Page 43 of Storm

Sighing loudly, she closes her eyes once more. “I’m not sure, but since I found out, I’ve been planning to speak with my obstetrician at my next appointment. Maybe it was my antibiotics, but it also could be my own stupidity.”

That means nothing to me, so I press for more information. “Would you explain that?”

Miriam sits up and crosses her legs, giving me her full attention. “I was sick prior to the cabin trip, so my doctor put me on antibiotics. It’s possible that those may have interfered with the effectiveness of my pills. I researched in my textbooks, but it said that most common antibiotics are safe for hormonal birth control medications. But I think it was because I was self-medicating with an herbal treatment. St. John’s wort. It was temporary and I think it did help for that small period of time. Turns out, I probably made the pills useless.”

All of what she says only creates more questions. I raise my eyebrow at her. “You didn’t seem sick when I met you.”

She deadpans me. “Yeah, because I took antibiotics.”

“Alright, what were you self-medicating for? Our contract requested you fill out the medical portion truthfully. If you didn’t, that’s a?—”

Holding a hand up, she stops me. “Before you start planning a lawsuit, it wasn’t anything of importance. I’d been stressed andworried I was dealing with a bought of situational depression. St. John’s wort is an over the counter, herbal treatment that I heard helps. It did. It was temporary because the situation resolved itself.”

“What was the situation?” I ask, not worried that I’m getting too personal.

The corner of her lip tilts up in a smirk. “Richard, do youreallywant to know?”

I consider her question, then wave her off. “I suppose it’s not important now. So, you didn’t intentionally plan on tricking one of us into eighteen years of child support?”

Her look grows dark, but she reins in her anger, which I appreciate. I did tell her I’d probably be a dick, but these questions have to be asked.

“I’m going to answer your ridiculous question with a sarcastic one of my own. Do you truly think that I, a twenty-four-year-old virgin, living on my own, working endless hours at a physically difficult job, and attending school in the evenings would think a baby would solve all my problems?”

Pursing my lips, I consider her question, then startle when she growls. “The answer would beno,pendejo.” I’ll disregard her slip to try to bait me. Itisawfully early in the morning now.

“Fair. I assume this is why you called me at my office?”

“Sí,” she bites out, crossing her arms.

Nodding, I see where I screwed up. “Well, I’d like to apologize for that, then. I should have given you an opportunity to explain the reason for your call without interruption. I hope you can forgive me for that, but?—”

“Apologies should never come with abut.”

“Alright. Then I’ll leave it at hoping you’ll forgive me for my rudeness.”

I expected her to offer her forgiveness immediately, since I apologized sincerely, but she quietly sits, blinking every so oftenat me. It grows uncomfortable as I wait, eventually pushing me to pry.

“Well?”

She cocks her head curiously. “Well, what?”

I can’t help my eye roll. “Are you going to forgive me?”

Groaning, she bounces her body down the bed so she’s on her back again and rolls to bury her face into her pillow. Her words are muffled, but I doubt I’d understand them since I’m fairly positive she just insulted me multiple ways in Spanish.

“She said no.”

I turn toward Ezra as Miriam lifts her head. He’s lying on his side, bracing his head up with his hand. Who knows how long he’s been awake and listening? I’ve learned long ago to just run with the oddity of Ezra.

Facing Miriam again, I ask, “So you won’t forgive me?”

“Not today.”

Frustrated, I exhale loudly and sit up straighter. “I’m not sure what there is to consider. I explained what happened, and it was reasonable. It’s not as if I can go back and change my actions now.”

“Richard,” she groans. “It’s three in the morning. I have a headache, and you’ve been nothing but rude and condescending except for when you were too distracted by fucking me.” My nostrils flare at her reminder, but she doesn’t come back to the topic. “I don’t feel good about the things you’ve said and the disrespect you’ve shown me since the moment we’ve met. So, no, I don’t feel like forgiving you right now just becauseyouthink your apology was appropriate.”

Clenching my jaw, I fight the urge to argue against her nonsense when Ezra pipes up. “Well said, my petal! You want me to throw him out of here for you?”

---