Bad Seed

“I’ll give you two some privacy,” a nurse said.

I heard my hospital door shut behind him as my eyes held Drake’s.

“Why the fuck would you not tell me something like this?” he asked.

“I’m so sorry,” I said, with a sob. “I thought I was doing the right thing.”

“How the hell could you think that?”

“Your sobriety. I didn’t want to be a—a trigger.”

I fell apart into a fit of sobs as Drake gathered me in his arms. He held me against him and stroked my back. I felt his heart beating rapidly, filled with the fear I was experiencing in my own body. His hand stroked my hair as he whispered soft words into my tresses, kissing the top of my head and trying to get me to calm down.

“I’m sorry for fussin’ at you,” he said. “It’s gonna be all right. We’re gonna get through this.”

“I’m losing our baby,” I said.

“Whatever’s goin’ on, we’re gonna get you straightened out. And we haven’t heard from the doctor yet. Maybe there’s an explanation for it.”

“Something’s wrong, Drake. Something’s really, really wrong.”

He rocked me in his arms as I went limp against him. I sobbed as the pain continued to ricochet up my back. I felt Drake’s hand migrate to my stomach, his hand splaying across the tightness of my abs. I wasn’t far enough along to be showing, but I was far enough along for him to feel the change in my body.

I felt him pause, his fingers fluttering over my stomach as he digested the scenario he’d been thrust into.

“I knew somethin’ was different,” Drake said.

“What?”

“This past weekend. When we were together. I knew something was different about your body. Your breasts were swollen and your stomach was tight, I never figured—”

I pulled my face from his chest and gazed up into his eyes. I lifted my hand to cup his cheek, feeling his soft skin underneath my fingertips. I could tell he had been getting some sun. I allowed my fingers to trace his jawline, taking in the whole of him as he laid my body back down onto the bed.

“All right, Miss Jakobson. I have the results of your—”

I looked over toward the doctor, but her eyes weren’t on me, instead, her eyes were fixed on Drake. She swallowed thickly, and her cheeks began to flush, and that telltale shuffle many women had in Drake’s presence started.

What the hell was wrong with this woman? Could she not be professional?

“Ma’am?” Drake asked.

“Yes, sorry. Um—the results of your tests, Miss Jakobson. Your hCG levels are—”

Her eyes flickered back over to Drake and I sighed as I closed my eyes. I felt Drake’s hand tighten around mine as he cleared his throat. I wanted to know what was going on and the woman couldn’t focus long enough to tell me. I would’ve laughed at her had I not been so damn scared.

“Doctor. I appreciate you being a fan, but could you focus on the mother of my kid, please?”

“Yes Mr. Blackthorn. Sorry. Um—yes, your tests. Long story short, your baby’s fine, Miss Jakobson. Your hCG levels are steadily climbing into levels we always want to see this close to a second trimester.”

“Then what’s causing her pain?” Drake asked.

“Miss Jakobson is a thin woman. Her pelvis isn’t situated for childbirth yet, so her body’s doing a lot of expanding. She’ll experience pain like this on and off during her pregnancy. Her bones will be shifting and her tendons will be loosening as her body readies itself for labor. It’s normal but will be very uncomfortable.”

“So, she and the baby are gonna be okay,” Drake said. “Is there anything she can take for the pain?”

“Yes. We’ve got acetaminophen running through her I.V. right now. She can take Tylenol fr

om here on out, as it is safe for pregnancy, but in the recommended doses only,” the doctor said.