Love Me (The Trust Me Series Book 2)

by K E Osborn

  “I thought we weren’t going to celebrate today.”

  “All I need is your love, baby.”

  Sighing, I take the box, undoing the white ribbon. When I lift the lid, I find a stunning ring. It’s platinum with a row of diamonds followed by a row of pink diamonds, and then another row of diamonds. It’s exquisite and inside the box is a small information card.

  Tiffany Soleste band ring in platinum with fancy vivid pink diamonds.

  I gasp. “Oh my God!”

  “It’s not an engagement ring, but it is a promise ring. It’s a promise that I’ll always be here for you.” My eyes well with tears. “A promise that I’ll love you every day of the rest of forever.”

  My heart flutters as those butterflies return, but this time in a good way as they seem to when I am around Aiden.

  I stand and move in to kiss my gorgeous, romantic partner on our balcony.

  This is the best Valentine’s Day I could have ever asked for!

  “Morning, beautiful.” Aiden rests his arm across my stomach, and I frown at the feeling. I’m nauseated for some reason.

  “Are you okay?” he asks as I scrunch my face.

  I sit up to take a sip of water. “I’ll be fine once I’ve had something to eat.”

  He looks at me with concern etched all over his face. “Let’s get you some breakfast, then.” He moves to the closet to retrieve our work attire.

  I get up, instantly feeling dizzy, but manage to shake it off as I get dressed and walk out to the kitchen where Aiden’s making some toast. I feel off, like I might be getting a bug or something. My morning coffee is brought to me while I sit at the kitchen table. As I bring the mug up to my lips to drink, the smell that normally delights my senses, now churns my stomach. I frown, sliding the steaming mug across the table.

  What the hell is wrong with me?

  Aiden watches when I move the coffee away. “Don’t feel like coffee today?”

  “No, I’m feeling pretty awful at the moment.”

  “Maybe you’ve caught something?”

  I nod and rest my head in my hands. “Yeah, I’m sure it’ll pass.”

  “You should stay home and rest if you’re not well.”

  I shake my head. He places a plate of toast in front of me. I grab a piece of toast with peanut butter and take a bite. Aiden watches while I try to eat the toast unsuccessfully as the thought of swallowing makes me want to heave. I spit it back out onto my plate and move the plate away from me as well. My stomach churns, and I know I’m going to be physically ill. I bolt to the ensuite, making it in time as my stomach constricts, and I dry heave into the bowl. I cough and splutter, feeling completely wretched as I slump down beside the bowl.

  Aiden rushes in to check on me, his feet thumping with his fast pace. “Jeni, you’re staying home today.”

  I wipe my mouth and shake my head. “No. What would your father say about me having a sick day? I’m fine. I’m sure by lunchtime I’ll feel better.”

  “You should stay at home.” A look of worry and concern covers his face.

  “I’m going, Aiden. I’ll be fine. I feel better already.” I gingerly get up from the floor, flush, then head to the kitchen to get myself a glass of water. I feel disgusting, but I don’t want Niall to think any less of me than he already does, and taking the day off will give him every damn reason.

  Aiden admits defeat, walking back to the table, and he eats his toast in silence. But the look on his face tells me everything he isn’t saying. He doesn’t want me at work today.

  I wait in the living room for him—not able to be anywhere near food—until he’s ready to leave. His lack of communication with me lets me know he’s not happy with me right now, but I’ve made up my mind. I must make a good impression on Niall. And calling in sick definitely won’t do that.

  We arrive at work, making our way up to the office. Brielle and Niall are already there.

  “Morning, you two,” Bree calls out.

  “Morning, Bree,” we both say in unison.

  “Aiden, you and Brielle are going to the Andersons today to finalize the paperwork for their account. They’re expecting you at ten thirty this morning, so make sure you have everything prepared,” Niall calls out.

  Aiden kisses me on the cheek and walks into his office without saying anything. I think he’s still annoyed I didn’t listen to him and stay home. I know he’s only trying to look out for me, but me being here is me looking out for him. I sit behind my desk and turn on my computer as Niall chats to Brielle about the Anderson account. I still feel nauseous and slightly dizzy, actually generally like death warmed over, but I’m going to push through.

  At ten, Aiden and Brielle get ready to leave. Aiden walks over and kisses my cheek. “If you feel too sick, you go home. Don’t worry about what Father thinks. Don’t ask him, just leave. Look after yourself. Promise me? Otherwise, I’ll worry about you.” I have to admit, it’s nice to have his mood more on the concerned side toward me now rather than straight up pissed off.

  “I will. I feel slightly better.” I know I’m lying to Aiden, but I honestly don’t want him to worry.

  “I’ll be back in a couple of hours. If you need me, I have my phone.”

