Hourglass Squared (4 page)

CHAPTER FIVE

Brooke

E
ACH MORNING SEEMED
to be in competition with the last. I was now best friends with the toilet and had even named it China. Seemed fitting after being so close and reading
Made in China
so many times the last few days. I knew morning sickness was just a part of pregnancy, and when I puked once, I'd dealt with it, but I'd reached the point of non-stop puking these last few weeks.

I could hear Josh's feet shuffle across the plush carpet as he walked to the doorway connecting the bedroom to the bathroom. "You okay, sweetheart?" his sleep-filled voice asked as he reached for the pack of saltines on the granite countertop, one of many scattered through our house.

I took the one he offered and slid it into my mouth. I crunched it into tiny crumbs so it could hopefully soothe my stomach quickly.

Slipping back against the tub, I wiped my brow that had gotten clammy from perspiration. "On the bright side, I should have killer abdominal muscles," I reasoned, trying to force a smile.

Josh's smooth warm hand wrapped around mine, giving me a gentle tug. Compassionately, Josh grabbed the washcloth and ran it under water. After wringing it out, he took it and began patting my face gently. The coolness of the cloth against my flushed skin was so nice I closed my eyes, letting the refreshing feeling wash over me.

The alarm on my phone pierced my ears with its siren sound; I couldn't return to my soft cozy bed and be on time for work. A huff escaped my lips as I turned the shower on. The steam quickly billowed out as the water heated to a scalding temperature. Tugging my silk nightgown over my head, the delicate fabric skimmed my skin.

Josh's hands wrapped around my hips, pulling me into his firm body, the heat from his warming my own. His hot breath gently caressed my neck as he placed a few kisses, nipping and tasting as he moved to my earlobe.

"You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen," his husky voice crooned in my ear, making my body cover in goose bumps. He turned me within his arms, letting his fingertips trace lines over the dips of my body. Gently taking my chin in his grasp, he tilted my face up to him, obviously knowing the self-doubt running rampant in my head.

I shook my head no as I met his green eyes with my own. "I'm not. I'm just hoping you think that when it looks like I swallowed a watermelon whole," I joked, despite the underlying seriousness in my statement. Regardless of my overwhelming excitement about having a baby, I couldn't help but recall the bikini models in the magazine we'd just sent to press.

"Hey, don't doubt me." Josh pulled his cotton shirt and basketball shorts off and tossed them to the pile of clothes I had created in the corner. He gave my exhausted body a gentle nudge forward, and we both stepped under the spray of the water, feeling it massage my back as the little pellets of water pounded into my skin and bounced back off before falling to the drain. I ducked my head under the spray, letting it saturate my hair until it was dripping down my face, feeling overheated fast.

Reaching back, I felt around blindly until my head found the cool slick metal of the faucet turning the knob to a cooler temperature.

"What the!" Josh shrieked. "Who are you and what have you done with my wife?" Jumping backward Josh extracted himself from the water that was streaming from the shower head.

"What?" I asked confused. The temperature was perfect against my heated skin, and I felt like I could finally breathe again.

"The water, it's freezing. Usually you are giving me third-degree burns. Now I am facing hypothermia." Josh stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around his hips, looking at me like I had lost my marbles.

Shaking my head, I slid back under the cool water and finished my shower.

Downstairs, I went in search of my travel mug so that I could brew myself a chai tea before leaving for work. Eager for my morning tea, I opened the white-washed cupboard door and turned up nothing except our regular coffee cups and glasses. I checked the dishwasher next, only spotting Josh's Worthington Squared thermos. Desperate to get moving and to work, I pulled it out and placed it under the spout on the Keurig. I reached over to the carousel that held the pods and noticed sporadic random holes where my teas had once been, the only choice remaining was Josh's coffee.

"Josh," I called over my shoulder at my husband's appearing shadow.

"Yeah, babe," he replied as he straightened his green-striped silk tie, tightening it up against the collar of his crisp white shirt.

"You wouldn't happen to know where
all
my tea went? I just bought a box at the grocery store the other day." I spun the carousel again, hoping a tea would magically appear in one of the open spaces.

"Oh, um, well, you see," Josh stammered, walking up beside me, terror in his eyes. "Your tea is right here," he opened the cupboard above my head and pulled down an imposter tea, packaged in a bright green box.

"You have got to be kidding me," I said in shock as I looked at the box of decaffeinated herbal green tea in disgust. As I passed the table, I snatched up my purse and stomped out the door. I angrily slammed it behind me with a thud. Cranking the engine of my jeep, I gripped the leather wrapped steering wheel until my knuckles turned white.
Who does he think he is?
I muttered to myself as I headed into work.

I yanked my keycard out of my purse, swiping it in front of the gate to grant access. With a beep, the guard lifted, allowing me to pull in and begin circling up to my usual parking space. Once I had shut off the ignition, I flipped down my visor mirror, the bright halogen lights making me blink from the harshness. Ugh, I hadn't even put on makeup before rushing out.

After climbing out, I slammed the door shut, still cursing my overprotective, meddling husband. At this rate, I'd be strapped to the bed, being spoon-fed by next week.

Savannah joined me at the elevator, her own coffee mug in her hand, steam billowing from the spout.

I pulled a deep breath in through my nose and let it slowly back out with a sigh of envy.

Savannah looked over to me, a mocking smile on her face.

