Avenger(33)

I placed my arm around her and helped guide her down the steps. She was getting weaker, that much was obvious, and I’d been right before about her losing weight. There was a gaunt hollowness to her cheekbones. It was like the baby was sucking the life right out of her. I didn’t know how we were going to make it through this. The baby wasn’t due until April. We had a good five more months of this and if she was like this now…I hated to think of what she’d be like by the end of the pregnancy.

“I don’t feel good,” she admitted reluctantly, looking at me with defeated brown eyes. I knew it was killing her to admit that to me.

“We have visitors,” I whispered in her ear.

“Who?” She questioned.

“Your soccer buddies.”

Her whole face instantly brightened at that news. Geez, if these guys made her that happy I’d move them in. She spent too much time sulking these days.

“Yeah. Why don’t I get you into the family room and bring you some food?” I suggested.

She nodded. “Sounds good, but—uh—I’m in my pajamas.”

“That won’t do,” I eyed her practically see through white t-shirt. I didn’t want to let her go, because she looked like she was about to fall over, so I held onto her awkwardly as I shrugged out of my green sweatshirt. I wrapped it around her and helped her get her arms through. I promptly zipped it all the way up. I didn’t want any of those guys staring at her.

“Happy now?” She began to laugh but it quickly turned into a cough. Seeing her like this…it felt like I was being stabbed over and over again.

I guided her to the couch and the guys instantly swarmed around her, asking her a million and one questions.

I looked through the pantry for a can of soup. She didn’t look like she’d be able to get anything else down. When I found one that didn’t sound entirely repulsive, I poured it into a pot to let it heat.

I braced my hands on the counter and my shoulders were tense.

I needed to focus on Travis. I needed to watch the life leave his eyes before our baby came into this world. But Sophie—she was my top priority and until she was well, Travis would have to wait. In life, sacrifices have to be made, and this was one of them.





Eleven.

Sophie

“I am never having another baby,” I seethed, glaring up at Caeden as I slouched over the toilet bowl. “If you ever try to impregnate me again I will cut you.”

He didn’t laugh at my warning like most guys would have. Instead, his frown deepened further. “I thought the nausea was supposed to go away.”

“Maybe if you’re a human—” I started to gag and Caeden reached down to pull my hair away from my face. When I had finished retching I began to sob. “I hate this so much. I never thought being pregnant would be like this, Caeden.”

He sat down on the bathroom floor and pulled me into his arms. I tried to pull away with protests of my stinky breath, but he wasn’t having any of it.

“Stinky or smelling like rainbows, I don’t care,” he kissed the top of my head.

“Was that supposed to sound romantic? Because it wasn’t. Your skills are seriously lacking,” I joked.

He chuckled. “Yeah, when you get married you forget how to be charming.”

“At least you’re mine,” I sighed. “I’ll keep you anyway, even if you’re not charming.”

“You love me despite the fact that I’m defective?” He laughed. “Good to know.”

We sat on the floor for a few more minutes before he finally coaxed me to stand up. Since I was so weak, he held onto my waist while I brushed my teeth.

“Thank you,” I told him as the last of the frothy white goo disappeared down the drain.

He helped me back in the bed and tucked the covers around me. Neither of us had said much about the fact that I was getting weaker every day, but we both knew it. I could see the fear in Caeden’s eyes every time he looked at me, and it bothered me that I was the cause.

“I’m going to see Bryce and Bentley,” he told me, bending to press a gentle kiss to the top of my head. “Nolan’s here so if you need anything, holler for him.”

“Okay,” I said, even though I hated being left here with Nolan. But Caeden had been leaving more and more. It was obvious he was working out. He was more bulked up now than I’d ever seen him. His shirts had gotten too tight and strained against his muscular chest.

I reached out to touch him, needing to feel him. My hand landed weakly against his chest and he frowned at how prominent my veins had become.

“Everything will be okay,” I whispered.

His eyes met mine with disbelief.