Page 28 of Never Really Mine
Hannah finishes up, and she and her partner say their goodbyes before heading out the door. I stand from the chair next to Marley. “Stay here. I’ll grab your stuff.” She nods, and god, she looks so exhausted.
I run back to her office, grabbing her bag, phone, and keys. When I arrive back in the front, Marley is sitting with her head tilted back on the chair, eyes closed. “Hey, you okay?” I ask, nerves bubbling up again.
She opens her eyes slowly. “Yeah. I think I’m overwhelmed. Hannah was so sweet. I want to be her friend.”
“I’m sure you do, she was very nice. Come on,” I say, offering her my hand. “Let’s go get things checked out.”
She takes her time standing. She leans down, grabbing the blue puke bag that Hannah left for good measure. I hold on to her hand, making sure she doesn’t get too dizzy. We walk to my car slowly, giving her time.
I’m pulling my car out of the lot and heading down the road to the emergency room when Marley pukes into the blue bag. I do my best to make sure she’s okay, but also focus on driving so we can get to the ER. I squeeze her leg as she heaves into the bag, thankful she isn’t looking at me.
I can’t help but gag a few times at the noise and the lingering smell, but I know I’m not the one who needs sympathy right now. We’re only at the beginning of this pregnancy, and if it’s already this rough? I’m quite nervous for how the rest is going to go.
19
MARLEY
Iretch bile into the bag once more as we finally arrive in the parking lot of the emergency room. Beau gags yet again. I can tell he’s trying to be secretive and not bring attention to it, but he’s failing. I feel a little bad for him, but also, he’s screwed once this kid starts spitting up and pooping all over.
He parks, and thankfully, the lack of motion seems to have helped with my nausea. Beau runs to my side of the vehicle, taking deep breaths as he does. When he opens the car door, I can’t help but tease him a bit. “Feeling alright?” I snicker.
Beau narrows his eyes. “I’m fine, worried about you.”
I pat his chest as he helps me from the car. “I’m alright, promise.”
“You don’t sound alright.”
I shrug. “Puking in pregnancy is normal.”
“Yeah, but passing out isn’t,” he retorts.
I say nothing, just let him lead us into the ER, dropping the near empty bag into a nearby trash can. The hospital smells clean, but not in a good way. Like someone just poured bleach all over the floor. It makes my nostrils burn.
“Go sit down. I’ll get you checked in,” Beau says, guiding me over to the waiting room. I want to fight it, say I can do it myself, but I’m too tired. I sit, watching him walk toward the U-shaped desk where various personnel sit. He runs his fingers through his hair a few times, leaning over the desk and resting his head on his palm as he speaks to the employee.
She’s attractive—thin, young, and blonde. All things I am not. Anger and jealousy bubble up in my chest as I watch him talk to her. Is he flirting? Seriously? The girl laughs, waving a hand at him as he steps back.
Beau frowns as he strides toward me, shoving his hands in his pockets. “What’s wrong?” he asks when he’s close.
“Nothing,” I mutter.
“Don’t lie to me, Mar.”
“I’m mad at you,” I say. I know I’m being juvenile, but I can’t help it. I’m pregnant withhischild, and he has the audacity to flirt with someone mere hours after he was telling me he was all in? Yeah. I’m irritated.
“Why?” His voice is concerned, and thick with worry. “What did I do?”
“Marley?” A voice calls my name. A nurse in neon pink scrubs waits for me at the double door entrance. I stand, striding over to her. I’ve never gotten in at an ER this fast before, but I couldn’t have asked for better timing.
“You can stay here,” I say to Beau. Am I being petty? Sure. Do I care? Nope. Beau stands, following behind me. I turn, glaring at him. “I don’t need you back there.”
“I’m coming,” he says roughly. His jaw clenches. He’s clearly irritated with me, too.
Ignoring him, I greet the nurse. “Hi, I’m Marley.”
“Great, my name is Lily. I’ll be your nurse today.” She eyes Beau behind me. “Can I ask who you are?”
I start to say, “He’s just a friend,” when Beau speaks over me.
