Page 20 of Nave
“Because you don’t have the money?”
“Well,” I said, snorting. “Yeah, that. But also… cameras. I mean, I planned this painstakingly for weeks. But… all the planning doesn’t make it any easier to live in your car and have no idea how to make a living that won’t put me on the grid somewhere.”
“Hey, look. We can figure that part out. You’re not gonna sleep in your car another night. You don’t need to worry about money.”
“I can’t ask—” Except, I had to, didn’t I? Even, best case, I found some sort of under-the-table job the next day, it would be a week before I got paid. And then what? And what happened in a couple months, when…
“Can I ask you something?” Nave asked, interrupting my swirling thoughts.
“Yeah.”
“Why now?”
I wasn’t even conscious of it.
But I knew it the second Nave’s gaze slid down that my hand had gone to my stomach.
“You’re pregnant.”
It shouldn’t have been possible.
It was against all odds.
And yet.
I sucked in a deep breath.
“Yes.”
I watched the surprise, the understanding.
But the emotion he settled on at the end was confusion.
“Babe,how?”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Lolly
It was an honest question for someone who knew what a complete germaphobe Ben was.
His aversion to touch was actually one of the few comforts I had in the latter years of our so-called ‘relationship.’ I didn’t have to suffer Ben’s attentions often.
In the early stages, it had been a source of intense insecurity for me. In my past experiences with men, the physical connection had been important to them. In turn, I found a source of security in that interest.
Then there was Ben.
Who didn’t want to hold my hand, let alone kiss me. And even when he did force himself to, it was a quick peck on the lips, not anything lingering or passionate.
It wasn’t until I moved in with him—and submitted to all his many requests and demands on how to and howoftento bathe (three times a day)—that he finally decided to consummate the relationship.
It had been the most awkward, cold, unfeeling encounter of my life.
I’d come out of the shower, all squeaky clean, and he’d invited me over to the bed where he’d set up a picnic mat layered with—I kid you not—paper towels.
Then I’d been carefully placed on it, bare naked.
While he stood there fully dressed and poured lube down the center of me.
