Page 29 of Bad Teacher

10

Violet brushed her teeth violently, looking at her reflection in the mirror. For the past half an hour, she’d been throwing up. She’d popped her head outside the bathroom, but thank god Theo was a heavy sleeper, because he hadn’t moved from the position he’d fallen asleep in.

What the hell is wrong with me? Did the seafood from dinner not agree with her stomach? She leaned against the counter. She should feel a measure of relief, but her palms were still clammy, her forehead sweaty. She didn’t throw up randomly. In fact, the last time she’d thrown up out of the blue like this had been…

Her blood froze. When she’d gotten pregnant with Trevor.

No.

No, no, no—couldn’t be.

She had an IUD installed after Trevor had been born to avoid pregnancy. When was the last time I had my period? She added the weeks in her head. Officially, she was late—but not by much, and her period had always been irregular.

Her heart thumped, and she touched her chest, willing the mad heartbeats to slow down. Uncertainty grasped her throat like an invisible claw. She had to know for sure, so she could leave the worry behind and enjoy the weekend.

She slipped on her dress and shoes, grabbed her bag and tiptoed out of his room. When she made it to the lobby, she was about to leave but decided to check the hotel’s convenience shop first. To her surprise, the shop had a generous pharmacy type items, and amongst them was a lone pregnancy test. Of course. This was Vegas after all.

She paid for it, and went back to his room.

Thankfully, he hadn’t moved.

She scurried to the bathroom, and took the test, then paced around the marbled floor. Surely, this would only be the evidence she needed to put the matter to rest and enjoy her time in Vegas. The chances of her getting pregnant were minimal. They were…

She picked up the test and widened her eyes at the undeniable second strip, flashing red.

Startled, she dropped the test, and gasped. Her stomach plummeted, and she picked up the tube again to make sure her nerves didn’t play tricks on her eyesight.

Pregnant.

The word reverberated through her, a chilly sensation spreading fast. Pregnant.

God. What would she do? She resumed her pacing, running her fingers down her face in search of an answer. She couldn’t tell Theo about it—not yet. She had to digest the news first, pick herself up then share them with him. Preferably back in Tulip and not here. Being in her own turf had to give her a sense of security.

In this trip, Theo would already have to meet her friends, her ex, and accompany her to a wedding where her kids would be in tow. That was too much for any man, let alone one who had been honest about not wanting commitment. He was a good guy at heart, hence being her wedding date, but that was all.

Would she be able to raise this baby by herself? Doubts lurked, and the once airy, spacious bathroom seemed to close in on her, the space between the walls narrowing. Nervous, she took a few deep breaths.

She’d tell Theo after this trip—she just hoped she’d be able not to go crazy until then.

* * *

“Are you okay?”Theo whispered to Violet, after watching her serious stance for most of the wedding ceremony in a charming, elegantly decorated chapel.

“Yes,” she murmured without looking at him.

Theo drew in a breath, then looked at the happy couple getting married. He’d thought he and Violet had shared a wonderful night, making love a few times, always making sure she came. This morning, for some reason he couldn’t pinpoint, she seemed on the edge—more guarded, but when she spoke, a pang of uneasiness laced her voice. Very unlike her.

Could it be she was upset by the wedding? After all, her ex was with someone else. Maybe she hadn’t realized she still had feelings for him. Anger built inside, and Theo’s fingers curled into a fist. What kind of stupid man would divorce Violet?

An unsettling sensation stung him, and he shuffled on his seat. Unsure if he wanted to punch the man for making her feel that way or thank him for making her available to Theo, he cleared his throat. Now wasn’t the time to confront her—not yet. He’d observe her reactions when she interacted with Damian.

Was it even worth it bringing it up? He’d been honest about his intentions, and she’d been on board. He had too much on his plate to really commit to someone, even someone as wonderful as Violet.

Still, he placed his hand on her knee. She looked divine, wearing a cobalt dress that brought out her baby blues and flawless skin. Discreetly, she put her hand on his, then removed his from her knee.

Oh, great.Had he said something she didn’t approve? Obviously, something was wrong.

He sat quietly until the end of the ceremony. Perhaps she’d decided to end their affair—weddings had the power of seducing guests with the idea of a happy ending and some people bought into it.

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