Total pages in book: 20
Estimated words: 17637 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 88(@200wpm)___ 71(@250wpm)___ 59(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 17637 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 88(@200wpm)___ 71(@250wpm)___ 59(@300wpm)
Setting the cup down, I grab my phone, scrolling through my messages, a part of me hoping to see something from her. There’s nothing, so I decide to get a few things done around the cabin to help the time pass by.
Chapter 9
Gianna
I wake up feeling a little off. The ickiness lurks just enough under the surface, but I quickly shake off my grogginess as I check the clock. Shit! I’m running way late, and I barely have time to contemplate the uneasiness tugging at my stomach.
“Gianna, you can deal with whatever this is later,” I mutter to myself, throwing back the covers and jumping out of bed with a burst of energy. I pull on a pair of jeans and one of my favorite sweatshirts, racing around the room in a haphazard attempt to put myself together. Last night was Sawyer’s last night shift for a while, and I’m looking forward to sleeping next to him again.
Minnie yawns lazily from her perch on the windowsill, silently judging me for her new favorite human working night shifts. “Good morning, furball!” I call to her, knowing full well she cares little about me rushing. She just wants her breakfast.
In the kitchen, I pour Catzilla’s food into her bowl, automatically making me her favorite human again. For a few hours until Sawyer comes home, that is.
Wanting to make my mate as happy, I hurry up and pour coffee beans into the grinder and breathe in deeply the smell that usually sets my world right. Only this time, when I take a whiff of the rich aroma, my stomach twists like a pretzel, and without warning, I feel queasy. I barely finish getting the coffee machine ready without throwing up.
As I grab my bag and rush out the door, the reason for all these symptoms hits me right between the eyes and my knees go weak. I come to a screeching halt, breathless with sudden clarity.
“Oh, fudge,” I shout in my mind. “I'm pregnant.”
The thought is so loud it echoes back to me almost immediately, stopping me short.
A moment later, it feels like a mental punch, and Sawyer’s voice responds, wrapping around my thoughts from wherever he is. “I know. When I kissed you goodbye last night, I noticed the change in your delicate scent. It took me a little bit to realize what it meant, but my mind finally caught up midway through my shift.”
I blink, momentarily stunned. The telepathic connection still surprises me. “Wow,” I shoot back, heart racing as my thoughts spin off on a wild rollercoaster ride.
“You can say that again.” His voice is teasing, echoing warmth that settles me even through my bewilderment. “I love you, hot stuff, and I can’t wait to celebrate with you after work.”
“You’ve got a date, sloth boy.”
The chaos at Rise and Grind reaches insane levels, and I don’t think I’ve had a single moment to breathe, let alone process my exciting news. The line stretches out the door, and I’m flinging drinks like a pro, but every whir of the espresso machine sends nausea clawing at my insides.
I try not to think about it. I’ve dealt with my fair share of cranky customers, but pregnancy is a whole different level of irritation I never anticipated. The smell of roasted beans usually does wonders for me, but today it feels like a giant fist squeezing my stomach every time I breathe deeply.
“Are you good?” Alice chimes in, watching me as I slam a steaming cappuccino down in front of an impatient customer.
“Peachy!” I reply, a little too cheerfully for my own liking. I shoot her a quick smile, but I can tell she sees through it. It’s mid-morning, and the shift is only getting busier by the minute.
An hour passes in a flurry of pouring, steaming, and the familiar rhythm of making drinks. I focus on the tasks at hand, churning out lattes and frappes, but I’m riding the line between holding my own and wanting to hurl. My grip on the espresso machine feels like a lifeline, one that keeps slipping through my fingers as the room spins slightly with each turn.
Finally, after what feels like an eternity in the caffeine storm, noon approaches and the morning rush starts to die down. I wipe my brow, feeling the tension ease just a bit, when Esther walks past and leans in close, her voice low.
“Why don’t you take tomorrow off to celebrate your good news?” she whispers, her eyes glinting with understanding. “Alice is fully trained, and I could use the extra hours. Just focus on yourself and your little one for a moment, okay?”
Her words knock the wind out of me, and I realize every shifter in town is going to know about my pregnancy soon enough. “You sure?” I find myself asking, already making plans for my unexpected day off with Sawyer.