Page 52 of We're One

“How are things with Zach? You’re smiling a lot these days.”

“He wants me to move in with him. He’s said it enough times that I believe he’s serious.”

“Wow, that’s a big step. What are you thinking?” I see slight worry in her eyes, but no matter what I decide she’ll support me.

“Well, he did say you could move in too. You could either live in the ridiculously huge main house, or take one of the guest houses I’ll soon be remodeling, so you could have privacy.”

Nikki’s eyes brighten. “Yes please! Sign me up. I’m so over this shoebox apartment.” She then pauses. “If you aren’t sure, though, Sia, don’t do it. As much as I’d love to get out of here, I never want to see you unhappy.”

“You and I would be happy living together in a tent.”

She laughs. “I can’t live somewhere without running water and a toilet. I’ll live in a shack with you, but a tent might kill me.”

“It does scare me giving up our apartment. If it doesn’t work, what do I do if I’m living there?”

“We could always go home then. It’s not like you have to stay if it’s not working. We always have choices. Our families might not have tons of money, but if we needed to quickly gather up a couple of thousand dollars to get a U-Haul, we could manage it. Don’t let fear hold you back from having everything you want. Don’t let me hold you back either. I want to take our journeys together, but I understand that we’ll do things on our own too. Someday I might even find my own man I can tolerate for longer than one date.”

“You’re going to find the man of your dreams. But you can’t settle, because you’re the most perfect human on this planet.”

“We’re perfect together.” She starts putting a taco together for me. I trust her to get all the ingredients right. She truly is a fantastic cook. She adds things to a recipe that take them from good to orgasmic. We need to keep living together or Zach and I might starve.

“Zach told me about this game he and his brothers have been playing since his gramps died,” I tell her, which makes her pause.

“What game?” she asks. I then spend the next five minutes explaining it as best as I can. She’s looking at me with wonder and a bit of doubt.

“That’s strange. Your name was in the box. Does that scare you?”

“To be honest, it does scare me a little. I don’t know what to think about it,” I admit.

“Well, that’s intense. I think you and Zach will work it out though. You’ve already been through so much more than many people go through. This is only one more bump in the road in your very long journey. We always say if something’s easy, it’s boring. Our lives are certainly never boring.”

“No, they aren’t. We’re going to open the envelope together. I sort of wish he’d do it on his own. It’s such a private matter and I don’t know if I can handle whatever this mystery letter says. I’m so happy right now, and I don’t want anything to pop my bubble of bliss.”

Nikki hands me my plate with a couple of tacos on it. They smell heavenly. I take my first bite and sigh with pleasure.

“I don’t know why we ever order takeout when you cook so much better.”

She eats her first taco and nods. “I don’t like to brag or anything, but these are pretty dang spectacular.”

She starts in on her second taco, and my stomach begins turning. It happens fast. I jump away from the counter and run down our small hall, and rush to the toilet where I empty my stomach. I barely make it in time. Nikki’s right here with me, running a washcloth under the cold water and handing it over.

“What is that?” she asks as I lean my cheek against the toilet seat and let out a moan. I’m feeling much better now that the throwing up is over.

“I told you I’ve been feeling off all week. It’s odd though, because I was fine a few minutes ago. That came out of nowhere.” When I’m sure I’m not going to throw up again, I slowly rise, move to the sink, and rinse my mouth out. I brush my teeth then follow Nikki back to the kitchen. I look at the tacos and feel bile rise again. What in the actual hell? I love tacos. I decide it’s better to be safe than sorry, so move to the couch, and sit down. Dinner’s done for me for now.

Nikki comes over and sits beside me, giving me a long look from head to toe. “Um, Sia, how long have you been feeling this way?”

“All week. But it’s not all of the time. It just hits me out of the blue.”

Her eyes widen. “I think you’re pregnant.”

A chill runs through me at her words. I immediately shake my head. “No, I’m not,” I say, my voice week. I say it again, stronger this time.

“When was your last period?” she asks. I start to answer, then freeze. When was my last period? I don’t think I had one this month. Did I last month? I can’t remember.

“I don’t know,” I say. “But I can’t be pregnant.”

“It doesn’t matter how many times you say it, darling, you won’t change it if you’re carrying a little pumpkin right now.”

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