“You’re not alone. You have Harper.”
“Harper knows nothing about babies. He’s never even held a newborn before. He’s an orthodontist. You should have seen his face when the doctor pointed out baby two on the screen. He went green. Wobbled around like a Weeble. How can he help? He can’t help. He’s useless.” Becca’s voice edged toward panic. “You need to come here now.”
“Hold on.” Cole gazed up at the ceiling, which was going in and out of focus. She must have a fever. Not a good idea to visit a pregnant lady when she had a fever.
“You’re abandoning me!”
“No. No. It’s just that I’m an hour or maybe two hours away and—”
“And you’ve got a hangover.” Becca’s voice was full of accusation. “Do you know how much I could use a margarita right now? Icy cold, lots of lime and salt. But, nooo. I’m pregnant. And there’s two of them!”
Her sister’s wail actually shocked Cole. Baby hormones. Wow.
“Becca, what do I do for nausea?”
“Acupuncture.” Cole turned her head at the sound of Scott’s voice to find him in the doorway of her bedroom.
He came in and reached for her wrist.
“That was Scott’s voice, wasn’t it?” Becca’s tone sharpened. “You’re in bed with your ex while your sister is in crisis and you won’t even come and help. I’ll never forgive you for this. Never!”
Cole flinched even though there was no sound as Becca disconnected.
“What was that about?” Scott had taken a seat on the bed and was pressing his thumb into a point on her wrist directly below her middle and forefinger.
Cole breathed in through her mouth. “Becca’s having twins.”
“Whoa. That’s good news, right?”
Cole would have shook her head but she was certain her stomach was about to catapult itself out of her body. “She thinks I’m sleeping with you and won’t come to her aid.”
“That could be arranged—again.” Scott slanted a glance down at her that singed her eyelashes.
Cole knew she must be pretty sick because, in spite of how her body reacted to that smolder of an invitation, she wasn’t interested at all, at the moment. “Maybe later.”
“I heard you up during the night. But I didn’t know you were sick. You look pretty rough.”
“Just what a girl wants to hear.” She looked down as he released her wrist. “What did you just do?”
“Pressure point therapy. Thirty seconds of pressure. Feel better?”
“Maybe. I can’t tell.”
He rose off the bed and went into her bathroom. He came right back carrying a wet washcloth and a bottle of mouthwash.
“You’re cute, even when you’re sick. But you’re rank, babe.” He wiped her face before folding the cloth and applying it to her forehead. “I’ll just get a pot in case you need to throw up.”
Cole’s phone chimed. It was Becca.
“Oh, sis, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it. I love you.”
“Becca, don’t cry. Please. I know you’re upset and I don’t blame you. I will come. I just need to stop hurling first. Okay?”
“You’re really sick? Of course you are. You need to lie still. Get that bad boy to open a window.” Cole punched speaker as Scott returned. “… fresh air. And ice chips with just a sprinkle of salt, to get fluids back in you. No sports drinks. Crackers. If they stay down then a banana or applesauce—”
Scott snatched the phone from Cole. “Hi, Becca. Scott here. I got it under control. And by the way, congratulations on being preggers.”
“You hurt my sister in any way and I’m coming after you with a dull scalpel.”
“Geez, Becca. You’re about to be a mother. You shouldn’t be thinking ugly thoughts like that. Could upset the baby.”
“Oh. Do you think so?” Becca sounded very concerned.
“I’ll take care of your sister. You take care of your growing family. The rest of it is none of your business. How about that? Cole will call you back when she can think. Bye.” He disconnected.
Scott handed Cole her phone. “You don’t need that kind of upset, whatever that was about.”
“Thing One and Thing Two.”
He nodded. “That explains it then. Twins. Double the hormones. I don’t envy Harper.”
Cole tried to think through what Scott might mean by that statement but the flamenco dancer in her head had gotten a second wind and moved into overdrive. “Ice chips?”
Scott nodded. “Coming up.” He looked down at her a moment longer. “When you’re feeling better we need to talk.”
She waited until he left the room and then sprang from the bed and ran into the bathroom and slammed the door.
*