Read Online Under His Care by Kelly Favor - Free Book Online Page A

fever.”
    Kennedy flushed the toilet and then put the cover down, leaning across, hugging it as if it was an old friend. It felt cool against her skin.
    Nicole ran some water on a washcloth and then pressed it to Kennedy’s forehead. After a moment, Kennedy took the washcloth and held it herself.
    “I’ll go and get you a glass of Ginger Ale,” Nicole said. “Be right back, okay?”
    “Okay,” Kennedy said, resting her head on the toilet and closing her eyes. She was starting to feel better already.
    When Nicole came back a few minutes later, Kennedy could hear Easton outside asking if Kennedy was okay, and Nicole reassuring him that she was, but Nicole’s tone was annoyed.
    Then Nicole opened the door just wide enough to squeeze through, before closing it quickly behind her as she handed Kennedy the glass of Ginger Ale.
    Kennedy took it and sipped gratefully. “Oh, that’s good. That’s perfect, Nicole.”
    Nicole crossed her arms and looked down at Kennedy with some concern. “You said this happened the other morning, too?”
    “Yeah,” Kennedy said, still drinking the cool and refreshing liquid. Ice cubes clinked lazily against the glass.
    Her sister’s voice fell to a whisper. “Kennedy, I don’t mean to pry or be rude…but…have you been using protection?”
    Kennedy’s eyes widened. “What?”
    “Well…you know…the question has to be asked at this point.” From Kennedy’s frozen silence, Nicole seemed to guess the correct answer. “Have you gotten your period?” she said softly.
    Kennedy swallowed and now it seemed all her saliva had dried up completely. “Well, no. I mean, I haven’t been keeping track of that.”
    Nicole was looking down at her with a knowing stare. “Something similar to this happened to Red and I, once upon a time.” She smiled sadly. “That’s why I asked.”
    “You—you got pregnant by accident?” Kennedy whispered.
    Nicole nodded. “And then I started having morning sickness. I’m not saying that’s what this is, but it seems like it’s a possibility to consider.”
    Kennedy slumped forward and put her head in her hands. “Oh, no. No, no, no. That can’t be. That’s can’t be.” She almost said, I’m a virgin . But the thing was, she wasn’t a virgin anymore, and hadn’t been for a little while.
    Plenty of time to get pregnant, that much was for sure.
    She’d been stupid and thoughtless and impulsive.
    Nicole started rubbing her back again, and then there was a knock on the door.
    “Nicole?” Red asked through the closed door.
    “Yeah, we’re all right in here,” Nicole said. “Just give us a second.”
    “Okay,” Red replied and then Easton said something unintelligible. “It’s fine, just relax,” Red could be heard telling him.
    Kennedy looked up at her sister. “I’m sure I’m just sick with some stomach bug.”
    Nicole nodded, but her eyes didn’t look like she believed it. “Oh, sure. I’m sure it’s just a bug. There’s plenty going around right now.”
    A moment later, Kennedy was up on her feet and the dizziness and nausea were completely gone. Other than her jangling nerves, she felt completely fine.
    And that wasn’t necessarily a good thing, because a stomach flu wouldn’t just disappear minutes after throwing up, with no residual fever, chills, headache or runny nose. Nothing.
    Nicole opened the door and shooed Red and Easton back. “Give the girl some space, for Pete’s sake,” Nicole scolded them.
    Kennedy tried to smile but was unable to look at either of the men. Easton, in particular, was just a shadow in the corner of her eye.
    “I should go,” she said, as Nicole escorted her.
    “No, stay here. Let me take care of you.”
    “I’m sorry, Nicole,” Kennedy told her, continuing towards the front door. “But I feel like I just need to be alone, rest up, get my strength back.”
    “Are you sure? We’d love to have you. It wouldn’t be any trouble.”
    “I’m sure,” she said, and she was.
    As