The Boot (Book 1)

Chapter Three

LUCY

Angela, Wesley, and Nolan have all gone home. Now it's just me and Tamara. It was getting late, but Tamara insisted on sitting in the chair near my bed to keep me company until Tim got home.

We see a soft light out the window, and Tamara runs to look. "It's Tim!"

"I'm not ready, Tamara! I'm scared!"

"Lucy, this baby is going to come whether you like it or not. Let Tim be there for you."

"Right, I just-" I'm cut off by bile rising in my throat. Shit. Not now. I get up and sprint to the bathroom. Tamara tries to follow me, but I ask her to wait in the living room and make sure that Tim doesn't go into our bedroom just yet.

I am hunched over the toilet, puking my guts out, when I hear the front door open and Tim walks inside. Seconds later, I can hear him hurrying to the bathroom.

"Tim, no, you shouldn't come in here. I'm gross and disgusting right now."

He takes a few steps forward and crouches beside me. He gathers the hair at the nape of my neck and holds it back, just in time to get it out of the way as I vomit again. His free hand rubs comforting circles on my back.

"Lucy, what the hell is going on?"

"I-" more vomit. I can't tell him yet. I have to make sure that Genn is okay. "Tim, how's Genn?"

"She's alive. No clear internal or neurological damage. Her leg was too broken to fix, though. They had to amputate."

"That sucks, I'm sorry."

"Thanks."

I'm done puking and so I sit up, leaning against Tim's chest. "Puking is no fun. Zero out of ten, do not recommend."

Tim chuckles. "I'll bet." he then frowns. "What's going on with you, Lucy?"

I sigh. It's now or never. "Can you help me get to my feet?"

Tim nods, standing before helping me to do so.

I grab his hand and lead him out of the bathroom, down the hall, and stop right outside of our bedroom. The door is slightly ajar, and I quickly peek at the display.

"What is it?"

"Tim, you know I love you, right?"

He raises a brow. "Of course. I love you too."

"And you know that nothing will ever change how I feel about you?"

"Lucy, you're scaring me."

"What I'm about to tell you may change our lives forever, but I hope that change will be for the better."

I take a deep breath and push my way inside, motioning for Tim to follow. I sit on the bed, right beside the display.

"What's going on-" Tim starts before his eyes land on the display. He takes three slow, cautious, calculated steps closer. Leans down to get a better look. His facial expression hasn't changed at all, making it impossible for me to get a read on what the hell he's thinking. His lips part slightly, and his eyes widen, just a little.

"Tim?" he doesn't answer. "Tim, please say something."

He looks up from the display, for a brief moment, and glances at my midsection. He returns his gaze to the display and picks up the test, studying it closely.

I can't take the suspense. Before I can even process why, I start crying. Tim immediately sets the test down and hurries to my side. He lifts me gently onto his lap, my head resting against his chest. He runs his hand through my hair soothingly.