Page 656 of The Tempted

Chapter Forty-two

I yawned for what seemed like the twentieth time in five minutes and glanced across the living room at Reina, who was sprawled out on the couch eating saltine crackers and sipping on ginger ale.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” I questioned as I placed my hands on my knees and stood up.

“Fine, it’ll pass,” she insisted.

“Well, if you’re sure, then I will head out. I’m exhausted,” I declared, rising to my feet.

She shot up like a jack-in-the-box, nearly spilling the ginger ale all over herself as she scrambled to her feet and made a beeline for the bathroom.

So much for calling it an early night.

I followed her into the bathroom and watched as she dropped to her knees and hurled into the toilet. I bent over her, scooping up her hair and held it back as she continued to empty the contents of her stomach.

“Damn, Reina, what the hell did you eat? Maybe we should take you to the hospital, you might have food poisoning,” I rambled, turning my head I felt nauseous just watching her.

“It’s not food poisoning,” she muttered, leaning back and taking a deep breath before she reached over and flushed the toilet. I helped her to her feet and stood behind her as she turned the faucet on and brushed her teeth.

“If it’s not food poisoning what—oh my god!” I stared at her wide-eyed through the mirror.

“Yeah,” she confirmed, with a mouthful of toothpaste.

I grinned as she spit into the sink and wiped her mouth.

“I’m pregnant,” she confirmed, before a smile spread across her pale face. “That’s the first time I said it out loud.”

“Dad doesn’t know yet?”

“I found out yesterday and he’s been on the road,” she explained, running her fingers through her long blonde hair before she turned around and looked at me. “What’re you thinking?”

“I’m thinking how fucking awesome it will be having a little Parrish running around here,” I grinned, pulling her into my arms. “You’re going to make my dad so happy,” I whispered.

“I hope so,” she said as we broke apart.

“I know so,” I winked at her. “Now, go lay on the couch I’ll get you more ginger-ale. Did he say when he would be coming home?”

“He should’ve been back already,” she surmised as we walked out of the bathroom. “Okay, then he should be here any minute.”

I nodded toward the television.

“There’s still another twenty seasons of Grey’s Anatomy we can watch on Netflix until he gets home.”

She laughed, and I made my way into the kitchen to grab another can of ginger ale for her.

A baby.

Wow.

That was great news, and I was genuinely happy for my father and Reina. The both of them deserved happiness and nothing brought happiness like a new life. Still, I couldn’t help the ache in my heart and was ashamed to admit I was a little envious of them. Not, of the baby but of the happily ever after.

I’ve been sitting here, waiting and waiting and every night I went to bed alone. My dad promised me he’d have Blackie out but every night he wasn’t here with me felt like an eternity. I sound selfish and I hate that because as miserable as I am, Blackie must be ten times more.

It hurts my heart knowing he’s there all alone, with no one to talk to. He can’t even call me or anyone for that matter since my visit when he broke the rules and touched me.

I miss his touch.

I miss the way it feels to lay my head on his chest and listen to his heart beat inside of his chest.

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