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Nerea turned her face into Callum’s shoulder and ordered herself to breathe. Bursting into tears would not help the situation. Hyperventilating would only make it worse. Callum wrapped his other arm around her too and buried his face in her hair. She clung to him, grateful for his strong arms and his steady presence.
Jamie burst in a few minutes later. He stopped short when he saw Nerea and Callum sitting on the bed together.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
Nerea sat up straight, smoothing back loose wisps of hair off her face. She was grateful when Callum left an arm wrapped tightly around her shoulders.
“Come sit down, Jamie,” she said and patted the bed on the other side of her.
Jamie’s face went pale under his freckles. “Is everything okay?” he asked, but didn’t sit. “Oh God, did I offend somebody? Is it your parents? I’m so sorry, I can apologize — ”
“That’s not the problem,” Callum said maybe more sharply than was necessary, but Nerea supposed he was having a shock.
“You haven’t caused any new and shiny drama. Come sit.” Nerea patted the bed next to her again.
Jamie finally sat, warily, tucking one knee up under himself so he could face them.
Nerea felt Callum kiss the side of her head. Your show. She took a deep breath.
“You know how I am too old for you but not totally ancient?” She was not sure her attempt at humor would keep the tears at bay.
Jamie’s face said he had no idea where this was going. “Yeah?”
“I’ve been wanting to throw up for days and now I actually am,” Nerea said. Saying it out loud didn’t make it seem any more real. This was too unlikely, too absurd. “No one else in the house is sick. So I am going to draw you a map and you are going to drive to the one pharmacy open today in the next town over and buy me a pregnancy test. And you are not going to get into a car crash along the way despite the fact I just said that. Also, we like our cars so please don’t damage them.”
Jamie blinked. Rapidly. “Okay.”
“Okay?” Nerea asked. She hadn’t known what Jamie’s response would be, but she had hoped for something she could interpret.
“Yeah. Okay.” Jamie blinked again. He was as white as a sheet. “Can I ask questions when I get back?”
“You can ask questions now,” Nerea said after a glance at Callum. They’d been so lucky to find each other and become so serious together about their relationships. But this was not the kind of luck any of them had been hoping for.
“No. I’m good,” Jamie said. His breathing was too quick. “I’m going to — yeah. Map?” He said, standing up again. He swayed a little. Then, “Does this mean I can take your convertible?”
“No.” Nerea said firmly. “You can take Callum’s car.”
“Are you okay to drive?” Callum asked.
“I was carrying the wine, not drinking it,” Jamie blurted.
“You’re reacting like a person in shock,” Nerea said.
“Medical shock,” Callum clarified.
Nerea could see why clarification was necessary. Metaphorical shock was a given.
“I’m trying not to have a reaction about something hypothetical,” Jamie said. He sat down again and took a deep breath. “But I do need a map. I hope you can draw well.”
“Jamie,” Nerea said, “I’m a painter.”