Page 127 of Clinically Bewitched
“With contingency plans.”
“And backup contingency plans.”
“STOP!” I snickered, covering my mouth, trying not to laugh. “You’re all terrible.”
“We’rerealistic,” Hayden corrected. “This is Julien we’re talking about. The man who has a laminated emergency protocol for his apartment.”
“He has awhat?” my dad asked.
“A laminated emergency protocol,” Fitz said. “Fire, flood, earthquake, home invasion. All covered. With evacuation routes and rally points.”
“That’s... actually very responsible,” my mom said.
“It’sinsane,” Hayden said. “Who does that?”
“Someone who cares about safety?” I offered.
“Someone who needs therapy,” Hayden countered.
Julien made another sound, and this time his eyelids fluttered.
“He’s waking up!” Winnie said excitedly as everyone leaned in.
“Give him space,” I whispered, trying to shoo them away. “You’re all hovering.”
“We’reobserving,” Quinton said.
“You’re being vultures.”
“Accurate vultures.”
Julien’s eyes opened slowly, unfocused at first, then gradually sharpening as he took in his surroundings. The hospital room. The bed. Me, in the bed next to him. His colleagues all gathered around and stared at him with expressions of pure delight. “What...?” he groaned, his voice rough.
“You fainted,” Hayden said cheerfully.
Julien blinked. “I did not.”
“You absolutely did,” Nathan said happily. “Went down like a tree. I caught you.” Then quickly added, puffing up his chest, “You’re welcome, by the way.”
Julien’s face was turning red. “I don’t faint.”
“You do now,” Fitz stated, grinning from ear to ear. “It’s very endearing.”
“How long was I unconscious?”
“Four minutes, fifty-three seconds,” Nathan verified, checking his watch again.
“That’s... concerning.”
“Your vitals are fine,” Quinton added. “You just had a little system overload.”
“I don’t have system overloads.”
“You do when you find out you’re going to be a father,” Hayden said, grinning.
Julien went very still. Then, ever so slowly, his eyes moved to me. “Athena,” he said carefully. “Are you... are we?”
“Pregnant,” I confirmed, smiling. “About three weeks.”
