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I held my breath as I typed the next message about Paul.
Nadia: Paul and I had a long conversation and we’re officially dating. We won’t go public until we go to Rome next month after my classes are over. But I wanted you to know we’re together.
Mom: So Paul gets another four weeks to use you? How do you know he won’t change his mind? I don’t want you to be naïve about your situation. These magical men are what destroyed Nora. You’re letting him keep you, and I’m sorry, darling, but I’m disappointed. I love you.
But I didn’t hear love, I heard disappointment ringing inside my head.
I clasped my hands over my mouth and rushed to the bathroom. Dropping to my knees, I just made it in time before vomiting.
“Nadia, are you sick?”
Shit.
Paul stood beside the sink, scrutinizing me as I brushed my teeth. He took my waist when I finished. “What happened?”
“It was Mom, and I don’t want to talk about it right now.” I choked on my words, and he pulled me into his arms, and I hadn’t realized I was shaking.
“You know Dr. Casey is not only a great psychiatrist, but also a therapist—”
“Dr. Casey?” I broke away from him and grimaced. “No freaking way do I need a psychiatrist, especially not Dr. Casey. She’s too full of herself and doesn’t listen. Look, Mom is my best friend. She’s…she’s disappointed in my choices. It’s just another log on the already high pile.”
“I understand that, but there is nothing wrong with getting help. You’ve been through a lot in your life, and it would be good for you to process it. I’ve been in therapy myself after my parent’s divorce and Aubrey’s death. It helps.” His voice was even, but he was also scanning over me. And I already knew what his next question was before he said it.
“Was the vomiting from stress…or are you pregnant?”
I grimaced. “No, I am not pregnant. Stress causes me to get sick. Mom made me take a pregnancy test at home, which was negative.”
What I told Paul was mainly true, and I thought he would drop it, but instead, his eyes widened, and he scratched his jaw.
“But your mom’s a nurse. We should take this much more seriously if she thought it was possible. I’ll make an appointment for you to see Dr. Foster tomorrow—”
“No. I have too much work to do to go see Dr. Foster—”
“She’ll do a house visit—”
“Come on, Paul. Give me a break. I had a negative test, and I’ve been under a lot of stress. My dad just had a second kidney transplant. Gunnar told me my mom might lose her job—afterhe offered to marry me, mind you—and my parents are in mega-debt. I have a reporter who connected me to Justus. I’m fighting with my mom over you. And not to leave out, we almost broke up. I’ve got the end of the year ahead, a dress that’s up for years best, and a Givenchy internship. Honestly, vomiting is the least of my worries.”
“Gunnar offered to marry you?” He glowered. “Fuck him.”
I rolled my eyes. “He was being a dick.”
“That too, but he would have done it.” Paul hit the counter with both hands. “Fuck him. He’ll pay for that shit.”
That hit a nerve.
“Can we go back to bed?” I asked.
Paul kissed my bare shoulder. “Yes, but I still want you to see Dr. Foster.”
We returned to bed, and he spooned me. His arms felt good, but I couldn’t sleep.
“Paul, are you awake?”
He chuckled. “Well, if I’m answering you, I am.”
“What if I am pregnant?” I whispered in the dark. “Would that be the worst thing to happen? You’re looking for a surrogate, so a baby is something you want. If I’m pregnant, you could consider me….”
He stiffened behind me. “I’m not interested in hypotheticals,” he said in an uneven tone.
