Her hectic workload had also made it easier to manage her eating. Several days, she worked straight through lunch without eating. Her stomach continued to round slightly, but the scales remained stable.
Nick had caught her in a lie the previous evening. Since she was no longer eating in the evening, she hadn’t bothered to check the usual staples in the refrigerator. Nick had come home earlier than usual and had asked if she wanted to go out to dinner. She told him that she had already eaten. When he asked what she’d eaten, she said a ham sandwich because she always kept that for a quick meal. She could still remember his next words, “Hmmm, really? We’ve been out of sandwich makings here for a week.”
She had tried to play it off. “Oh, I know. I have been meaning to get by the store. I just picked a sandwich up on the way home since we didn’t have anything here.” She could tell by the look in his eyes that he didn’t believe her. She had changed the subject, asking when Suzy and Gray were due back and he had let it go. She had noticed his eyes on her a few more times during the evening. She was ashamed to admit it, but that one night she had used sex to distract him.
Chapter Twenty-three
“Oh, God, can’t I even be back at work for a day without being called to a covert meeting?” Suzy complained.
Nick hugged his new sister-in-law, not put off in the least by her abrupt manner. He knew that Suzy was a ton of bark and, luckily, only bit when she had to. “Oh, come on, you love it. It must have been rough being out of the loop for the last couple weeks.” When an unusual blush colored Suzy’s face, he rolled his eyes. “I know how much you like to share, but please spare me whatever you are thinking because the man is my brother.”
“Tsk, tsk, jealousy is so last year, Nicky. Now that you dragged me out of my house early this morning, get to the point. I have a ton of crap lined up at work, so our tea party will have to be fast.”
“It’s Beth.”
“Well, duh. I assumed it was since you didn’t want to invite her and tell her that we were meeting. So, what gives? Did she throw you out? Just suck it up and say you’re sorry.”
“That’s not it. She . . . I don’t think she’s eating, Suzy.”
Giving him an impatient look she said, “Come again?”
“I think she’s skipping meals and lying about it.”
“Why would she do that and how do you know?”
Nick shifted in his seat, wondering where to begin. “I think it all started with the dinner with your parents a few weeks ago, when your mother and father were going on and on about her weight. She acted as if it didn’t bother her, but I think it hit a panic button somewhere inside her. At first she told me she was eating earlier to avoid getting sick in the mornings, which sounded reasonable. Then I noticed that anytime we were together for a meal or snack, she would pick at it, but never really eat more than a few bites. I still just put that down to her not feeling well.
“Suzy, she just doesn’t look healthy now. Last night she told me that she had a sandwich for dinner and then when I mentioned that we were out of sandwich makings, she looked really funny and said she had gotten the sandwich on her way home. When I was going to push it further, she ripped my clothes off to change the subject.”
“Oh, shit, must you go there every time? Can’t I be around you two without having to talk about your sex life?”
“Yeah, sorry about that. I was trying to make a point.”
“Well, how about making it with less detail next time? I have already been scarred for life by the crap I know about you and my sister.” Suzy rubbed her temples as if a headache was brewing.
Nick hated to pounce on her on her first day back to work, but he needed backup. “Will you just talk to her today and see what you think? I hope I’m wrong, but I have a bad feeling about it.”
“I’ll see if I can feel her out without her knowing that you said anything to me. She might kick you out for real then, buddy. So, how are things between you since the whole baby-on-board thing?” she asked.
Nick smiled, completely at ease. “We are good. I’m happy about the babies, and I think Beth is starting to get excited, too. She actually bought a few baby books, so that’s a start.”
“Okay, good. We can stop right there before you move on to intimate details that will have my coffee screaming back up my throat.” Then, squeezing his arm, she added, “Thanks, though, for telling me. I’m glad you’re watching out for Beth. As you know, we only have each other, and with her being pregnant, I could use the help.”
Nick drove off feeling guilty for talking to Suzy behind Beth’s back, but he was also relieved. If Beth was in trouble, Suzy would sniff it out and take care of it. He was damned glad to have Gray and Suzy back.
* * *