Page 177 of His Ruin
I’ve been overcome with emotion these last few weeks, crying over the small things out of gratitude, because this is what I’ve always dreamed of. And I had those very dreams with Kaden by my side. Here we are, married and so in love that I can’t think straight when he’s not around. I look for him anytime things get tough, and he’s always there—ready to catch me when I fall.
My lips tug upwards in a warm smile as I brush my thumb over his rough, scarred knuckle. “Okay…”
He pinches my chin between his fingers before lifting my eyes to him. “We’re in this together. Through sickness and in health.”
I nod, my face stinging as the first tear falls. “I…I love you so much.”
His expression softens, turning fond. “I love you too, Sunny.”
I press forward, our lips crashing as life continues around us. But I’m not worried about everything else, because right here, I have my whole world.
A nurse breezes in, making us both draw back as she smiles sheepishly with my urine sample in her hand and a little stick in the other. “Sorry to interrupt,” she winces, “but it’s standard protocol to do a pregnancy test. Your chart said you were taking birth control, but a contraceptive isn’t completely foolproof.”
My stomach drops. It isn’t from knowing my birth control could fail, but the fact that everything has slowly begun to piece together inside my head. Lightheadedness, mood swings, and nausea.
Oh, shit.
Kaden’s hand tightens around mine in reassurance as he frowns deeply and watches the nurse test my sample. Neither of us speaks as the woman hums a light tune while she waits for it to process.
“Oh,” she breathes, pulling the stick toward the light and flashing two pink lines at us. “Well, there’s the culprit. It seems your ‘stomach bug’ has ten tiny toes and fingers.”
“Holy fuck…” I whisper in shock.
Kaden leans forward, squinting his eyes. “Wait…” He shakes his head slightly. “Does that mean…”
“Positive,” the nurse chirps. “Congratulations, you two. Ultrasound will be here in the next ten minutes.”
She leaves us to process, and it’s as if the whole room has stood still. My heart monitor beeps, picking up speed as my brain flips over the truth again and again.
I’m pregnant.
We’re having a baby.
Oh, my god…
“Hey, hey,” Kaden coos gently as he brushes my hair aside and uses a thumb to wipe my steady, streaming tears. “Everything is going to be okay.”
“I’m freaking out,” I blurt, my inner thoughts spilling past my lips as I curl my fingers around his wrist like he’s an anchor.
“I know,” he nods. “I am too, but look at me, pretty girl.”
My eyes snap to him, and it’s like all of those nerves melt away at the strength and reassurance in his gaze. I’m still shaken, but I can finally breathe.
“No one is ever ready to be a parent,” he huffs, a small, weak laugh. “But I know we’re going to figure it out.Together.”
I swallow, nodding. “Oh, my god—”
“I know,” he chuckles, his lips tipping upward. “It’s unexpected.”
I give a sharp, watery laugh, caught off guard by the joy in his eyes. “Is it good, unexpected, or…”
He softens as he tucks my strands behind my ear. “I should be asking you that. How are you feeling?”
“I think I’m gonna puke,” I mutter past the saliva gathering on my tongue.
He rises quickly, grabbing the trash can before shoving it under my chin. “Okay—”
He doesn’t even finish what he was saying until I wretch violently into the bin. He soothes a hand down my back as my stomach bile slops inelegantly into the plastic bag lining my puke bucket. My eyes are watering as I finish, and I roughly scrub a hand across them to collect my tears before he takes the trash can and sets it down beside the bed.
