Playing You (Omega's Luck #3) - Claire Cullen Page 0,63
you hurt anywhere?”
Beside them, the fridge started beeping.
“No. I want to sit up.”
He moved as he said it, forcing Brendan to scramble to keep the omega away from the broken glass.
“Careful, there’s glass,” he said sharply.
Riley paused in his attempts to get up. “Huh?”
“Just let me do this, okay? Nice and easy.”
He put his arms under Riley’s shoulders and knees and lifted him smoothly, carrying him into the living room. He laid him down on the couch and crouched next to him.
“I think we should go to the hospital.”
Riley looked pale, and though Brendan couldn’t see an injury, that didn’t mean there wasn’t one.
“But…”
“No buts. Unless you can tell me exactly how you came to be on the floor surrounded by broken glass and orange juice.
Riley screwed his face up in concentration, frowning. “I don’t… I was sitting at the counter, writing down a grocery list for tomorrow. Zac gave me that recipe for chicken korma I wanted to try. But I was thirsty, and I wanted some juice. I remember getting up and then… nothing.”
“Any idea how long you were out for?”
“I don’t know. It was already dark out,” Riley said with a shrug. “I’m feeling a lot better now. Couldn’t I just see a regular doctor tomorrow?”
“I’d rather be safe than sorry. What if there’s a serious reason you passed out, and it happens again?”
“But…”
“Please, Riley.” Brendan’s heart hadn’t yet calmed down. His mind kept replaying that moment, over and over—Riley lying so still on the floor.
He was prepared to plead again, but the omega capitulated a moment later. “Okay. I guess it wouldn’t hurt to get checked out.”
He knew Riley was humoring him, but he didn’t care. Right then, he needed some assurances that his mate was okay. He returned to the kitchen just long enough to close the fridge and sweep up the glass, and then he grabbed Riley’s coat, helped the omega into it, and got him out to the car.
“Comfortable?” he asked as they got on the road.
“Yeah. But I feel a bit silly.”
“Have you ever collapsed like that before?”
“Never.”
His quiet admission revealed just a hint of worry. Brendan felt a little better knowing he wasn’t the only person concerned.
The urgent care clinic was quiet for a Wednesday night. They were seen almost immediately by a nurse who ordered some routine tests and promised the doctor would see them within the hour. She left them with a jug of water that she asked Riley to drink.
“Good evening.” A young, fresh-faced man poked his head into the room almost ninety minutes later. “Riley, isn’t it? I’m Dr. Halligan, but pretty much everyone calls me Dr. Hal. How are you feeling?”
“Fine,” Riley said immediately. “Maybe a little tired,” he added, biting his lower lip.
“Talk me through what happened, as best you can.”
With a glance at Brendan, Riley relayed as much as he remembered. Brendan took over, explaining how he’d found Riley collapsed on the floor.
“Any idea how long he’d been there?”
“Um…” Now that the doctor asked, he realized he did know. “It can’t have been that long, because the fridge wasn’t beeping. It does that if it’s open for longer than five minutes.”
“Okay. So you were probably unconscious for less than five minutes, Riley. That’s very good, and it fits with what we’re seeing on your test results.”
Brendan’s gaze narrowed on the doctor as Riley’s hand holding his tightened its grip.
“What’s wrong with me?” Riley asked, his voice shaking.
“Well, firstly, you’re pregnant.” He gave them a moment before adding, “I don’t know if this is a surprise, or…”
“We were trying for a baby,” Brendan said. “We just hadn’t expected it to happen so fast.”
“I took a test,” Riley added. “A week ago. It was negative.”
They’d both been disappointed, but they’d chalked it up to not being the right time yet.
“Faulty test, I’m guessing. You got a very strong positive on your blood test. You’re also showing some iron deficiency. That, coupled with low blood pressure which is common in early pregnancy, probably explains why you fainted. You were sitting down with your head bent, then you got up a little too fast and your body wasn’t able to handle the change. Your blood pressure dropped, and it was lights out.”
“How dangerous is that?” Brendan asked. “Should we be worried?”
“It’s nothing that can’t be managed by being careful sitting and standing, staying well hydrated, and getting enough salt in your diet. Your doctor will monitor it during the pregnancy. Now, just to be on the safe side,