Page 44 of Fool Me Twice

She also knew Jaxon was worried about her after she’d bitten his head off for something and nothing during their last call. And Evie hadn’t believed Anya’s flimsy excuse for one second when she’d turned up a few days ago. Did they really think she’d believed their story about Anya coming back to keep an eye on the contractor?

Then, as if things weren’t bad enough already, she’d picked up a stomach flu that was doing the rounds. She’d been sick every morning since Anya’s arrival, and a few days before, if she were being honest. The thought of eating anything made her feel nauseous, but the lack of food made her feel equally nauseous, too.

Everyone tried their best to help. Reeva cooked up a batch of broth using an old recipe her grandmother had got from her mother, but the smell of the beans stewing in the slow cooker had made Evie gag.

Anya had ordered Evie’s favourite dish from a local restaurant she liked, but the few mouthfuls she’d eaten had made her vomit.

After almost a week where Evie barely ate anything or vomited whatever she had eaten, Anya, backed up by Reeva, suggested it might be time they called the doctor.

“I’m fine. It’s just a bug,” Evie snapped when they broached the subject with her.

“But it’s been almost a week now, and you’ve barely managed to keep anything down,” Anya reminded her. “You’re going to make yourself ill if you keep on like this.”

Evie waved her hand dismissively. “I ate something last night.”

“But then you threw it up again this morning,” Anya said. “Let me make you some toast or some scrambled eggs.”

“I’m fine. Will you stop fussing?”

“I’m not fussing. I was going to make some for myself anyway,” Anya said kindly.

Anya was such a sweetheart, Evie found it was impossible to stay mad at her for long. “If I eat something, will you stop nagging me?”

Making a cross over her heart with her finger, Anya flashed her a beautiful smile. “I promise.”

“Fine, but only a little, though.”

Beaming, Anya set about cracking eggs into a bowl. “Do you want milk with yours?” she asked, whisking in some salt and pepper.

Evie shook her head, her stomach lurching at the smell. She swallowed hard. Her face felt cold and damp. She walked across to the window and threw it wide open.

“What’s wrong?” Anya asked.

“It’s the smell.”

Anya sniffed the air. “What smell? I don’t smell anything.”

Reeva crinkled up her nose and sniffed. “Me neither.”

“It must be the eggs.”

Anya lowered her head and smelt the contents of the bowl. “I don’t smell anything except pepper.”

Evie felt her stomach roll, and her attempts at trying to swallow down the nausea failed miserably. “Excuse me.” She made a dash for the bathroom with her hand clamped over her mouth. The caustic yellow bile burned her throat as it made its way to the surface and forced its way out through her fingers. She continued to retch, her diaphragm spasming until there was nothing left but air.

“Evie.” Anya tapped on the bathroom door a few minutes later. “Are you okay?”

“I’ll be out in a minute.” She removed the pregnancy test from her pocket and stared at the white stick as she unwrapped it. Was there any point in doing another one? Surely the seven others she’d taken couldn’t be wrong?

“Oh my God, you look terrible,” Anya said when Evie entered the kitchen a few minutes later. “You’re as white as a sheet.” She rushed across the kitchen to Evie and, putting her arm around Evie’s shoulders, guided her toward the nearest chair.

“I really think you need to see a doctor,” Reeva said, studying Evie’s pallid face.

Anya nodded, sitting in the chair opposite Evie. “I’ve spoken to Jaxon, and he’s really worried about you. We both are.”

Evie looked up to meet Anya’s eyes. “I don’t need to see the doctor.”

“You can’t go on like this, Evie. You’ve been sick every morning, you’re barely eating anything and you’ve got no energy, which isn’t like you.”

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