Page 27 of Her Noble Protector
His frown deepened. “Please refrain from sharing with your friends the intricate details of what Noble is doing.”
“I’m not a dummy. I know how to keep a secret.”
“Good. I’m proud of you, baby girl. You handled this situation better than I could have ever imagined. Thank you for not disowning me.”
“You’re the only family I have left, and you pay all my bills. I’d be a dummy to sever our relationship before they removed the target from my head.”
“You sure know how to reassure someone.”
I giggled. “Right.”
We talked for a little while longer before I strolled through the kitchen for a snack on thelongjourney back to my home.When I entered the kitchen, Giselle greeted me with a bright smile.
“Hey, Giselle.”
“Hey, Sunni. Long time no see. How have you been?”
“Stressed,” I admitted. I opened the pantry door and walked inside. I glanced around at the array of items before settling on a bag of spicy dill pickle chips. The kettle cooked finish made my mouth water as I plopped down on the island.
“What’s going on, honey?” She stopped wiping down the counters to give me her full attention.
After chomping down on several chips, I replied, “Where do I start?”
“Start wherever you need to.”
Inhaling a deep breath, I closed my eyes and gathered my thoughts before I dumped them all on Giselle. I trusted her not to tell anyone because Daddy’s staff signed extensive contracts and NDAs prior to working here.
“Don’t take this the wrong way, honey, . . . but are you pregnant?” she asked after my long rant.
The question caught me off guard and caused me to choke on the chips in my mouth. “Wh-what? After all the things I just told you, why would you ask that?”
“It’s because of the things you told me. I’ve seen these symptoms in myself and my sisters. I don’t mean to offend you, honey. Just answer one question: When’s the last time you had your period?”
I frowned. “I haven’t been keeping up with that. It comes when it comes.”
“And when was the last time it came?”
The question made my stomach flip. As I recalled my last period, I realized it had been well over two or three months since I complained about a cramp. It could have been a coincidence, though . . .
You actively told that man to nut in you damn near every time y’all got naked. Let’s use our common sense, Sunni.
“I’m finna be sick.” I covered my mouth and ran out of the kitchen. Instead of finding a nearby bathroom, I ran all the way home. My legs and arms pumped like I was Sha’Carri Richardson. I pushed open the door and collapsed on the floor. My chest rose and fell as the weight of the world took a place on my chest.
It was all fun and games until reality hit. If Noble didn’t return to me, I’d be a single mother—the hardest job in the world. Even if I had a solid village and money for childcare, the responsibilities were mine. It would be my responsibility to love, nurture, and raise the baby. Hell, I still had some growing up to do.
As the tears fell from my eyes, I curled into the fetal position. Instead of being proactive about my situation, I slept the stress away for the time being.
I’ll figure things out later.
Two weeks later
Curled up on the couch, I sipped my herbal tea. A movie played on the TV, but I’d been deep in thought, as I had been for the last two weeks. My life was changing rapidly, and with each passing day, I’d accepted the unfair fate that Noble wouldn’t come back to me.
I confirmed it last week when Foe moved out of the house. He’d told me briefly how his presence was no longer needed and that the threat against me was no longer life or death. Allthe other extra hired security had also been relieved of their positions. The regular guards were back to holding it down themselves.
Now that the realization hit me that the man I’d fallen in love with wasn’t coming back, I went out and got a couple of pregnancy tests. I came back, peed on the sticks, and set an alarm to wait for the results.
“If I’m pregnant, I’m going to make some tough decisions.”
