Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 61160 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61160 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
“Noted. Thank you.”
I ended the call and noticed that she hadn’t read my texts since this afternoon. She’d also failed to send me her usual screenshots from the What to Expect app.
Confused, I walked down to her office, but the lights were off and the staff had abandoned all the desks. I checked the coffee bar, the meeting rooms, and the slush-pile room in the basement.
As I was checking the media department, I spotted her slumped in a chair by the window.
Fuck. “Chloe, can you hear me?”
“I’m fine.” She muttered. “Just taking a nap.”
I tilted her head up with my fingertips. Her eyes were red-rimmed and puffy, and she looked like she was seconds away from passing out on the floor.
“Why didn’t you call me?”
“I have to turn in this assignment for Hazel by tonight. I can’t leave until it’s finished. I can’t believe she didn’t turn this in months ago. It’s like she’s determined to fuck up everything, you know?”
“I think the other CEO can handle that for you.” I glared at her. “You’re going home.”
“It’s just nausea, Tyler. I’m almost done anyway.”
“Can you, for once, stop being so fucking stubborn and let me help you?”
A smile slowly crossed her lips. “I can’t help it. I’m sorry.”
“Apology unaccepted.” I grabbed her hands and slowly pulled her up. I held her against my side and led her onto the lift. “Let’s pretend this office doesn’t exist for a few days.”
“Are you bringing the work home with us?”
“Shhh.” I kissed her forehead. “We’ll discuss that later.”
I Care For You
Chloe
Seattle, Washington
20 weeks pregnant
Hours after Tyler brought me home, I woke up in a feverish sweat. I attempted to call out for his help, but my throat was parched, and my head was throbbing.
I heard myself breathing loudly, but I couldn’t do anything to control it. I could barely see.
What the hell is happening?
Trying to stay calm, I took my time getting out of bed and pressed my hands against the wall to guide myself to the kitchen.
I struggled to turn on the lights, but nothing happened. Unable to take another step, I feared that I’d used all my energy, so I leaned against the breakfast bar.
“Chloe?” Tyler suddenly hit the lights. “What’s wrong?”
I shook my head.
My throat was too tight.
“Drink some water.” He tilted a bottle against my lips, but I couldn’t swallow.
He pressed a hand against my forehead. “Your skin is on fire.”
I shut my eyes for several seconds as he picked me up and gently laid me back on a leather chaise. The next thing I felt was a cold towel against my neck.
“Dr. Tevis, I need you to come to my condo right the fuck now,” Tyler said. “No, it’s not for me. It’s for Chloe.”
His phone fell to the floor with a thud, and he squeezed my hand.
“Can you say anything to me?” he asked. “Can you tell me what’s wrong?”
I tried to say something, but everything went black.
* * *
When I came to, Tyler was gently threading his fingers through my hair, kissing my cheek every few seconds.
“One of the babies is experiencing a few minor complications,” Dr. Tevis’s soft words made my heart ache. “I believe we’ll get it under control with a plan here soon, so don’t worry.”
“What type of complications?” Tyler asked.
“I’ll know for sure after I complete another round of tests,” she said. “In the meantime, what did Chloe eat for dinner today?”
“I’m not sure.” Tyler kissed my forehead. “We didn’t eat together tonight.”
“Is she staying up to date with her prescriptions and prenatal medicine?”
“As far as I know, yes.”
“What about rest?”
“There’s significant room for improvement…”
“Well, barring any odd results from the tests, I think she’ll be fine with bedrest,” she said. “Extreme exhaustion is typical at this stage of pregnancy—especially with twins—but it’s good you called when you did.”
Dr. Tevis walked toward me and pressed something cool against my stomach. Then she touched my neck.
“As soon as she’s feeling better, she needs to tell me if there are any health issues in her family’s history she may have overlooked, as I think that may be the root cause of this. You also need to make sure she does all those things on that list I gave you.”
What list? I attempted to lift my head, but I was still too weak.
“Lots of liquids, no more caffeine whatsoever, and a mandatory four-week bedrest to start,” she said. “I’ll come by every two days to run additional tests and check on her since you’ve asked me to be on call twenty-four seven so nicely.”
“I didn’t ‘ask’ you anything.” Tyler’s voice was terse.
“It was sarcasm, Tyler. I’ll see you and Chloe in a few hours.”
She left the suite, and Tyler sighed, whispering, “Did you hear any of that?”
“Yes,” I managed, and he slid his hands under my legs and positioned me in his lap.