Page 67 of Fall Into You
What?
Did they make up? Oh my God.
I’m so happy I could cry, except I really shouldn’t because I remember the doctors saying something about dehydration when they brought me in. I take stock of myself and see an IV line attached to my arm.
Ew, needles.
“I’m gonna go get your doctor—see if he can update us on your status, although you seem to be doing okay,” Matt says, leaving Vinny and me alone to talk.
“So,” he says awkwardly, shuffling uncomfortably between his feet. “How ya feeling?”
“Really?” I laugh once. “I mean, not great, but okay. Feeling a little nauseated. Have a headache. No biggie.”
He expels a puff of air as he crosses his arms in front of him, eyes on the floor. “So…I’m sorry?”
“Is that a question or a statement?”
Vinny groans. “Fine. Definitely a statement. I. Am. Sorry. Like I told Matt, we were all selfish and lacked a bit of understanding and consideration for each other, did we not?”
I agree and apologize in turn, for the second time, for lying to him. We agree that we should apologize to our mother, since she was also hurt by this fight, and it wasn’t fair to her. Vinny and I also agree to put it completely behind us, but he doesn’t let it go without warning me that if Matt were to ever hurt me, he will not hesitate to kick his ass again, not stopping at one punch.
A nurse comes by during our conversation to change my IV bag, and I grimace throughout the entire process even though she’s as gentle as can be. Vinny rolls his eyes at me, calling me a baby, making fun of me the entire time. When Matt comes back, my brother leaves us to call my mom and tell her I’m at the hospital but that I’m okay. I think he wants to give us some time alone as well.
“Hey,” Matt says, kissing my cheek through his mask, taking a seat, scooting the chair closer to the bed. “How are you feeling?”
“Tired, but better. They just changed my IV bag.” I look over my shoulder, and he follows my gaze to the full bag.
“That’s good,” he says, nodding, his brow furrowed. I can see the anxiety in his eyes.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” I ask, and he raises an eyebrow. “Besides the obvious, I mean.”
“Nothing, nothing. Just waiting to hear from this doctor. I know I work here, but I have no idea who he is.” He looks over at the nurses’ station, as if expecting him to magically appear in front of us.
I suddenly grow very nervous, my stomach turning again for the millionth time today. There’s something I need to tell him, something I only realized today when I walked past a bagel cart this morning and had to throw up in a trashcan on the corner of the street. It’s something I’m afraid the doctors might already know and will tell us in a couple of minutes. I don’t want him to be blindsided, even if it means giving him just a couple of minutes to process it before someone else comes up and tells us.
“Matt?” I start, my voice soft. “I—I think I know why I’ve been so sick, and I don’t think it’s the stomach flu or stress.”
Matt stares back at me, eyes red-rimmed, a smile in his gaze. “Yeah, I know,” he chokes out behind his mask.
“You—you know? What do you meanyou know?” I can’t breathe. Does he suspect it too? Heisa doctor. He could just be making this assessment based on symptoms, same as me. I have been throwing up all damn week, and I honestly can’t remember the last time I got my period, but it was definitely before Halloween.
“I read your chart.” He takes off his mask and kisses me on the lips, slow, deep, and…salty?
Oh. I’m crying.
“Oh my God,” I breathe when we separate. “So, just to clarify…?”
He laughs. “Yes, you are, in fact, pregnant. But it’s super early days—obviously,” he says, and I know he’s referring to the fact that we haven’t been sleeping together for long—just under two months. Suddenly, I’m extremely anxious because I remember that Matt and I really haven’t been together for that long. I don’t even know if he wants kids! And now I’m pregnant? This is insane.
“Well, this certainly accelerates things for us,” I state in my role as Captain Obvious.
“I don’t care, actually,” he chuckles. “I mean, Ido, but I was gonna ask you to officially move in with me over the holidays, anyway, so I’m not mad about thisacceleration.” He smiles wickedly. “I’m actually really fucking excited.” He’s beaming, hopeful, and it knocks me breathless.
“Really?” My heart is racing, and my face hurts from smiling so wide.
“Are you kidding me? Of course.” He laughs, and I feel like it’s a weight off my shoulders. I don’t know what I would’ve done if he wouldn’t have been on board with this baby, but I’m so glad that he isn’t just okay with it—Matt lookselated.
“We should probably just keep it between us for now, though,” he says, interrupting my train of thought. “You’re only at around six or seven weeks—most people don’t say anything until week twelve.”
