Nicola Taylor“No, no, no…” I whispered, staring at the calendar date, a hollow dread filling my chest.This can’t be happening. My hands shook slightly, and I felt my pulse hammering beneath my skin. I swallowed hard, pressing a hand to my stomach. The overwhelming thought was louder, more urgent now:I knew this would happen.My breathing grew uneven, and I tried to push down the panic building inside me. "Oh God," I murmured to myself. "I’m going to die…" My stomach turned as the reality began to set in.I was pregnant.A dizzying mix of emotions crashed through me—fear, confusion, something that felt like excitement but was smothered by worry. My mind raced, piecing together the fragments of memory that led up to this.Cole and I had never really used protection. I’d been on birth control for so long that it felt routine. But after I moved here, I’d stopped taking it—part laziness, part my own complacency. I’ll grab an after-pill if we need it, I’d told myself. Surely, we’d eithe
Cole HarringtonAs Nicola’s words sank in, I just stared, unable to process everything. She was sitting there, looking fragile in a way that broke my heart, her voice barely a whisper. "I… I think I might be pregnant, Cole," she managed, her voice trembling. "I haven’t taken a test, but I’m ten days late." She was holding back tears, bracing herself for my reaction.My silence must have been deafening because I saw her shoulders tense even more. I swallowed, pushing down my own whirlwind of emotions to focus on her, only her. I didn’t know what to say at that moment, but seeing her so scared, so vulnerable, made me realize that this was far more difficult for her than it was for me. Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to sound calm. “Hey,” I murmured, pulling her closer, rubbing her back gently as I held her. "Whatever happens, we’ll figure it out. I’m here, okay? You’re not alone in this." She buried her face against my shoulder, and I felt her release a shaky breath. It made me w
Nicola TaylorThe quiet hum of the doctor’s office felt oddly comforting as I sat beside Cole, my fingers tapping against my knee. He didn’t say much, just held my hand, calm and steady in that way he always was when he was holding back. Part of me had expected more—something like shock or excitement—but his silence left me feeling exposed, like I’d hoped too much.After what felt like hours, the doctor finally walked in, her warm smile dissolving the tension a bit. “Congratulations,” she said, her tone cheerful yet professional. “You’re officially pregnant, Mrs. Harrington.”The words sank in, spreading a comforting warmth through me. I looked at Cole, waiting for something to flash across his face, some signal that he was thrilled or, at the very least, surprised. But instead, his eyes softened, and he smiled—not wide, not exactly happy, but something between relief and satisfaction. He squeezed my hand, a reassuring gesture, and nodded at me.“This is great news, isn’t it?” I said,
He nodded, his gaze meeting mine. “Alright. Last time… with Arabella, I was overwhelmed. I didn’t know what I was doing. I felt too young, unprepared, like I was in over my head. But now, even though this wasn’t planned, I feel more grounded. It’s just… I don’t want to make the same mistakes again,
Cole HarringtonAs I held Nicola's hair back, feeling the warmth of her trembling shoulders as she cried and heaved in turns, my heart ached for her. She leaned into my chest as if she couldn’t keep herself up anymore, her face flushed and exhausted. I’d never seen her look so vulnerable, and it only made me want to shield her more.“Nicola, just tell me when you’re done, okay?” I murmured, trying to soothe her as best as I could. "I'll carry you to bed, and you can rest a little or sleep for a few hours.”Her face twisted in a mix of frustration and exhaustion. "I’m covered in puke, Cole… this is so gross,” she choked out, tears spilling over as she buried her face in her hands.I smoothed her hair and smiled, trying to keep her calm. “Hey, hey… do you want to shower first? I can run a nice hot bath for you.” She looked up at me, a fragile, helpless nod, her eyes puffy and red. It was like looking at a child who'd been through too much.I kept a hand on her back as I stood and turned
When I returned to the room, she was still curled up, her eyes closed but her breathing uneven. I knew she was only half-asleep, fighting the nausea that had been plaguing her all evening.“Tea’s here,” I murmured softly, sitting beside her and holding the warm cup close to her face, letting her inh
Nicola TaylorThe past few months had been tough, but I’d finally turned a corner. The nausea was gone, and I was starting to glow. People said I looked radiant, my hair had this newfound shine, and my skin had that pregnancy flush everyone raved about. But beneath it all, I was struggling. The wors
He blinked, looking a bit taken aback. “Of course. What did you have in mind? Movie marathon or something?”I forced a small smile, working to keep the nerves out of my voice. “No…like a date.”His brow quirked with interest, but he nodded, loosening his tie and hanging it on the back of a chair. “A