Pros & Cons (23 page)

Jenna clutches my hand.

“What about Mom?”

The room falls completely silent.

“She’s not good, Ethan,” he replies softly. “She’s not good at all.”

Dad walks in with a fast food bag and immediately places it in front of me.

I smirk. “Really, Dr. Summers? McDonald’s for breakfast?”

“It’s not for me. Eat.”

The scent of pancakes and sausage makes my stomach growl, which is something it hasn’t done since we arrived in Nashville three days ago. Food has been the very last thing on my mind. I’ve been too consumed with guilt, because for the first time, my job has put my family in danger.

Dad’s injuries had been minor, but Mom suffered some broken bones and was still unconscious when we finally made it to the hospital. I spent the first night at my mom’s bedside, apologizing repeatedly for putting her life at risk. It was the next morning, when Dad excused himself to go get a cup of coffee, that Mom finally opened her eyes.

She’d been so happy to see me.

After a thorough exam by the doctor, Mom had fallen back to sleep, but I still refused to leave her. When she awoke the next morning, she looked so relieved to find me still sitting there, and we spent the entire day talking. Well,
I
talked. She listened. I told her everything. I told her all about Coop and Abby, and I told her about Stavros. I even told her about my house in Tennessee.

Most importantly, I told her about Jenna. I talked about Jenna for hours. My mother—who’d been disappointed in me for so long—smiled softly the entire time I spilled my guts.

“You love her.”

“I do.”

“Have you told her?”

I shook my head.

“You should tell her,” she’d said. “A girl likes to hear that.”

Jason hired a security team as soon as Mom was moved out of ICU and into a private room. To make everyone’s jobs a little easier, I’m staying put at the hospital. Jenna, who’d been sick during the flight, was staying at a nearby hotel, with Sebastian guarding her at all times. Jason and Cara are there, too. I know Jenna hates the constant attention, but her safety is becoming like a religion with me, especially now that Stavros is threatening my family. Jenna had been in contact with her dad, so we know all is safe there. For now.

Just as I finish my breakfast, a nurse comes in to check Mom’s vitals. She’s still asleep, which the nurse says is a good thing because she needs her rest. Dad hangs back, even though I know it’s killing him to keep his distance and let the woman do her job. He’s exhausted, but the relief is evident on his face when the nurse lets him take a look at Mom’s chart.

Guilt twists in my stomach.

“Ethan?”

I blink and look up at my father.

“You okay?”

I nod, but I know he’s not convinced. With a heavy sigh, he thanks the nurse. Dad waits until she’s gone before sitting down next to me.

“This isn’t your fault, son.”

“It is. Stavros couldn’t find me. What better way to lure me out of hiding than to hurt my family?”

“Why is he after you?”

“Because he wants me. Us. He wants us to work for him.”

“You and Jenna?”

I nod.

Dad tiredly rubs his face. “And you wonder why your mother and I worry about you so much. Do you see how dangerous this is? People are getting killed, Ethan. When we heard the news about Coop, your mother cried herself to sleep for a week. You say you’re in love with Jenna—”

“I
am
in love with her.”

“If that’s true, do you really want her in danger every single day for the rest of your lives?”

“You know I don’t. I know we can’t live like this forever.”

His face brightens. “Well, that’s the most intelligent thing I’ve heard you say in years.”

“But Stavros has to pay for what he’s done.”

“Agreed. But not at the hands of my son. Let the police handle this.”

The police can’t handle Stavros without handling me and Jenna, too.

“Your mother and I would like to meet this girl,” Dad says.

“Yes, we would.” My mom’s soft voice echoes from across the room. One look at her and I feel the knot in my stomach release. She looks rested. Happy. Almost back to her normal self.

I smile at her. “I’ll see what I can do.”

Three days.

So much can happen in three days.

Three days ago, we’d arrived in Nashville. Ethan has spent every moment with his mom, which is exactly where he should be. I’ve stayed at the hotel, mostly because it’s not safe for anyone if I’m running back and forth to the hospital.

But that’s not the only reason.

The first wave of nausea had hit me upon takeoff. Gabe had taken it as a personal insult, considering I’d never gotten airsick before. I blamed it on a stomach bug, but then I looked at a calendar. With Sebastian watching my every move, I had no choice but to confide in Cara and ask her to make a late-night trip to the nearest pharmacy.

The pregnancy test confirmed my suspicions.

