Page 138 of Tell Me What You Want, Or Leave Me

“I’m not trying to scare you.”

“Jude...”

I shrug. I love the warmth of his body. And his voice in my ear even more. He runs his fingers through my hair. Oh God, that feels so good! Two minutes later, he can’t take it anymore and lets go.

“C’mon. I want to know.”

I’m gentle with him, but I get up from the bed and go get my bag. My news is going to drive him crazy. I open my purse, take out a bulging envelope, and show it to him. Eric looks at it and raises an eyebrow. I tell him to wait and take off the handkerchief around my neck.

“Look.”

Seeing my neck red and almost raw, he sits up in alarm.

“Sweetheart, what’s happened to you?”

“My rash. My nerves have done me in.”

Open-mouthed, he looks at me again and frowns.

“It’s my fault.”

“In part, yes.” I nod. “You know what happens to me when I get nervous.” I hand him the bulky envelope. “Open it.”

When he does, the four pregnancy tests fall on the bed.

Surprised, and not knowing what to say, he looks at me. I show him the photo the gynecologist gave me.

“Congratulations, Mr. Zimmerman. You’re going to be a dad.”

He’s stunned. He doesn’t react.

“Yes, get ready because since I found out about Medusa—”

“Medusa?”

“That’s what I call her,” I reply, pointing to the image in the photo.

He doesn’t quite follow and tries to get up. Where does he think he’s going?

I stop him. He can’t mess with the IV again, or the nurses will kill us.

“Since I’ve known about Medusa, I can’t sleep, I can’t eat, and I’m in such a terrible mood—you don’t want to know. I’m scared. Very scared! I’m going to be a mom, and I’m not ready.”

We look at each other. I smile and grab his arms again. He hugs me so tight.

“Baby...honey, you’re suffocating me.”

He lets go of me, kisses me, and cringes in pain. He hugs me again. He looks at me, then at the tests.

“We’re going to have a baby?” he asks, his voice trembling.

“It seems so.”

“A little dark-haired girl?”

“Or a blonde?”

He just stares at me again.

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