The First Steps (A Hunter Hayes Fanfiction, Book 1 of the Hardships Saga)

Chapter Fifty

❝pregnant (pronounced ˈprɛɡnənt or preg-nent), noun

when a female of a species has a fetus growing in the uterus❞

Hunter opened the door, and laughed when Cole came bounding up to him. "Hey, boy!" he said, crouching down to reach him. After scratching his head, he looked up, looking into the house.

He decided to walk around to try and find Lilly. He walked through three rooms until he found her lying down in bed, looking ill.

"You're here," she croaked, and Hunter got worried.

"Are you sick?"

"No, just sleeping badly."

He leaned down and pressed his lips to her forehead. "You don't have a fever," he said, frowning. He stroked her hair gently, and she whimpered softly. "What's wrong, Lilly?"

"I'm just not feeling well. Back and head hurt." She blinked tears away, and Hunter gave her a small kiss.

"Do you think you're contagious?"

She let out a half-laugh. "I don't think so. If you got what I have, then you'd be a medical miracle."

He frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

She shook her head. "Don't worry. It's not important, not yet." She closed her eyes. "How long are you staying?"

"I was only gonna stay one night, but I'll stay another, just to look after you," he said. "Let me call Betsy and clear it with her."

"Hunt, no-"

"Shh, rest," cooed Hunter. "I'll be back in a moment."

She felt too ill to complain, and just lay there listening to Hunter's end of the call.

"Hey, Betsy!... Yeah... No, I just got home, and Lilly's a bit sick... No, I haven't gone to a doctor yet... No, I was going to... Yeah, can I just stay an extra day to make sure she's alright?... Oh, yes, that would be great, but... Are you sure?... No, of course I don't mind, but Lady A... Okay... Thank you! Bye!" He hung up and Lilly whimpered in pain.

"Hunt?"

"Yes?"

"Can you get me a heat pack, please?"

"Of course," he said, going into the kitchen. She heard the microwave turn on, and she rolled over, hissing in pain and trying to flip her pillow to the cooler side. Hunter came back with the heat pack. "Where do you need it?"

"Back, please," she said, and Hunter lifted her shirt and put the heatpack in place, before lowering the shirt again. She sighed, feeling some sort of sweet relief, and Hunter sat down on the edge of the bed.

"What happened to you?"

"Just tired," she mumbled. "Is it that bad?"

"You tell me," he said. "Hey, it doesn't matter. Betsy cares about you so much that she told me to stay for a week."

She smiled a little, and Hunter leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Do you want something to eat?"

"Like what?"

"I don't know... soup?"

"Can you make some French onion soup?"

"Um..."

"Don't worry, then. You have your mom's recipe for gumbo, right?"

"Yes!" he said proudly.

"Okay, can you make that without burning the house down?"