“You okay?” Andie asks, handing out bottles of waters. “You look a little pale.”
I take one and hold it to my forehead, hoping its coolness will refresh me. It’s a sweltering day, even for the end of June. “I haven’t been in the sun much.”
She narrows her eyes at me. Everyone knows I spend every spare second in the training paddock with Mickey.
“How about you stick to painting the lower areas and let the guys climb the ladders?”
I want to argue, tell her I can earn my twenty dollars an hour just like the rest of them, but I don’t because something is off. Something’s been off for days. Then again, between my late-night excursions with Aaron and not sleeping at all last night, I’m surprised I can even function. “Maybe I will, at least until after lunch. I’m sure food will help.”
She goes over and whispers something to Maddox. Great, now Aaron and Maddox are both looking at me strangely.
A few hours later, lunch arrives. Maddox always caters meals for his day laborers. I’m ravenous and eat one and a half club sandwiches, a bag of chips, and a pickle.
“Feeling better?” Aaron asks as I’m finishing up.
“Yeah. Sorry about yesterday. I needed to be by myself.”
“I get it. Can we talk later?”
“Talk? Is that code for something?”
“It’s not code for anything. I just want to talk. You know, have an adult conversation.”
“Not if you’re going to ask questions I don’t want to answer.” I throw away my trash.
He follows me to the side of the new stable. “Devyn—”
“What? If it’s so important, why wait? Spit it out.”
He looks sad. “Not here.”
My insides twist. He is going to break up with me. I can see the devastation on his face. He probably doesn’t want to because the sex is so good, but he can’t stand being with such a needy, broken woman.
I pick up a paintbrush. “Mind if I get back to work, then?”
He nods and strolls away.
I’m nauseous, knowing what’s coming. No way will I get to stay on the ranch. He’ll offer, but it won’t work. I can’t work this closely with him, live right next to him, and not be with him. If I tell him I love him, will it make a difference? Because I do. I love him so much.
I turn to see where he is. He’s up on a ladder, catches me staring, and gives me an unhappy smile. My head spins. My vision blurs. Noises fade. I fall.
My eyes open to a half dozen people standing over me. Aaron and Andie are on their knees.
Aaron takes my hand. “Jesus, Devyn. Are you okay?”
“What happened?”
“You fainted.”
“I did?”
My stomach lurches. I quickly turn my head and vomit.
“You must have hit your head,” Andie says, handing me a clean rag. “Mind if I check?” She runs her fingers all over my skull. “I don’t feel any bumps, but you could still have a concussion. We should take you to the hospital.”
“The hospital? No.”
Maddox steps forward. “DHR will pay the bill. You were on the clock when it happened.”
“But—” I look at Aaron.
He’s worried but smiles anyway. It’s not the sad smile he had before. It’s a reassuring one. “It’ll be fine.”
“They’ll ask for—”
“We’ve got it covered, Dev. Just let me drive you. Please.”
Still dizzy and unfocused, I reluctantly agree. “Okay, but only you.”
I don’t remember much about the trip. I’m occupied with my impending breakup and an unnecessary hospital bill they’ll be forced to pay.
Aaron helps me into the ER and sits me down, then goes to the desk and fills out paperwork. “It shouldn’t be long,” he says, rejoining me.
“What did you tell them about me?”
“That you fainted and work for DHR. That your name is Devyn Dunlop.” He moves closer. “Put your head on my shoulder if you want. God, Devyn, you scared the shit out of me.”
“I’m sure it was the paint fumes.”
“The paint Maddox bought doesn’t have fumes. It’s ECOS paint—odorless and environmentally friendly.”
“Maybe just the heat, then. I’m sure I’m okay. In fact, I’m feeling better. We should leave.”
“We’re not leaving until I’m sure you’re all right.”
“But—”
“We’re not leaving. It’s fucking settled. I’m not letting the woman I love walk out of here without being cleared by a doctor, got it?”
The woman he loves. Did he really say that? He’s alluded to it, but he’s never come right out and used the words. “I thought you were going to break up with me.”
He takes my hand. “Why the hell would I do that?”
“Just a feeling. You looked at me funny all day, and then you said we needed to talk.”
His thumb runs circles around my knuckle in a soothing way. “None of that matters now.”
“Devyn Dunlop,” a nurse calls.
Aaron stands and helps me up. We walk to the double doors.
“I’m Devyn.”
She eyes Aaron. “And you are?”
“Boyfriend.”
“Wait out here, please.”
He looks upset.
“It’s okay,” I say. “I’m sure it’s nothing.”
The nurse escorts me back, takes my history, asks about medications, grills me about what I was doing when I fainted, and takes my blood pressure. Two other people come in. One hooks me up to a machine and does an EKG, and the other draws blood and asks for a urine sample.
I feel like I’ve been waiting for hours when an actual doctor shows up. He glances through my chart. “I’m Dr. Kallem, and you, Ms. Dunlop, are pregnant.”
My heart races. “Wh-what?”
He pulls over a rolling stool and sits next to the bed. “You’re pregnant. I’ve ordered a vaginal ultrasound to see how far along you are. The tech should be in shortly.”
“How is that possible?”
“You’re sexually active, correct?”
“Well, yes.”
“Then it’s possible. It says here you’re not taking any medications, so I assume you aren’t on birth control.”
“We used condoms every time.”
“It happens more than you think.”
“I… I can’t be.”
“Can I get you anything? A cup of water? Something to eat? It might take a while to sink in, but seeing the ultrasound will help. Is there anyone you’d like to call while you wait?”
I think of Aaron. He’d want to know, but I can’t even wrap my head around it. I’m sure there’s been some mistake. Dr. Kallem writes something in my chart, and I stiffen. “The people I work for are paying the bill. Will they see the results?”
“We’re bound by a law called HIPAA. The only way anyone can find out what’s in your records is if you tell them.”
I exhale, thankful for small favors.
“So, water?”
“No, thank you.”
He leaves, and I spend the next half hour bouncing between feeling sick and sobbing uncontrollably. This cannot be happening.