When I don’t respond, he says my name again.
“I have ibuprofen,” I answer.
“That’ll do for now.I’ll be there in twenty minutes.Get her off the floor and as comfortable as possible.Either hot water bottles on her stomach and back or a warm bath if she’s up for it.She could start at any time, so put a towel under her, and I swear to god if you shame her for this I will make sure you never see her again,” he says.
He’s serious.
Karey opens her eyes and implores me to understand.Her lower lip trembles as she slips them closed again.
I gently pinch her chin and wait for her to lift her lashes again.
“I could never,” I vow.
Tears glimmer in her glazed honeyed orbs.I kiss her brow and demand Matthew stay with her while I retrieve the ibuprofen.He agrees and blabbers on about nothing, just to let her know she isn’t alone.
When I return he’s complaining about slow walkers in convenience stores, and I realize he’s buying whatever supplies she needs to get through this.
Guilt wraps barbed wire around my heart.I shouldn’t have tampered with her birth control.I don’t know if that has any effect on what she’s experiencing now, but she’s so miserable I need someone to blame, and I could never point the finger at her, so I take it out on myself.
As I prop her shoulders up on my lap, rest her head on my stomach, and coax her into taking the medicine, I give Matthew the code to my apartment and end the call.
“Bath or bed?”I ask her.
“Bed,” she whispers.
I lift her off the floor as though she’s made of glass and carry her to the master bed.After taking off her shoes and wrapping her in the comforter, I turn to go make hot water bottles, but she grabs my wrist.
“Don’t go,” she begs.
“I won’t,” I vow without hesitation.
I simultaneously toe my shoes off and strip down to my underwear and suit pants before climbing in behind her.She pulls my arm around her, urging me closer, so I plaster my front to her back and prop her head on my bicep.
I should have changed her out of her work clothes, but her body remains locked in a battle I can’t fight for her, and pulling her this way and that would be too torturous.
She presses my hand to her abdomen but flinches, so I try to pull away, but she curls around me and traps my palm to her stomach.
“What do you need, Karey?”I ask.
“You,” she says through gritted teeth.
For long, horrible moments, I lie helplessly beside her as she trembles in pain.When she begins slowly relaxing, I regulate my breathing and give a lopsided half-grin when she matches my breaths.
Matthew and Fabio barge in just as Karey slips into a doze, but I forgive them for interrupting her rest when I see their arms overflowing with bags from the store.They lower their voices and take over my apartment.After an initial wave of indignation, I forgive them for that too when Matthew works around us instead of pushing me away.He removes a new heating pad from the packaging, plugs it in, and offers it to me.
“I can’t take it,” I murmur.
“Is it okay if I lift the blankets and put it where she likes it best?”he asks.
After a moment of consideration, I give him permission with a nod.
I’ll never deny my cupcake her support system, especially not when she’s in so much pain.
He lifts the covers and smiles.
“Looks like she found a living, breathing heating pad.Good job, Declan.I approve, although we should still get this on her for a little while.It really does help,” he says.
“Whatever she needs,” I declare.