fainted and I brought you in.” He says gently. “They ran some tests. We were just waiting for you to wake up p>
“Thank you, Benji,” I tell him as he helps me settle back onto the bed. “Not just for helping me out of the bathroom, but for bringing me here and staying p>
He chuckles and then squeezes my hand. “Don’t worry, anything for you p>
Now, before you all get the wrong idea and jump to conclusions, let me clear up something. Benji’s just a good friend. I’ve known since he joined my team last year. Also… He’s gay. So don’t start wondering why I’m not interested in him.
I take a shaky breath, still trying to calm my churning stomach.
I’m just about to lay back on the bed when the door opens and a middle–aged man in a white coat walks in.
“Hello, Sierra, I’m Doctor Tom,” he says warmly. “It’s good to see you awake p>
I manage a weak smile. “Bet you say that to all your patients p>
He and Benji chuckle. The room feels a little lighter.
“So I’ve got your test results,” he says, his tone shifting
“What’s wrong?” I ask, gnawing my lower lip. “I knew I shouldn’t have trusted Lilly with the whole hidden gem thing p>
He laughs softly. “Unless Lilly is a man, I can guarantee she’s not responsible for this p>
I pause, confused. My gaze flicks between him and Benji.
“What do you mean? Isn’t it my stomach? Didn’t my results come back positive for food poisoning p>
“They did come back positive,” he says with a small smile. “But not for food poisoning p>
My heart starts racing. A cold fear slithers through my chest.
“Then… what is it? What’s wrong with me?” I whisper, terrified.
He steps closer. “Nothing serious. You’re completely healthy p>
I blink.
“You just have a bun cooking in your oven p>
It takes a second.
Then two.
And then boom, it hits me like a boulder.
Fuck! I’m pregnant!