Page 20 of Orange Spell
“Clearly.”
“We didn’t even stop to think about protection.”
“What do you want to do?Have you seen a healer?”
“I talked to Palmer, who confirmed I’m pregnant and offered to help.I don’t want to terminate the pregnancy, but I don’t know if I can have the baby.”Not that he’d have a choice.If he didn’t terminate the pregnancy, he’d have to lay the egg growing inside of him.
“You haven’t told Marlin, have you?”
“How can I?It was one night.We were both supposed to forget about it the next morning, and now, we won’t ever be able to.”
“Wereyou supposed to forget about it, or is that something you told yourself you were supposed to do?I have a hard time believing that Marlin would want to forget spending the night with you.Or has he said anything about that?”
“We haven’t talked yet.”
“You have to tell him.I realizeyouare carrying the egg, but he’s the other father.You have the final say in all the decisions about the pregnancy, but he has a right to know.”
“I’m not ready to tell him.”So far, Marlin hadn’t tried talking to Curran.Curran was glad, and he hoped it meant that Marlin didn’t remember.Even if he didn’t, though, Deryn was right.It wouldn’t be fair to keep the pregnancy from him.If Marlin didn’t remember, though, it gave Curran a little more time.
“You don’t have that much time,” Deryn pointed out.
“I don’t need a lot of time.I promise I’ll tell him.It’s not like I’m going to be able to hide it for long, anyway.”
“I’m sure things will be fine.Even if he doesn’t want to be with you, he’ll take responsibility.He’ll be there for you and the baby.”
“I know.”But would it be enough?Curran had dreamed about having a family with Marlin.Would being a co-parent be enough for him?How much would it hurt to see Marlin every day, maybe watch him meet and fall in love with someone else?
Curran wouldn’t have a choice.That was why he needed time.He had to get over his feelings for Marlin.
He wasn’t sure he would ever be able to do that.
* * * *
MARLIN WAS MOPING.People had noticed he was moping.He could tell that Killian and Birch were worried by the way they kept glancing his way, but he couldn’t find it in himself to stop.
When he’d offered himself to Curran that night, he’d hoped it meant that by the next day, they would be together, or at least on their way to be.He knew their situation was slightly complicated considering Birch, but he’d been ready to work around Birch.Besides, he was sure that his best friend eventually would’ve been happy for them.
But Marlin had been alone when he’d woken up, and he hadn’t managed to talk to Curran yet.Every time he wanted to try, something happened and distracted him.It was either that or Curran ran from him, which made things even harder.How was he supposed to talk to Curran when Curran didn’t want to talk to him?
Marlin supposed that was answer enough.If Curran had wanted to talk things out, they would have.If he’d wanted to be with Marlin, he wouldn’t have left his bed while Marlin was sleeping.They didn’t need to talk for Curran to tell Marlin that he didn’t want to be with him.
Which was why Marlin was moping.
He needed to talk to someone.This was the one thing he couldn’t talk to Birch about, and he didn’t want to put Killian in a situation in which he’d have to choose a side.The problem was that he didn’t have friends.He, Killian, and Birch had grown up together.They’d been isolated because Killian was the future king, and they hadn’t had the opportunity of getting close to other people.There was Tito, but he was Killian’s assistant.Besides, it wasn’t like Marlin was close to him.He wasn’t about to talk this to his parents, and he didn’t have any siblings.
Someone flopped onto the bench on the other side of the table.Marlin blinked up to see Aaron staring at him.“Hey,” he said, even as he tried to find an excuse to leave.Aaron was the worst person he could talk to, and he wasn’t sure he could stop himself from blurting out everything.
“Birch is worried,” Aaron declared.
“Hello to you, too.”
“If Birch is worried, I’m worried, and I amdoublyworried because I worry about youandhim.”
“That’s a lot of worrying.”
Aaron narrowed his eyes.”You’re not funny.What’s going on with you?”
“I’m fine.”