  I nod once, then Brielle and Aiden leave, and it’s only now I realize I’m here, alone with Niall. The idea of being by myself with him makes me cringe. Our mutual feelings of disgust for one another are growing by the day. I’m nauseated just thinking about the asshole. My stomach churns, letting me know I need to move right now. I race to the bathroom, reaching it just in time as my stomach wrenches, and I heave into the bowl while kneeling on the cold tiled floor. I cough and splutter as I hold my hair back.

  Yep, I officially feel terrible—I probably should go home.

  I pull some toilet paper from the holder and clean up, then turn around and sit on the seat with my head in my hands, groaning at my unsettled stomach.

  A thought crosses my mind, and my stomach rolls again in anxiety.

  My eyes widen as I pull out my phone from my pocket and open up the calendar to check the date.

  Oh, fuck!

  I’m two weeks late for my period.

  Uneasiness hits me hard when I realize this could be morning sickness. I’m going to have to talk to Aiden as soon as he gets back. I don’t know if he’s going to be happy or completely pissed off with me.

  Is this crazy bad?

  Or, is this awesome good?

  I know I shouldn’t get overly worked up. It still might be a bug or something. My period is probably late due to the stress I have been under. Hopefully, that’s all this is, and I’m not pregnant.

  Not that I don’t want a baby. I want to be a mother more than anything—one day.

  I know its old-school, but I’ve always wanted to be married first. I will definitely be ecstatic if I am pregnant, of course. But I’m certainly worried about what Aiden might say.

  With trembling hands, I walk out to the basin and wash my face, taking some of my makeup off. I don’t care. I already feel horrible anyway and may as well look the part. I wipe my face with a paper hand towel and head back toward my desk, but on my way, Niall stops me. “Help me in the kitchen,” he barks out as he walks past me and then into the kitchen area.

  I shake my head at his aggressiveness and turn to follow him. “Come on. I haven’t got all damn day,” he yells.

  Slowly, I walk into the room to see him setting up a stepladder in front of the cupboard. I look at him curiously as he waves his hand around at me.

  “Come on, hurry up.”

  “How can I help?” I ask as I step into the room.

  Niall pushes me toward the ladder. “Get up there and grab that box for me, will you?”

  With a loud exhale that I can’t help, I take a few steps in my heeled shoes up the stepladder with no help from Niall. Feeling a little wobbly, I reach for the box on top of the cupboard, but it’s just out of my reach, so I stand on my tiptoes and finally wrap my fingers around
it.

  Suddenly, an alarm sounds through the foyer, making me jump at the sheer volume being so close to the speaker in the ceiling. The unexpected shock puts me off balance, and I feel dizzy.

  “Damn fire drills,” Niall yells. With his hand, he yanks hard on my blouse for me to get down, but instead of me stepping down the ladder, I stumble with the heavy box in my hand.

  It all happens so fast.

  I lose my footing.

  Fall down the last few rungs.

  My back slams on the glass tabletop, and it smashes beneath my weight.

  The heavy box smacks directly on my stomach, sending a massive wave of pain through my body. My head collides hard with the floor. I cry out in agony like I haven’t felt before as it ripples through me. Surrounded by papers which have fallen out from the box, I lay on the kitchen floor, as shards of shattered glass which are beneath me dig into my skin.

  Niall’s quickly at my side, but I can’t help moaning with the pain that’s overwhelming my body right now. Scratches and scrapes litter my arms, blood pools around them as Niall hovers over me with panic in his features. “Get up. Hurry. The alarm is sounding. I don’t have time to waste with you blubbering. You’ll be fine. Just get up. And do it now.”

  There’s absolutely no feeling in his voice. At all. The bastard huffs when I can’t move, and he leaves me in the kitchen, fumbling around trying to get up. I guess he thinks I’m following him, but the pain is immeasurable, and I can’t seem to move. My stomach stabs and cramps, and my lower back is killing me.

  I cry into my hands when another cramp hits me at full force. I moan out loud as something warm start to flow between my legs. Shifting my head up, I look down to see blood. Instantly, my heart starts racing, and my breathing comes in quick and shallow. I clench and unclench my eyes trying stop the pain from searing through my body. The fire alarm blares, and it effectively drowns out my cries. My body shudders as every stomach cramp renders me unable to move. My chest squeezes wishing with everything I have that Aiden will walk through the door and help me. I can’t seem to move, and every time I try, my stomach sends a stab through me like nothing I’ve ever felt before.

  As I continue to lie on the floor, I wonder how this happened.

  Did I fall from the dizziness?

  Was I pulled?

  I don’t know the answer, I simply can’t remember through the agony.

  I cry out with the continuing cramps in my abdomen.

  Honestly, I can’t believe Niall has left me here, laying in broken glass and my own blood. I have no idea how long I’m going to be left here to fend for myself.

  The fire alarm stops.

  The silence soothing my ears.

  I let out small moans as the cramping continues because I cannot move no matter how much I try. After what seems like forever, a firefighter finally walks in. He kneels at my side, pulls a radio from his shoulder, and he places his hand on my leg where there must be bleeding.

