"Just…just a minute." I manage between retching. "I'm…fine."
"You don't sound fine." Footsteps echo in the room and then the lavatory door opens. In the next moment, a hand is on the small of my back. "You don't look fine, either. What did you eat?"
"Nothing," I manage, gasping. I feel a little better now that my stomach is empty, and I wipe my mouth and manage a wan smile as I look over at my mate. "It's okay, really."
The look on Adiron's face is one of worry. "You have been sick repeatedly. Is this a human thing? Zoey was never sick like this unless she ate something bad." He rubs my back, eyes wide. "Is this the sickness that Alice had, do you think? Shaalyn said that they wouldn't let Alice and Kaspar on their ship because Alice was sick."
I shake my head. "I don't think so. It's fine. I just need to eat something." And tell him about the baby. That's the obvious solution—tell him that I'm sick because I'm pregnant. But I can't make the words come out of my mouth. I'm afraid he won't be excited. That whatever tenuous happiness we have right now will disappear into thin air the moment there's a baby in the mix.
Adiron doesn't look convinced. "More crackers?"
I shrug and get up from the floor…and then immediately go down again as another wave of nausea hits me.
"I'll get you some food," Adiron tells me, and leaves.
By the time he returns, I'm dressed and cleaned up and feel like myself again. My stomach growls, and when he shows up with a hard protein bar and a tumbler of water, I give him a grateful smile. "It's passed," I say. "But I appreciate the food."
"It's not noodles," he tells me, setting the food down on the tiny table and then guiding me over to it as if I'm feeble. "I made sure it wasn't noodles."
"Really, I'm fine," I protest.
"Should I talk to Kivian and Fran? Get you some medicine?" he asks. It's clear he doesn't believe my protestations.
I shake my head and take a hearty bite of the protein bar to prove that I'm fine. Adiron doesn't believe me, and keeps watching me with a worried expression, even after I finish eating and drinking. I reach over and take his hand, interlocking our fingers. "What's the plan for today? Do we just hang out in here?"
"I'm supposed to help Tarekh and Alyvos go over the systems over on the Buoyant Star to see what we can get running, but I'm going to tell them you're sick. I can do it some other time—"
I interrupt him and squeeze his hand. "You can go. Really. I promise you the sickness has passed." When he hesitates again, I continue, my expression full of smiles. "I'll see if Fran and the others need some help. I'm sure they can give me something to do. It'll be nice to stay busy after years of idleness."
Adiron rubs his jaw with his other hand, looking as if he doesn't quite believe me. After a few moments, though, he sighs. "Are you sure?"
"Positive."
"And you'll tell me if you start to feel sick again? You'll have the others send me a comm?"
I nod.
He doesn't seem happy, but eventually, Adiron agrees and we leave our room, then part after sharing a few kisses with the promise of more tonight. He casts me a worried look over his shoulder as he heads toward the maintenance rooms, and I keep my expression bright and chipper until he's gone. Then, I head for the rec room and peer in, looking for others.
Fran's inside, seated on a couch, the baby on a blanket on the floor. She's got a book in her hand and one eye on Jasmine, and she looks as beautiful and put together as usual. Her hair is sleek and glossy, and her clothes are subdued (at least compared to Kivian's) but fit her gorgeous body like a glove. She looks up when I approach and sets her book down carefully. "I was wondering when you'd come to talk."
"Me?" I ask, curious.
She just gives me a knowing look. "Adiron came into the mess this morning all frantic. He needed a protein bar for you because you were sick. Told us you were off noodles, too." She licks her lips and eyes me. "Same thing happened when I was pregnant with this one. Does he know?"