I begged Cara to keep her mouth shut, but Jason found the discarded test box in the hotel bathroom and promptly panicked. The look of absolute horror on his face answered any lingering questions I had about their relationship. I had to admit it was actually me with a baby on the way, and then I made them both promise to keep quiet until I could figure out how and when to tell Ethan.

As if we don’t have enough worries.

I brush my teeth for the thousandth time today and creep out of the bathroom. Sebastian’s sitting on the sofa, hovering over his laptop. His head snaps up when I enter the room. This morning he was ready to take me to the doctor since ‘nobody should have a stomach bug for this long.’ So, I’ve faked a headache all day to go along with my very real nausea, because the last thing I need right now is a doctor’s visit.

I climb back into bed. I’ve been there practically all day, anyway.

“What are you working on?”

Sebastian shrugs. “Just doing some research.”

“On what?”

“Headaches and nausea. This much vomit cannot be normal.”

“Migraines can cause nausea.”

“Hmm.”

I roll my eyes and try to get comfortable. It’s impossible.

“This bed sucks,” I mutter, pounding the pillow with my fist.

Sebastian grins at me. “Excuse me for saying so, Miss York, but you’ve been in an unusually grouchy mood the past few days. Is something wrong?”

“I’m always cranky around you.”

“Not like this.”

This man is scary observant.

“Nothing’s wrong.” I close my eyes, hoping I can fake a nap.

“I’m not sure I believe that.”

I sigh heavily.

“Well, let’s see. My best friend is dead, our families are in danger, Ethan’s parents hate me,
you
won’t leave me alone, and I’m . . .”

Frustrated, I punch the pillow again.

“You’re what?”

“Tired! I’m tired, Sebastian. So I’m going to take a very long nap. Is that okay with you?”

“Yes, ma’am. Sweet dreams.”

He’s not fooling me with this
yes ma’am
crap. I’ve got to get it together before Sebastian tells Ethan or Gabe that I’m sick all the time. They have enough worries.

I turn my back to him and snuggle under the blanket. Finally comfortable, I’m just about to doze off when I hear Jason walk into the room.

“How’s she feeling?” Jason asks with a whisper.

“All she does is throw up. I don’t think I can stand nine months of this.”

My eyes snap open.
Nine months?

“Do you think Mr. Summers knows?” Sebastian asks.

Jason chuckles softly. “Knows what?”

Relieved that he’s keeping his mouth shut for now, I close my eyes and let myself drift off to sleep.

“I think this is a very bad idea,” I mumble as Sebastian and Jason lead me through the back entrance of the hospital. I’m wearing a hoodie and dark sunglasses. Sebastian’s idea. You know, because that doesn’t look suspicious
at all
.

“Ethan’s parents want to meet you, Jenna,” Jason says, leading me toward a service elevator. “This is a good thing. Besides, it’d happen eventually, right?”

Don’t remind me.

I’m not afraid to meet the parents. It’s just that Ethan’s mom and dad already have a preconceived notion of me. I’m a thief. A con artist. Probably the very last woman they’d ever pick for their son.

If his parents hate me now, imagine how they’ll feel when they realize I’m carrying their grandchild.

“It will be fine, Miss York,” Sebastian says.

I’m still not convinced, even when the elevator door opens and I see Ethan waiting for me. As soon as he sees me, his face immediately relaxes into a smile.

“Hey, you,” he says, pulling me close. “I missed you.”

I cling to him, partly out of fear but mostly out of relief.

“I missed you, too.”

Ethan pulls away and takes a long look at me. “How are you feeling?”

“A little better. I don’t know. It comes and goes.”

I don’t have the nerve to tell him it’ll probably be coming and going for the next couple months. I can only handle one monumental event at a time, and meeting his parents is enough for now.

“Don’t be nervous,” he says, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

“I am so nervous, Ethan.”

“Baby, don’t be.”

Baby.

Tears trickle down my face.
I am in hormone hell.

“Hey,” he murmurs, placing his hands along each side of my face. “What is this? What’s got you so upset?”

I shake my head. “It’s nothing. I’m fine.”

Ethan glances at both Sebastian and Jason. Both guys become very interested in their shoes.

“Listen to me,” he says softly, “They want to meet you. They’re excited, actually.”

“Why?”

“Because they know you’re important to me.”

I sniffle. “They know?”

“They know enough. So please don’t worry. Let’s just do this, and then we’ll say our goodbyes. Mom will probably be discharged tomorrow, so there’s no reason for us to stick around and put them in any more danger.” Ethan leans down, kissing me softly. “Jenna, I love my parents and I want them safe, but their opinion about us doesn’t matter to me. You’re stuck with me, no matter what.”