Page 15 of Cupid
“I’m glad.” I kissed his temple and smiled. “Because I never want to see you uncomfortable or feeling bad.”
Jude sighed and rested his head on my shoulder. “Thanks, Arrow. But you know, there will be times when I’m sick and you can’t fix it. The only thing you’ll be able to do is hold my hand and tell me it’ll get better.”
“In sickness and in health.” I pulled him even tighter against my side. “Isn’t that what they say?”
He went still and slowly looked up at me. “They say that in wedding vows…”
I nodded. “Yeah, well, it’s true today, and it’ll be true when we exchange vows.”
“Um, did I miss a proposal?” He laughed somewhat awkwardly. “I mean, I know I’ve been distracted lately, but it seems like I would have remembered that.”
“Not yet, but someday.” I pressed my lips to his forehead for a moment. “Speaking of being distracted, do you want to talk about that?”
He inhaled deeply and turned to stare at the seat in front of us. “No, nothing bad. Just lots of changes happening all at once. Good changes, but changes nonetheless.”
“Okay, that’s fair.” I had a pretty good idea of what was really on his mind, but I was waiting for him to bring it up. There were a lot of changes for him to accept, and I didn’t want to rush him into anything. Especially not something that would affect his whole life. “When you’re ready, you know I’m here.”
He relaxed against me and exhaled slowly. “I know. Let’s just get settled at your place and then I’ll feel a little more…stable.”
There were so many things I wanted to say, but it wasn’t the right time. We would be at my home in a matter of hours and we’d both have to face our new realities. I believed him when he said the things he was feeling were good.
I just hated waiting to have the conversation that I knew was coming.
ELEVEN
JUDE
Opening my eyes in Arrow’s bed made everything feel so much more real.
I was practically a zombie when he’d shuffled me from the airport to the taxi and then to his bed early in the morning, but now that I was there, at his home, the reality was starting to hit me.
Luckily, it was a good reality.
“What are you thinking about?” Arrow pulled me tighter against his chest and his erection poked my thigh.
I smiled up at him and lifted my leg so it was resting on his, offering myself to him. “Just confirming that this dream hasn’t ended yet.”
Arrow leaned forward and gently kissed my lips. “This dream is never going to end, sweetheart. You’re stuck with me.”
I sighed, loving that idea. “I think I can–” A wave of nausea rolled through me, and I had to cover my mouth before jumping up out of the bed. I frantically looked around the room and then back at Arrow.
“Door on the left.”
I ran straight through it and emptied my stomach, just barely making it to the toilet. As humiliating as it was to be sick again, I couldn’t keep denying the reality that was right in front of me. It wasn’t fair to me or to Arrow.
Guilt began to press down on me, and I wanted to cry, but I didn’t have the energy. I rested my cheek on the toilet seat, not even acknowledging how disgusting it was before I felt Arrow’s hand gently slide up and down my back. “Do you feel better, sweetheart?”
“Yes.” And I did. Physically, at least.
“I had some groceries delivered this morning…”
When he stopped talking, I turned to look up at him.
“Why don’t you try this while I get you a glass of juice.” He shoved a box into my hand and backed away.
I stared down at it for a few seconds before my brain caught up with my eyes. It was a pregnancy test. Not sure what else to say, I just looked up at him. “How did you know?”
Arrow shrugged. “I don’t, but we’re about to find out.”
