Chapter 38
Chapter 38
Ellie POV
My morning sickness was really becoming a problem. I felt like I was throwing up every day at least once. The last thing I wanted to do was leave the house when I felt like this, but I wasn’t going to spend more time with Nolan than I absolutely had to.
Not after the little rant he went on the other day. Plus, Felicity was hanging around more boldly, and her face was making me mad.
So, I decided to go out with Rae again tonight. I let her drag me out most days now. She was the only one who knew what was going on, so if I had to run off and be sick, she didn’t get upset and I didn’t have to worry about hiding what was happening from her.
I didn’t want Nolan catching on to what’s happening. I didn’t want him to have any reason to suspect that I’m pregnant.
Tonight, we were going to a popular bar and grill for dinner I’ve been craving red meat lately, and they have a good steak.
Unfortunately, we were barely inside before the smell of all the cooking food and the various alcohols made my stomach turn.
I went to the table with Rae, but it didn’t take long for the smells to become
overpowering. I had read that pregnancy can make your senses more acute, but this was ridiculous.
“You look a little pale,” Rae said with concern.
“I’m going to hurl,” I muttered, standing and rushing away from the table.
I managed to make it to the bathroom in time. Luckily, throwing up in a bar isn’t that unusual, so it didn’t draw any attention-at least, I didn’t realize that it had until I stepped out of the bathroom and found Lance, of all people, waiting for me.
I rolled my eyes before he even opened his mouth, just the sight of him is enough to irritate me.
“Wow, you really can’t hold your liquor,” Lance said, his tone teasing.
I was not about to correct him. Better for him to think I’m a drunk than to figure out the truth.
“Do you always hang around outside the ladies’ room at bars? Is that where you find your girlfriends?” I snapped back.
His eyes widened slightly and he scoffed. “What p>
“Obviously you need someone to be fall-down drunk in order to give you a chance p>
I pushed past him and stormed back to the table where Rae was waiting for me. I expected Lance to follow, to tell me off and cuss me out, but he just stood there as I walked away.
“Seems like that nausea is getting worse,” Rae said, putting her menu down to give me her full attention.
“It’s every day now,” I groaned, sinking lower into the booth. “I can’t even brush my teeth anymore without feeling like I’m going to hurl in the sink p>
“Brushing your teeth makes you nauseous?” she asked, startled.
“Yes. I’ve even switched to a milder-tasting toothpaste, and it’s not making a difference p>
“Man, that sucks,” Rae said earnestly. “Any other new symptoms starting to show? Like mood swings or hot
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flashes or whatever p>
“I think hot flashes are from menopause.
“Whatever, I don’t know,” Rae said, making a face.
I laughed, which caused her to start laughing, and it lightened the mood significantly.
I was so grateful to her- for giving me an opportunity to feel normal and have a little
fun in light of all the crazy things that were happening.
If I didn’t have Rae, I don’t know how I’d get through this.
Third Person POV
Ellie pushed past Lance, brushing his shoulder as she went. Maybe if she hadn’t touched him, he would have followed after her-told her off. After all, her attitude was becoming a problem.
But the contact made him freeze, it was far too brazen. Or at least, he kept trying to tell himself that it was.
The truth was, his emotions were a tangle every time Ellie was around, and he was starting to have a difficult time figuring out exactly what he was feeling.
He probably should’ve just left her alone when he saw her rushing off to the bathroom, but she’d looked so pale and panicked that he got worried.
So he stood there for several minutes like a weirdo, lurking outside the ladies’ room waiting for her to come back. And then, when he finally saw her, all he could manage to do was make fun of her.
It didn’t make any sense to him why he was acting this way especially considering that Ellie was just a rogue. A rude, spoiled, conniving one at that.
He’d honestly never spent much time with her. After all, he avoided Nolan as much as possible. But her reputation was enough. He knew the game she played, the manipulations and drama she caused. That was enough to make him hate her.
But she seemed different now. She seemed more complicated than he’d been led to believe. Honestly, the way she tore him down, the way she looked right through him with those cold glares, it shook his confidence in a way no woman ever had before.
It wasn’t a feeling he liked. Not something he wanted to experience.
And if he had any sense in his head, he’d avoid her at all costs.
Yet, he kept finding himself drawn to her.
It wasn’t like he was seeking her out, she just happened to be nearby lately. And
when she was, he couldn’t resist approaching.
He didn’t understand why.
It’s not as though he wanted her approval.
Why should he care if the disgraced wife of his older brothe approved of him?
Just because she insulted him when no one else dared? Just because she pointed out his flaws in that cold, matter-of-fact way?
That didn’t mean her opinion mattered.
Or at least… it shouldn’t.
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“Lance!” an impatient voice called out.
He turned to see his friends motioning him back.
He was out with his team, having dinner and drinks as they strategized for the next
and final race of the season. He should be focused on that.
And yet, the moment he’d seen Ellie rushing by, he’d abruptly stood and left the table, saying he had to take care of something.
He was sure they’d all seen him talking to her again. He was going to have to explain that away.
Lance walked back over to the table, grinning at his friends.
“Sorry about that. Just had to make sure my sister-in-law isn’t making a public embarrassment of herself p>
“Is she drunk?” one of his friends asked, amusement clear in his voice.
“Either that or she’s got food poisoning,” he said dismissively, sitting back down.
“If she’s that much of a lightweight, it could explain why she didn’t want to come to your boat party p>
“do you mean?” Lance asked, curious.
“Well, if she can’t hold her liquor on land, just imagine how sick she would’ve been
on the boat,” his friend explained with a laugh.
Lance leaned back in the booth and considered his words.
Was Ellie’s aggressive behavior masking embarrassment or fear?
That was certainly an interesting explanation.
But if that was the case… then what was she afraid of just now, when she snapped
at him like that?
Lance found himself more and more curious about her every time he saw her.
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