Page 229 of The Virgin Romance Novelist Chronicles
“But this is my whole naked body. Plus, I’ve gained some weight.”
Delaney scoffed. “Weight? Aka, baby. You’ve gained baby. Stop being a weirdo and strut it out here.”
“I find it disturbing that you want to see my body so badly.”
She shook her head no. “Yeah, not so much. I’m not really that interested in seeing what kind of private parts you have going on, but I want to have a conversation with you and having it while you hide behind that partition is stupid. Get your ass out here and sit on the damn table.”
I knew I was seconds away from Delaney dragging me out, and knowing her, she wouldn’t be gentle, so I closed the robe tightly and shuffled out to the table. Delaney stared at me the entire time.
“Stop looking at me like that.”
“Like what?” She smiled.
“Like you’re waiting for me to trip and fall, only to have one of my breasts land on a stirrup, propped up for everyone to see.”
“That would be a great day for me and something that would most definitely happen to you. Can’t blame a girl for wishing for the best.”
“You’re such a good friend,” I mocked. “Wanting to see the worst happen to me, so sweet.”
“Cool your tits, Sensitive Sally. If this pregnancy is going to be you complaining the entire time, I’m not sure I can be by your side.”
Her voice had a hint of humor in it, but I still had a sickening feeling in my stomach. If Delaney wasn’t there for me and neither was Henry, how in the hell would I do this on my own?
I looked at the ceiling, willing the tears to go away. I didn’t want to cry in the doctor’s office, but all it would take would be Nurse Scale Nazi to come back in here and judge me more.
“Why are you crying?” Delaney asked, slightly annoyed.
“I’m not crying.” I quickly wiped my eyes. “The lights are just bright.”
Delaney sighed and stood so she was looking at me while I lay flat on the table. Her eyes were soft, and she was concerned.
“Let’s talk about Henry.”
“There is nothing to talk about.”
Delaney moved a stray hair behind my ear. “Sweetie, you know I love you, but your stubbornness is so not attractive.”
“I’m not being stubborn. If he knew I was pregnant, why didn’t he ask me about it? Instead, he kept pushing me further and further away. I disgust him, Delaney. He wouldn’t touch me, even when I practically threw myself at him. He’s been nice and sweet, but that’s it. I think . . .”
My lip trembled as I tried to gather my words, to figure out the truth that was sitting on the tip of my tongue.
“What do you think?” Delaney encouraged.
“I think he wants to be just friends.”
Delaney shook her head. “Why would you think that?”
“Think about it. He hasn’t wanted to have sex with me, but he still cares about me. He takes care of me like he did when we were friends. And just like he used to, he’s only kissed me on the forehead . . . for weeks. That’s not boyfriend love, Delaney. Two weeks ago he asked me for space, and he hasn’t touched me since. I . . . I don’t think I’m the person he wants anymore, and he’s trying to figure out how to tell me without breaking me in two.”Because that’s the man Henry is.
Delaney thought about it for a second and took my hand in hers. “I can’t imagine that happening. I know he’s been weird lately but breaking up with you? That doesn’t seem like him.”
I turned my head to the side, away from Delaney’s sorrowful eyes. I stared at a picture of a uterus on the wall and tried to erase the images of Henry breaking up with me. I couldn’t fathom the kind of pain I would experience from such a loss. I wondered if getting involved with him in the first place was a good idea. Would he be supportive of this pregnancy? From the way he’d been so standoffish lately, I doubted he wanted to be a part of it. If anything, he would feel obligated to lend a hand because that’s who he was. He was a good guy.
But would I be stuck at home most nights, taking care of the baby, while he was off at the bars looking for women like he used to?
Why did he know and not tell me?
That was the question that kept running though my head. Why wouldn’t he say anything? Was he hoping I just “took care of it”?
