Page 133 of Through You
I understand her concern. We’ve both had bad experiences with our respective parents. I rest my chin on the top of her head.
“Claudia, you are you. And I am me. We are not our parents.”
She sighs and I continue to speak.
“Let’s use our parents’ mistakes as examples of what not to do. I’m not saying we’ll always get it right, but we’ll be the best version of ourselves for this baby.”
“I guess I melted you enough to accidentally create a mini-iceberg.”
At least she’s making jokes again.
“Or a mini-fire.”
We pull away, and she wipes away her tears, letting out a long sigh.
“I hate you.”
I arch an eyebrow. “Why?”
She taps my arm lightly. “Of course you had to get me pregnant.”
“Excuse me? I don’t remember you protesting while it was happening. I mean, not in a negative way.”
She falls back on the bed, stares at the ceiling, and I sit next to her.
“You need to rest. Tomorrow is another day.”
“I’ll still be pregnant tomorrow.”
“I know.”
She reaches for my hand. “I’m not alone.”
“You are not alone,” I repeat back to her, and lift her hand to give it a kiss. “Now rest.”
She closes her eyes. I watch over her until I notice her chest rising and falling in an even rhythm, confirming that she’s finally asleep.
Down the hall outside the room, to my surprise I find Apolo checking room numbers, probably looking for Claudia’s. How did he find out?
He rushes in my direction when he spots me, visibly concerned. My brain is still feeling a little disoriented.
“Artemis!” he calls to me. “How are you? What happened?”
“You’re going to be an uncle.”
The words spill out of my mouth freely and unfiltered. What has happened to me? What the fuck has happened to me? Claudia is going to kill me. Apolo freezes in his tracks and his jaw drops in shock.
“What?”
I clear my throat. I can’t say any more. Apolo’s face lights up.
“I’m going to be an uncle?” A smile spreads across his lips.
“You’re not screwing with me, right? I guess not, you wouldn’t joke about that.” He holds his face tightly, looking surprised.
“Really?”
“Oh shit.” I run my fingers through my hair. “If Claudia asks, I didn’t tell you anything.”
