Page 37 of Redemption's Inferno

“I don’t know what that means exactly, but you’ve made it sound like something bad is going on and if you’re pregnant—”

“It’s not that bad,” she interrupted quietly. “Chains got some information for me, and it’s going to be okay. I’ll tell you all about it when I get home.”

“I want to be sure you’re okay,” Jamie said softly. “We agreed to stop using protection over the summer just to see what happened, and I took that as a commitment to this, Em, but I don’t want you to feel obligated.”

“It was a commitment. It is. I’ll take a test, find out and let you know as soon as I do. Promise. Let me run, okay?”

“O-kay.” Jamie drew out the word before asking, “Are you upset?”

“No, I’m just a bit flustered because I honestly didn’t even think about it. Which was stupid because it was the same way with Simone. I didn’t realize I was pregnant because I didn’t have any symptoms! Now I need to get to a store and buy some tests and…” Her voice trailed off in frustration. “I still feel bad I hid my pregnancy from Viggo, so this time I was hoping we would all do this together—find out together, go to the appointments, all of it. But I can’t come home just yet, Jamie. Please forgive me. I have to finish sorting out my situation and that may be a little while yet. I’ll call you soon—I’m sorry, Jamie, I have to go.” She disconnected and lay back with a cry of frustration. Just when things were looking up, she’d gotten herself into another situation.

Tears leaked down her cheeks as she tried to mentally discern how late her period was. She definitely hadn’t had one in July and the month was drawing to a close. Her periods had been a little off since Simone was born but they’d become more regular the last six months, so this wasn’t a good sign. She needed to take a pregnancy test immediately and she sat up halfheartedly. It was probably a good thing she’d told Chains she just wanted to be friends; what on earth would he want with her if she was pregnant by someone else? Steeling her resolve, she forced herself to get up and grab clean clothes from her suitcase. After last night’s sex, she needed a shower. Then she needed a pharmacy.

Chapter 14

There was definitely something off with Emilie, Chains thought, watching her help his mother in the kitchen. She’d barely looked at him this morning and each time he’d tried to approach her she’d found an excuse to move away from him. He wasn’t exactly sure what he’d done, but she was obviously mad about something. That he hadn’t taken the time to talk to her last night? She wasn’t that petty, he told himself; she would understand the time hadn’t been right after the attempted break-in. Yet two efforts to get her alone this morning had resulted in strained conversation and her not looking him in the eye. She couldn’t possibly be embarrassed they’d had sex, could she? It seemed ludicrous to even consider it, but that’s how she was behaving.

“Can I take the rental car?” she asked him as soon as breakfast was over. “I need some things at the pharmacy and there’s no reason for you to take me.”

Chains wanted to say no, but instead dug the keys out of his pocket and handed them to her. “You’re all right driving on the left side of the road?”

“Yes, thanks, I’ll be fine. I know right where it is and I’ve driven on the other side before.” She hurried out without so much as a backward glance, and a frown creased his forehead.

“What’ve you done?” Dolores asked knowingly.

“I honestly have no bloody idea,” he said. “All I can think is she’s mad I didn’t go back up to bed after the fuss last night... She can’t possibly be upset about that, can she?!” He stared in frustration at his mother, who was also frowning.

“Doesn’t seem like her to be unreasonable, considering the circumstances.” She cocked her head. “Maybe you should follow her, make sure she’s all right. Take my car. If she’s gone to the pharmacy, you know where it is, and you can stop at the café and get those pastries she likes.”

“Yeah. Thanks. I will.” He took the keys and went out to her car. He pulled onto the street and followed in the direction Emilie had gone. What was she doing and why was she behaving like this? His mind raced with the possibilities and his fingers itched to call Viggo and ask him what the hell was going on with his ex-wife. That probably wouldn’t go over well, he decided with a wry chuckle.

Turning onto the main street of town and into a parking space in front of the café, he turned to look across the street. Sure enough, there was the rental car. He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, unsure of what to do. If he followed her and she caught him, it would be even worse. Maybe. Or she would see that he was worried. Or he’d become an idiot who’d apparently forgotten he’d spent more than five years as James Fucking Bond. With a self-deprecating grunt, he got out of the car and hurried across the street. He stepped inside and looked around, grateful the aisles were small and close together so he wouldn’t be as visible.

He turned down the first aisle he came to and saw condoms on display. A smile played on his lips as he squatted down, pretending to be considering what to buy. Glancing around and seeing no one nearby, he got on his stomach and looked down the aisles. Sure enough, he saw her sandal-clad feet three aisles over. She was heading towards him now so he went in the other direction towards the aisle where she’d been. He could hear her having a lighthearted conversation with the cashier and then the door opened and she got back into the rental car. He quickly moved down the aisle she’d been in and frowned. She’d been standing right here and this was…he blinked. Pregnancy tests and ovulation predictor kits. They’d only had sex the one time and even if the condom had broken, which it hadn’t, she couldn’t possibly be worried about pregnancy after less than 24 hours, could she?

He tried to imagine when she could have gotten pregnant and wondered if she’d done something with Cuddy before he’d arrived. Cuddy was a reckless ass, but even he didn’t want a child resulting from sex play—he literally slept with hundreds of women. The idea he’d be so careless didn’t make sense. And if Cuddy wasn’t her reason for concern, that left someone back in Las Vegas. Was she still sleeping with Viggo? Since both Viggo and Jamie were bisexual, and not homosexual, it wasn’t a huge stretch to think they would still enjoy being with a woman, especially one they knew well and shared a house with. Jealousy ripped through him with such force he nearly crushed the box of condoms in his hand. Fingering the products, momentarily confused by what he’d done, he started when the stout cashier gave him a smile.

“Popular section today.”

He nodded. “Oh, uh, I’m just a bit lost.” He held up the crushed box of condoms. “I’ll take these, please.”

She raised her eyebrows but obligingly took them from his hand.

* * *

Chains got home about 20 minutes later with the coffee and pastries Emilie liked from the café, but the kitchen was empty. His mother, Nate and Nate’s car were all missing but the rental was in the driveway so he trudged up the stairs, unsure what kind of reception was waiting for him. He figured he needed to just get it over with, so he went to the bedroom and opened the door. She was sitting on the bed, a small, oblong white object in her hand and she looked up wearily.

“Morning.” He spoke cautiously.

“Morning.” She gave him a tight smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

“What’s that?”

“A pregnancy test.”

“It’s a bit soon, don’t you think?” He figured he’d try for levity.

She shook her head, blinking away tears. “No.”

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