Page 138 of Coach Me
It’s the second time I’ve cursed this year.
With everyone taking last night to celebrate, Dex and I went back to the hotel, where I proceeded to throw up most of the night. I waved it off as a stomach bug, but then this morning another wave hit. It wasn’t until I saw my period cup in my travel bag that it dawned on me I hadn’t started.
I assumed I was late from stress and travel—that’s not unheard of. Okay, I did miss a dose last month when I left my pills in the hotel bathroom in Houston. It was one pill missed before I got my prescription refilled…I thought it was no big deal. Granted, Miles was with Kate that weekend too.
I immediately messaged Emma and Callie begging them to pick me up a test. There was no way I was saying anything to Dex until I knewfor sure.
I couldn’t make it home, so I had to take them on the plane. So while all the guys thought I was sick, I was very much not.
Dex pulls me to him and plants a kiss on my forehead. “Go rest, baby. I’ve got bedtime tonight.”
“No,” Miles whines. “I want Lucie to help.”
“I’m okay, Dex, really.” Goodness knows it’s not contagious.
Dex opens his mouth to argue, but Miles is quicker. “Pleaseeeee. It’s more fun when we do family bedtimes.”
My smile comes no matter how nauseous I’m feeling. “How do you say no to that?”
Dex sighs. “I’m pretty sure I’m incapable of it. Come on, let’s go.”
I let Dex man the teeth brushing and nightly routine while I stand close by, focusing on breathing in through my nose and out through my mouth. By the time we make it to his bed, I feel a bit like I’m fighting for my life as Miles asks me so sweetly to read him a story, but I manage to power through.
I caress Miles’s cheek. “I love you, buddy. Get some sleep. No school work tomorrow.”
Miles grumbles. I love how much he loves our class time, but I try to keep our weekends school-free.
I step back, letting Dex say his good nights, and slowly make my way to the living room. I have to tell Dex tonight, there’s no way I’ll be able to fall asleep if I don’t.
Part of me knows deep down that Dex will be happy about it, but the other part is absolutely terrified. We’re so different from how this happened before for him. I truly can’t imagine my life without him, but I can’t say how he’sgoing to feel knowing that he’s in another unplanned pregnancy.
I hear the click of Miles’s door and the moment Dex steps into view, I blurt out, “Hey, want to join me on the balcony for a little bit?”
Dex narrows his eyes at me. I can see him fighting the urge to tell me to go lie down, but Dex has completely lost his prickliness. All it takes is me saying I want it, and he folds.
“Alright, Luce. Just for a little bit, then you’ve got to get some rest.”
I give him a small nod. I don’t understand why, but the idea of telling him on the balcony feels like the best advantage. A reminder of where we started—where he told me he may never stop.
Dex pulls me to him as we sit together on the lounge chair. A cool breeze hits my face and I exhale as nauseous waves roll through my body.
“Lucie, baby. Let’s go inside.”
“No, I’m good, I—” I spin around, kneeling in between his legs. I need to see his face. But for the first time, I think I might actually be afraid of Dex. “Okay, I’m going to tell you something, and you’re just going to have to let me get it all out.”
Dex chuckles. “You’re scaring me a little bit, baby. Where’s the guessing game I hate so much?”
I want to laugh. My smile wants to come, but all the anxiety and all the nausea stop me. “Dex, I love you. I’m so in love with you that I know what you meant now about being afraid of me.”
Dex sits up to cup my face. “Lucie, baby, what’s going on?”
I reach into the pocket of my sweats and pull out the positive tests. “I’m pregnant.”
Dex’s eyes go wide. He lets go of my face and takes the tests. “You’re pregnant?”
Don’t throw up. Do not throw up.
“You remember when I forgot my birth control…I didn’t think it would mess it up too bad just missing a day…Well, I was very wrong. I’m sorry, I know this wasn’t how we?—”
