Chapter 73: Pregnant?
Leah looked over. It was one of Asher Keating’s shirts. She hadn’t been able to sleep last night, so she’d gotten up and worn it as a nightgown before finally drifting off. Feeling unwell from her cold, she’d then overslept and rushed to work without any time to tidy up.
"I couldn’t sleep well last night... I was sick and wasn’t feeling well, so I wore it as a nightgown..."
Leah’s voice was quiet. ’Using a five-figure shirt as a nightgown... I’ve really outdone myself.’
Leah didn’t spell it out, but Asher understood. He leaned in close to her, a pleasant look on his face. "Miss me?"
"...Mhm."
Asher pulled her in for a kiss, but Leah pushed against him. "I have a cold. I don’t want you to catch it."
"I already slept holding you. If I was going to catch it, I’d have caught it by now."
Asher paid her no mind, kissing her until he’d had his fill. ’If reason wasn’t telling me not to be a beast, we wouldn’t be leaving the house at all.’
Leah’s throat was sore and she had no appetite. Asher ordered her some porridge, but she barely touched it. The rain had stopped by the time they were on their way to the hospital, and Leah just leaned back listlessly.
Asher reached out to feel her forehead. She was still burning up. "Getting caught in the rain when you’re already sick... what were you thinking?"
Leah answered weakly, "It wasn’t raining on my way back. It only started after I got out of the subway station and had been walking for a little while. I was trying to get home to wait for you. I didn’t expect to pass out right at the door."
Once at the hospital, the doctor asked Leah how she was feeling. Leah replied, "Dizzy, my whole body aches, and I feel a little nauseous."
The doctor glanced at her temperature reading. "100.9. That’s still a bit high. If you want to bring the fever down quickly, you’ll need an injection or an IV drip. Are you sexually active?"
Leah blushed and answered in a quiet voice, "Yes."
The doctor, an older woman, looked up when she heard Leah’s quiet response. Seeing her expression, she smiled. "Don’t be shy, dear. I’m only asking to rule out pregnancy. It’s a perfectly normal question."
"That’s not possible. We use protection," Leah said, glancing at Asher beside her.
"Accidents can happen even with protection," the doctor said as she typed. "When did your last period end?"
"I think it was the 25th... or maybe..."
Asher spoke up calmly. "The 24th."
...
Leah couldn’t even remember herself. Hearing the answer, the doctor glanced at Asher with a smile. "Your boyfriend pays more attention than you do. Have you been intimate since then?"
"Yes."
Again, it was Asher who answered.
"In that case, I suggest we test for pregnancy first. If you are, I can’t just prescribe any medication," the doctor said, starting to fill out a lab slip.
"That’s not necessary! Doctor, I’m... I’m not pregnant. I just hit my head when I passed out. The back of my head," Leah said quickly.
"You hit your head?"
As she spoke, the doctor reached out to feel the back of Leah’s head. "There’s a lump, all right. In that case, you’ll also need a CT scan to check for a concussion. But let’s test for pregnancy first. It’s fast—we’ll have the results in half an hour. Better to have peace of mind."
Just as Leah was about to protest, Asher spoke. "Let’s do the test."
"There, you see? Listen to your boyfriend, dear. He doesn’t seem like the irresponsible type."
The doctor wrote out the slip and handed it over with a warm smile. ’This man seems quite dependable. He’s so handsome, and even though he has a cold demeanor, he remembers when his girlfriend’s period ends. That’s far more attentive than most men.’
’Besides, he’s been focused on her ever since they walked in. He doesn’t seem like the type to force his girlfriend to get an abortion if she were pregnant.’
Asher went with her for the test. While they were waiting, Leah said to him, "Asher, we always use protection. I really don’t think this is necessary."
’Leah truly didn’t think she could be pregnant. Asher was always very careful about that. Even if they started without a condom, he would always put one on before the end.’
"The doctor said it herself. Accidents can happen even with protection."
Asher glanced at her, then leaned in close. "Scared of having my baby?"
Leah’s face instantly flushed as she looked at his, now just inches away. Their breath mingled in the small space between them. "I... I just think it’s unlikely."
’Truthfully, Asher didn’t think so either, but since the doctor had suggested it, there was no harm in checking. He hadn’t even considered marriage, let alone having a child...’
He looked at his reflection in Leah’s eyes. ’...but having one with Leah... it might not be so bad.’ He reached out and gently touched the bump on the back of her head. "How did you end up hitting it?"
"I passed out. I’m not really sure."
Seeing him drop the subject, Leah lowered her head. ’As if Asher would ever have a child with me. The fever must be making me delusional.’
Asher took her phone and changed a setting. "I set myself as your emergency contact. If anything happens and you don’t have time to call, just press the side button five times. It’ll call me automatically."
"If I’m about to pass out, am I really going to remember to press it five times?" Leah muttered under her breath.
Asher didn’t quite catch what she said. Just then, Leah’s name was called. He stood, went to get the report, and glanced at it. Not pregnant. He then led Leah back to the doctor’s office.
After reviewing the report, the doctor wrote out the order for the CT scan to check for a concussion. Then she asked Leah if she wanted an IV drip or an injection.
Leah didn’t want an IV drip since it would take too long, so she chose the injection. The doctor prescribed some medication, instructed her to bundle up well in her blankets at night to sweat out the fever, and sent them on their way to get the shot.
Leah hadn’t expected the injection in her hip to be so painful. Afterward, she felt like that entire side of her butt was numb. Asher watched her with amusement. "Have you never had a shot like this before? You didn’t know they hurt?"
"If I’d known, I wouldn’t have done it! When I used to get fevers, I wouldn’t even take medicine. I’d just tough it out for a night and be fine," Leah replied, wincing.
Asher froze for a second, then pulled her toward him and began to gently rub the spot. Leah’s face immediately flushed. "There are so many people here."
Asher glanced around, then led her to a nearby seat to wait for the CT results. The report came back clear. By the time the whole ordeal was over, it was very late. Feeling sticky and uncomfortable from being in the rain, Leah forced herself to take a shower.
After taking her medicine, she lay down, too lethargic to move. When Asher came out of the shower, he held her and felt her forehead. She wasn’t burning up as much as before. Seeing her looking so pitiful, Asher sighed. "Go to sleep."
Leah looked up at him. "We’re not... going to do it?"
Asher clicked his tongue. "Do you really take me for a beast?"
Then he started to laugh. "What, you want to?"
Leah’s face reddened. ’I feel much better now,’ she thought. ’It doesn’t seem impossible... I haven’t seen Asher in days. I miss him.’
’I missed him when I felt wronged, I missed him when I was in pain, and I missed him while I was sick. Now that he’s right here in front of me, this is the most direct way I can think of to show him how much.’
Leah nuzzled against Asher’s neck and whispered, "Didn’t the doctor say sweating it out helps you get better faster? I..."
Asher didn’t let her finish, kissing her directly. "Just keep tempting me, why don’t you."
Mindful that Leah wasn’t well, Asher controlled his movements. Before entering her, he whispered in her ear, "Tell me if it’s uncomfortable."
Leah wrapped her arms around his neck, murmuring a soft assent. The fever reducer was starting to take effect, making her a little dazy. Her soft, breathy moans sounded next to Asher’s ear.
He captured her lips with his, feeling the woman beneath him arch her back bit by bit. Both of them were covered in sweat, tightly entangled on the bed.