After putting on my pajamas, I head out to the kitchen to get a bottle of water, when I hear something. I knock on Olivia’s door and she tells me to come in.
“I thought you were at Nick’s,” I say as I enter her room.
“I’m not feeling well,” she whispers. When I step closer, I can see she’s been crying. Her eyes are puffy and her cheeks and nose are blotchy. I crawl into bed with her, and she cuddles up next to me—her head landing on my chest. My fingers run through her long strands of hair.
“What’s wrong?” I ask her.
“I—I’m not sure. I’ve just been really emotional lately, and the last few days I’ve been feeling nauseous. I threw up this morning.” My fingers still in her hair. Emotional. Nauseous. Throwing up. She’s pregnant. She knows it. I know it. She just doesn’t want to admit it. I could point it out to her, but it’s obvious she’s not ready to deal with it, so I’ll let her remain in denial for a little longer. If I were to guess, she’s nervous to tell Nick, which is why she’s home instead of with him. The last time she was pregnant, he didn’t handle it well at all. Of course he came around, but it makes sense that she would be nervous to tell him.
“I’m sure it’s just a bug or something,” I say.
“Yeah, maybe. Or maybe it’s just nerves. Between the charity event and Nick getting injured, things have been crazy.”
We lay in bed, not saying a word for several minutes. Then Olivia says, “I figured out the tattoo I want to get.” I stifle my laugh. She won’t be getting a tattoo for at least the next nine months.
“Oh, yeah? What do you want to get?” I ask, going along with the conversation.
“I want to get ‘And they lived happily ever after’ written across my ribs with three hearts for Nick, Reed, and me.”
“That will be beautiful.” But it will be four hearts and not three, I think, but don’t say out loud.
“I miss you, Giselle,” Olivia whispers.
“I miss you, too,” I whisper back.
As we lay in bed, I consider telling her everything. She’s my best friend, my sister. Olivia would never judge me. I know that. I could do no wrong in her eyes. No, she wouldn’t judge, but she would want to fix it. And the thought of her paying for anything, makes me feel sick. She’s done so much for me over the years. I can’t let her fix this. But I also can’t keep this from her any longer. It’s destroying our friendship. Just as I work up the courage to tell her what’s been going on, Reed cries from his room.
“He’s been teething,” she says, getting up. She brings him back into the room with us, and when he spots me, he gets excited.
“Gi Gi!” he exclaims in his cute little voice. Olivia lays him between us, and he pulls on my hair with his chubby little fingers. He rolls from side to side getting comfortable. Once he’s settled down, Olivia rubs his back and within minutes he’s passed out.
“Do you have any plans tomorrow night?” Olivia asks me. I think for a minute. As of right now I’m not on the schedule.
“No.”
“I was thinking we could do a girls’ night out, and I can invite Celeste. We spoke a few days ago and she’s been acting weird since the night of your birthday.” I stifle a laugh for a second time. She’s totally avoiding Nick. “We can go out for drinks.”
“Or we can stay in and watch some chick flicks,” I propose.
“Reed’s been acting weird. My dad and Corrine will have to watch him here. He hasn’t been wanting to sleep anywhere else lately.”
“What about Nick?” I ask nonchalantly.
“His arm has been hurting. I don’t want him to have to pick up Reed. He’ll probably just hang out with Killian, play the PlayStation or whatever.”
“Sounds good.” I let out a yawn at the same time Olivia does, and we both laugh. Reed rolls over and his hand comes up to my cheek. His eyes stay closed. I watch him for several minutes, realizing I never told Olivia anything I planned to tell her. Tomorrow, I think to myself. I’ll tell her tomorrow. Tonight, I just want to pretend everything is right in my world.
Twelve
Killian
“So, she’s been avoiding you since you got injured?” I ask Nick, my eyes not leaving the television. The score’s 28-35, and I need this touchdown to tie the game.
“Yep, I don’t know why, man. Any other woman, I would say she’s upset that I won’t be a pro ball player anymore…” Nick’s defensive team comes at my quarterback, and I throw the ball to one of my receivers.