Page 80 of Dreamboat

“Oh, he is.” I nod.

She sips from her cup. “Are we talking about Donovan? Is that still going on?”

I scratch my neck. “Maybe?”

“Is that code for yes?”

I shrug. “It might be.”

“Why are you being coy?” She glances at my cup. “And why are you drinking herbal tea?”

I curse inwardly. I was going to toss the tea bag in the trash at the café after it had time to steep, but it slipped my mind when I noticed Matthew was texting me. Fortunately, all he wanted was to wish me a good day. I returned the sentiment in a text of my home with a happy face emoji attached to it.

“I drink too much coffee,” I lie while tugging on the tag attached to the tea bag by a string.

I was craving a cup this morning before I left Donovan’s townhouse to head home, but I don’t know the rules about caffeine and pregnancy so until I see Dr. Waverly, I’m cutting myself off of it.

“I don’t drink enough.” She winks. “Are you ready to get to work?”

I take a sip of the tepid liquid in my cup and manage not to make a face since it’s not nearly as satisfying as the coffee I typically indulge in. “Point me to where you need me, Nikita. I’m all yours for the entire day.”

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

Delia

It’s been a week since I found out I’m pregnant. In that time, I’ve slept more than usual, I’ve seen Donovan less than usual, and I had the absolute pleasure of speaking to Hazel Waverly on the phone.

Donovan was the one who set that up, and even though I’m scheduled for my first in person appointment next week, Hazel reached out to introduce herself to me yesterday.

She assured me that she’d take the best possible care of the baby and me, and then recommended a brand of pre-natal vitamins for me to begin taking immediately.

As soon as the call was over, I picked some up and took one.

I did get the chance to ask her if it’s normal for me to still be feeling nauseous almost every morning. She told me gently that it was and after giving me some sage advice on how to deal with that, she reminded me to be kind to myself and to let my body guide me toward what it needs including extra sleep at night.

“I’m worn out,” Matthew announces as he enters the living room of Roman and Bianca’s apartment. “I should sneak back down to my apartment and grab some shut eye.”

That would only entail a short elevator ride since Faith and Matthew live in an apartment three floors below where we all are gathered now.

“Can I come?” Georgie asks. “I’m tired, too.”

She adds an exaggerated yawn to that. Dora rolls her eyes. “Knock it off, Georgie. You know that Uncle Matty just wants to kiss Auntie Faith in private.”

Faith giggles. “Busted.”

I glance at my future sister-in-law. Her long blue hair is a shade lighter than it was the last time I saw her. When we first met, it was pink. She pulls it all off with effortless ease. She’s one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever met.

The same can be said for Bianca. She’s currently sitting on a chair with her young son cradled in her arms. I’ve barely been able to take my eyes off of them because in just a few months, I’ll be experiencing what she is every single day.

“I did that before we got here,” Matthew tells both girls. “Besides, Auntie Faith doesn’t mind if I kiss her in front of all of you.”

He demonstrates that by leaning down to kiss his fiancée softly on the lips.

“So gross.” Dora covers her eyes.

“So romantic,” Georgie adds her opinion to the mix. “I hope my finance see does that to me, too.”

Her mispronunciations are few and far between nowadays but when they do happen they always bring a smile to my lips.

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