Page 24 of Accidentally in Love

“Um… sex is a no, right?” Nolan asked.

I felt myself get flushed at that. I couldn’t believe he asked that. We hadn’t had sex since we conceived the baby, but it wasn’t like we had it all that often beforehand. We only occasionally fell into bed together. I asked her that already, but I hadn’t been keen on telling Nolan her answer.

“Nolan,” I hissed in annoyance.

Dr. Lee tried to hide her smile. “Yes, if Avery’s feeling up to it, sex should be okay. With a partner or on her own.”

Little did Nolan know how much I had been using my vibrator.

“Everything looks good, you two. Have a happy Thanksgiving,” she said to us before she left.

“Did you have to ask that?” I snapped.

He shrugged but was tight-lipped again.

“Nolan…”

“Whatever. I gotta get back to the brewery. I need to hire another new guy, and we’re swamped.”

“Hey, what are you doing for Thanksgiving, anyway?”

“Working,” he grunted in a way that told me it was the end of the conversation.

I frowned.

I had hoped to ask Nolan to come to my dad’s for Thanksgiving. Maybe I’d have the courage to finally tell my family about the baby if he came with me, but he didn’t even give me the chance to ask. My sister and I were ten years apart because my mom had a couple of miscarriages in between us. I was scared of telling my dad I was pregnant on the off chance I lost the baby.

“Okay, I’ll see you later,” I whispered in defeat.

He nodded and then left me to get dressed by myself.

Even though we occasionally slept together, Nolan and I had always been friends first. I knew the baby would present some challenges, but I didn’t like how grouchy he had been with me. I think I hurt his feelings when I said no to marrying him.

I got dressed and went back to work, but I could barely concentrate. I used my lunch and free period to make the appointment, so I didn’t get a break between classes today.

After school, when I got back to my apartment, I checked my phone for the first time and saw a string of texts. I checked the ones from my sister first.

GEM: What did you do to Nolan??

GEM: He’s a supreme grumpy bear today!

I typed back a shrug emoji. Her guess was as good as mine.

I scrolled through to the texts from the man himself.

NOLAN: Sorry about today.

I typed back a response. ME: S’okay.

I saw the dots of him typing, and I set my phone down to make dinner. My phone buzzed again while I waited for the water to boil for my pasta. I picked up my phone again and saw a second message from Nolan.

NOLAN: No, it’s not.

ME: You’re right. It’s not. You were a dick.

NOLAN: I’m sorry. I’m stressed, but I shouldn’t have taken it out on you. Forgive me?

I set my phone down on the counter and stared at the pot on the stove as I thought about how to respond to him. I knew this time of year wasn’t his favorite, and I hadn’t exactly been nice to him today, either. The stress of the baby was getting to both of us, but we needed to learn to not take it out of each other. I knew I wasn’t doing the best job at that lately, either.