Sinful Ever After (Sinful Serenade Book 5) - Crystal Kaswell Page 0,33

care of myself.

I try to push it aside as I return to the table. Drew and Mom are having a nice conversation about a book series I've never read. Something about mystery and action.

I settle into my seat and pick at my lasagna. It's delicious—chewy, tangy, creamy—but I'm no longer feeling well.

My gaze goes to Drew. He's smiling, cracking a joke with Mom.

He'll be a good dad. Overprotective, but good. I can see him cradling a baby, reading comics with a toddler, teaching a kid to play a tiny guitar.

But not in nine months.

Not for years.

Many, many years.

I stare at my food, forcing myself to take small bites.

Drew taps me on the shoulder.

I look up at him with hazy eyes.

"Kara, your mom was asking about our wedding," he says.

"What about it?" I ask.

"When we're gonna pick out a specific location." His eyes fix on mine. "Don't tell me you forgot the date."

"No. June twelfth. We're doing the beach. What's the rush figuring out the other details?" I take a bite of lasagna and swallow hard. There's an obvious reason to rush, but I don't want that for our wedding.

"You'll forget all about it when school picks up." Drew squeezes my hand. "You okay? You look queasy."

I feel queasy. This is overwhelming, and I'm not good with overwhelming.

I push out from the table. "I'm not feeling well. I think it's allergies." I take a step backward. "I... uh... I'm going to lie down. Why don't you guys go out, take in the city?" I lean in to kiss Drew on the forehead. "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine after a nap."

I climb the stairs to my room, collapse on my bed, and pull the covers over my head. I repeat the words to myself. I'll be fine, I'll be fine, I'll be fine.

But every time, they feel like lies.

***

There's a knock on the door. The handle turns, and Drew steps inside.

"Hey." Drew's voice echoes through the small room. "You okay?"

I nod. This pregnancy thing is a remote possibility. I think.

"You sure? I can run out to CVS and grab something."

"That's okay." I push myself up, blink my eyes a few times, and yawn. "What time is it?"

"About six. You feeling more rested?"

I nod. Sort of. My body is more relaxed, but my mind is still racing. No matter how many times I try to tell myself it's not possible, that I should just wait for my next period, I don't quite buy it.

"You're not going to believe this," he says.

"Believe what?"

He closes the door and presses his back against it. "Meg and Miles are getting married."

That's great! My lips curl into a smile. "Really? When?"

"In Vegas. As soon as possible."

I laugh. Of course, Drew is wearing a judgmental expression. He doesn't approve of them rushing.

"Why you looking at me like that, Kendrick?"

"No reason."

"They should figure out their shit. He asked us if we'd come early. He thinks Meg needs your help."

And Drew wants our vacation together. I want that too. I want a long, pregnancy-scare-free vacation.

His voice drops to something supportive and sweet. "What are you thinking?"

I clear my throat. It sounds like this wedding is happening in the next few days. This can wait. "We should go. Can we fly in tonight?"

He nods. "You sure that's it?"

No.

"Kara?"

I press my lips together. "It's probably nothing."

"Doesn't look like nothing."

"It can wait until after their wedding."

"Don't see why they can't set a date and send out invitations like normal people." He sits on the bed next to me. He leans in close enough to whisper. "Sweetheart, what the fuck is going on? You've got the weirdest look in your eyes."

Do I? I force myself to make eye contact. There's all this concern in his dark eyes.

Usually, I hate when people look at me like that. But not when Drew does it. When he does it, I know it's because he cares, because he loves me.

This can wait until after their wedding. It's probably nothing.

"It's romantic," I say. "Our wedding will still be nice. On the beach, with the sun shining behind us."

Of course, if I am pregnant, I'll be ready to burst in June.

And I'll have a newborn in September. If everything goes according to plan, I'll graduate this spring and start teaching this fall.

But if I'm pregnant...

Even with strict anti-discrimination laws, no one hires pregnant teachers. And nobody respects women who get a job then take maternity leave right away. Every female teacher warned us—people will give you shit about being