  “I have an injured female. I need an EMT here stat.” I look up and see the firefighter who’s scanning over me assessing my injuries while I continue to hold onto my cramping stomach.

  “An EMT will be here with us soon. Can you tell me what’s wrong apart from the obvious?”

  “My stomach,” I groan.

  He looks down at the blood pooling between my legs. “Sweetheart, you’re going to be fine. The emergency team will be here shortly. In the meantime, I’m not going to leave you,” he calmly says in an attempt to ease my nerves.

  It doesn’t fucking work.

  I hear the elevator chime, and the EMTs walk into the room. Honestly, I’m relieved to see them. I want this pain to stop. One squats next to me and rests his hand on my shoulder. “My name is Joe. Can you tell me your name?”

  “Jeni,” I mumble. Then another cramp hits hard. “Ahh.”

  “Did you fall?” I nod as the other EMT puts a blood pressure cuff around my arm. “Can you tell me where the pain is mostly located?”

  I point to my stomach while he seems to be assessing the blood on my legs. “Is your neck sore?”

  I shake my head, then wipe the tears from my cheeks.

  “We’re going to take you to the hospital. Are you able to make your way to the stretcher?”

  “I don’t know, I haven’t been able to get up.” The cramps worsen, making me moan with the ever-increasing pain.

  “Is it all right if I lift you?”

  I nod, working through another cramp while he lifts and places me on the stretcher and then they wheel me to the elevator.

  I want Aiden.

  I need him with me.

  Once we arrive at the bottom floor, I’m wheeled to the back of the ambulance.

  “Ahh,” I moan as another cramp hits.

  The firefighter stands at the back of the ambulance talking to the female EMT.

  They stop talking, she climbs in, and they close the doors. “Jeni, do you know if you’re pregnant?”

  I shrug as my bottom lip starts to quiver. “It’s possible.”

  She weakly smiles and nods. “I’m going to give you some painkillers. On a scale of one to ten, what’s the pain you’re feeling right now?”

  I can’t think.

  All I want is for Aiden to be here with me.

  Ah fuck! Another cramp takes over me.

  “It’s all right, Jeni.” She administers pain relief and gently pats me on the shoulder.

  I move my arm over my eyes in despair. My body’s aching, not only from the fall and the cuts and bruises from the glass, but also my stomach from where the heavy box fell on top of me. I can’t stop moaning even though it’s embarrassing. I feel like my life has already changed so much since Aiden was released from jail. But this, right here, is going to change us even more.

  We arrive at the hospital, and they take me through to the emergency room. My arm is still over my eyes in anguish as the EMT talks quietly with the triage nurse.

  “Female. Mid to late twenties. Fell from a ladder onto a glass table. She’s complaining of abdominal cramping and lower back pain. Possible pregnancy. Family not yet notified.”

  They take me in and transfer me to another bed, and as they try to move me, my stomach cramps again.

  “Jesus! Fuck that hurts.” After the pain subsides, I shift my gaze to the nurse. “Can someone call my partner, please?” I just need Aiden.

  She pulls out a small notepad and pen. “Of course. What’s his name and number?”

  I give her the details, and she walks away to call him.

  Sometime later she comes back in. “He’s on his way, sweetheart.”

  Relief floods me. I need Aiden, I can’t do this without him. I’m weak and disorientated. I don’t know if it’s from the pain or the medication, but I feel vague and out of it. I can’t make any decisions without him here.

  A doctor comes in pushing an ultrasound machine. “Jeni, I’m going to have a look at your abdomen. Is that okay?”

  I nod, and he raises my shirt, squeezing out some cold gel onto my stomach. Normally the cold would make me flinch, but the feeling is nothing compared to the pain in the rest of my body. He moves the device around my abdomen and glances at the nurse with a nod.

  She picks up a phone. “Yes. We have a female coming up who’s having a miscarriage. The fetal membranes have ruptured, and there’s continued bleeding, pain, and fever. There could be a tear in the uterus. She’s bleeding profusely. The mother is at risk of developing an infection. We need to operate immediately.”

  My heart sinks on hearing the words I feared the most—a miscarriage.

  I’m… no, was… pregnant.

  I need Aiden, now!

  A tear rolls down my cheek again as widespread numbness takes hold. My chest tightens with no hope of loosening its grip on my heart, to the point where I can’t breathe. My head pounds with a crushing headache as my throat constricts with overwhelming grief.

  “Can you save the baby?” I call out to the doctor, who’s c
leaning the gel off my stomach.

  He looks at me, creasing his brows, and he shakes his head. “I’m sorry. There’s nothing we can do. We need to remove the fetal tissue from your uterus.”

  I look at him in disgust. “It’s my baby, not fucking fetal tissue. Please. You have to do something,” I beg as another cramp hits me while I cry into my hands.

  As I am wheeled away, I scream out, “I need, Aiden!” I’m panicking, I know I am. They need to at least try to save my baby. I thrash about on the gurney while a nurse holds me down.

  “Calm down, