Page 99 of Exposed Ink

A few minutes later, Shane’s knocking on my door, and it hits me that I haven’t showered in a few days. My hair is a mess, and I’m wearing ratty pajamas.

Another knock, and I get up, resigned to him seeing me like this because it’s too late to do anything about it now.

I quickly fix my hair the best I can in the mirror, plaster on a fake smile, and open the door, hoping he won’t see right through me.

But one look at me, and his face drops. “What the hell is going on?”

“I’m not feeling well.”

It’s not a lie since morning sickness has crept up on me, and I’ve spent more time than I’d like with my arms around the toilet seat, praying to the porcelain god.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he says, stepping inside. “What’s wrong? Are you taking medication? Fuck, Kins. I thought you were avoiding me. You should’ve told me that you were sick.”

I swallow thickly at the assumptions he’s making, but don’t correct him. “I’m sorry. I know you have a lot going on,” I mutter, sitting on the couch. “How’s Taylor … and Jamie?”

“Taylor is fine. Jamie is Jamie. Right now, I’m concerned about you.” He pulls me into his arms. “Are you taking meds?”

“I’m okay,” I tell him, avoiding his question.

He looks at me for several seconds, like he wants to call bullshit, but instead, he nods and nuzzles his face into my neck. “Fuck, I’ve missed you so much. I thought you were staying away because Jamie is there.”

“Just sick,” I tell him even though he’s right.

“I was thinking—” he begins, but he’s cut off by the sound of his phone ringing.

Since he was too busy with Taylor and Jamie, he ordered a new phone online and had it shipped the next day.

“Give me a second.” He kisses my temple and then pulls out his phone, the nameJamieappearing on the screen.

His gaze flits between the phone and me like he’s trying to choose between us. The phone stops ringing, and then a moment later, it starts up again.

“You should answer it. It could be important.”

With a sigh, he nods in agreement and then hits Accept, putting it on speaker.

“Shane, is everything okay?”

“You called me,” he says.

“And you didn’t answer.”

“I’m fine,” he tells her. “Is everything okay?”

“Yes. I was just wondering what time you’d be home. Taylor and I are making dinner.”

Home. She’s calling his place home.

A ball of emotion gets lodged in my throat as I fight back tears.

“You’re both supposed to be resting,” he says.

“And we have been. You know this. We just thought we’d do something nice for you since you’ve been waiting on us hand and foot for days.”

“Dad! We made your favorite,” Taylor calls out through the phone.

“You should go,” I murmur.

But he shakes his head. “I’m with Kinsley. Let me see if she wants to come over for dinner.”

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