Walking into the lobby, I headed straight for the café, marching up to the barista at the counter as the clicking of my heels echoed through the nearly empty building. "I want the biggest size you have of a caffeinated chai tea."

Savannah's carefree giggle rang in my ears from behind me. A large insulated cup was passed to me, the heat searing through even the cardboard insulator and warming my hand.

"So I take it you got taken off caffeine at home?" Savannah teased as the elevator ascended to Hourglass.

I took a long draw on my tea, letting the warm spicy liquid caress my taste buds and slide down my throat. "Josh has decided I should be drinking green tea. Decaffeinated green tea," I growled out, taking another gulp of my drink as Savannah doubled over from her laughter.

"Keep it up. We are off to interview pregnant celebrities today," I snidely replied, sticking my tongue out at her.

Savannah's shoulder slumped as her whole demeanor changed from upbeat and spunky, to gloomy and forlorn. "Thanks for reminding me." She sighed as the roles reversed, and I doubled over in laughter.

The day was spent with glowing celebrities either at the end of their second trimester or the start of their third. I felt like a sponge, trying to absorb any piece of information or knowledge I could from them. I had even gained the names of the top Lamaze coach, a baby yoga instructor, and a fitness instructor who would, and I quote,
get my ass back into shape
.

My final interview was up, and I escorted Jessica Alba over to Savannah's studio area for photography. "Jessica, go ahead and have a seat here. Makeup and hair will be right over." Waving my hand in the air, I flagged over one of the techs.

"Brooke, it was so nice to meet you," Jessica said as the tech touched up her hair and makeup.

A smile crept on my face. This seemed too fortuitous that I would get to interview all these women and help design a pregnancy piece in the magazine after just finding out I was expecting, myself.

"Ugh," Savannah's exasperated voice came from behind me, making me jump out of fright.

"Sav, meet…"

"Thank God, this is the last pregnant woman I have to see. I refuse to even drink the water here. Brought my own
bottled
water today. Just. In. Case," she went on, interrupting my introduction.

"Savannah, meet Jessica Alba. She is going to be on the cover of the magazine for this edition."

Savannah loudly gulped the water she was sipping as her eyes moved up to the make-up chair. "Mrs. Alba, what a pleasure to meet you. You are just… glowing." She recovered, smiling broadly at the star.

Jessica pushed off the chair to stand. She was the furthest along, and her belly was the most swollen.

"Holy hell, are you going to go into labor," Savannah sputtered out, her filter officially shut off. Jabbing my elbow into her rib, I attempted to give her a reality check. Savannah coughed loudly realizing her faux pas.

Jessica let out a carefree laugh as she massaged her belly, not seeming offended at all, thank God.

"I take it you are not pregnant as well, nor trying?" Her question made a sweat break out on Savannah.

She began shaking her head no before even speaking. "No way, I just got married. I'm not ready for all that." Savannah held her hand out and made a circle over Jessica's belly. "So, let's, um, get your photos wrapped up so you can get going. Right this way." Savannah ushered Jessica to the backdrop and had her pose in a few different positions to capture some different options. Once done, she waved Jessica off and then walked back over to me, sipping from her water bottle.

"I feel like I should have been in a hazmat suit." Her voice filled with disgust.

"You're a nut." I laughed, snatching her up and pulling her in for a hug.

Savannah's body began shaking within my hold as her blond hair tickled my face. "Great, just infect me more, Brooke." She pulled away, continuing to laugh.

"Hey, it has its advantages," I defended.

"Oh yeah?" Savannah looked at me like I'd grown a third eye and officially lost my mind.

"Well, yeah. I mean, I should be on that time of the month, surviving on French fries and chocolate." Suddenly, one of the downsides decided to bubble up. I could tell by how clammy my skin was getting and how much my stomach was clenching that this wasn't going to be good.

Throwing my hand over my mouth just in case I didn't make it, I took off toward the nearest bathroom as Savannah yelled from behind me. "You're right. That just looks like heaven!"

CHAPTER SIX

Savannah

W
ATCHING AS
B
ROOKE
rushed off I, replayed her words,
surviving on French fries and chocolate.
It was time for Brooke's period, which meant I should have been craving my usual peanut butter cup ice cream.

I high-tailed it into my office and shook my mouse to bring my giant computer screen to life, then clicked on the calendar icon. It was June twenty third, and I was four days late.
Shit.

My body fell back into my chair, and I placed my head between my knees, doing my best to calm my breathing, only to be interrupted by my assistant. "Mrs. Worthington, we need to review your schedule for tomorrow."

Forcing my head from between my legs, I shot up off my chair and swiped my purse from the side drawer of my desk I held up my hand to stop my assistant from saying another word. "Cancel everything on my calendar tomorrow. I may not be available."

Her expression filled with confusion. "Is everything alright?"

Shaking my head no, I ran past her and toward my car, calling Jake in the process.

"Hey, babe, what's up?" Jake answered.

I tried to speak with a confident tone. "Hey, I was just calling to check in on you. Are you working from home today?" I could hear other people in the background, and my rigid frame relaxed.

"No, I'm at the mountainside store today, so I'll be home late."

Smiling on the inside, I thanked my lucky stars, "Okay, I'll see you when you get home. Love you." I hung up on him and slammed my foot on the gas pedal, pushing my way through town before coming to a halt in a parking space right outside Walgreens
.
Turning off the engine, I leaned back in my seat and closed my eyes. "Please, God, don't do this to me, not now."