Escape With Me (With Me in Seattle 16)

He laughs and shakes his head. “Then the wee one will have it.”

Chapter 17

~Izzy~

I’m just so tired. I could sleep standing up. Or anywhere, really. It’s been a week since I saw the doctor, and the symptoms are no better. I’m exhausted, can’t keep much down, and holy shit, do my boobs hurt.

But I’m starting to get a little more excited. I downloaded the book What to Expect When You’re Expecting onto my iPad the other night and started reading it. And in the morning, after I woke up, I lay in bed for a bit to look at baby room ideas.

Now that I know that Keegan isn’t only okay with the idea but also excited, I’m getting used to it all.

I still don’t want to say anything to anyone else for a little while, just to make sure nothing horrible happens.

It’s Friday afternoon, and I’m covering the lunch crowd at the pub so I can go upstairs early and get some sleep before I have to make the trip into Seattle to report the weather in the morning. The schedule is brutal, but I love the job so much that I don’t mind.

“It’s slow today,” I say as I set my empty tray on the bar and boost my ass into a stool.

“That it is,” Keegan says as he washes a beer glass. “Take a second to get off your feet, why don’t you?”

“Already doing it.”

When it’s just Keegan and me in the pub like this, I don’t have to work so hard to pretend that everything’s normal. Not that I’m a whiner, I just take more little breaks to sit and breathe, usually working my way through a wave of nausea.

But right now, it’s just exhaustion.

I rest my head on my arm and close my eyes for a moment. I can hear everything around me, but I’m in a nice, drifty place.

“Go up and go to bed,” Keegan says softly. “I can handle the bar until Maggie gets here in just a little while.”

“No, I’m fine.” I sit up and prop my chin on my hand. “I’m sorry, this is incredibly unprofessional. Please don’t fire me.”

He grins at me, and I can’t help but smile back. This man’s smile is everything. He can boost me up with just a wink, a simple look.

Is it any wonder that I fell in love with him?

“Okay, back to work.” I hop off the stool, but a wave of nausea hits me so fast and hard that I have to make a run for the bathroom.

When is this going to stop? I ask myself as I stand at the sink and rinse my mouth out. I’ve lost five pounds in the past week.

This can’t be healthy. I’m going to have to call the doctor for the meds she mentioned at our appointment. I thought I could stick it out, but something has to give here.

Just as I open the door to step out into the bar area, Maggie appears and gently pushes me back into the bathroom.

“What are you doing here early?” I ask her.

“I came to see Ma for a minute before my shift starts. But we don’t want to talk about me. You’re pregnant, aren’t you?”

“How did—? No. Of course, not. I don’t know what you’re talking about, Mary Margaret.”

“Don’t you Mary Margaret me, Isabella. I’m not blind or stupid. You look exhausted all the time, and this isn’t the first time I’ve seen you make a run for the bathroom. Either you have an eating disorder, which I highly doubt, or you have a bun in the oven.”

I sigh and lean against the wall. I cross my arms over my chest and feel the soreness in my boobs.

Maybe I do need to talk to someone besides Keegan about this. A woman.

A friend.

“First of all, you can’t tell a soul.”

“I knew it.” She does a little happy dance right in the middle of the restroom. “I knew it.”

“I’m serious. We aren’t telling anyone for a little bit to make sure that everything goes right, and the baby’s healthy. It’s still super early.”

“I can totally keep a secret,” she says, but I know better.

“If you tell anyone, you won’t be my favorite anymore.”

The smile leaves her face. “Well, that’s just mean.”

“I’m not joking.”

“But you are pregnant.”

“Or I’ve had the flu for several weeks.” I grin. “We went to the doctor. We saw the heartbeat and everything.”

“Oh my God, this is so exciting! Another little baby to love on. I’m so excited for you, Izzy. Keegan must be over the moon. Wait, is he the one who doesn’t want to say anything? Because now that I think about it, I don’t know that kids were ever on his radar.”

“No, it’s me. Keegan’s really excited.”

“You’re so good for my brother,” she says, and the words instantly bring tears of joy to my eyes. “I’ve seen so much of him come alive since you came into his life, Izzy. He’s happier. So, thanks for that.”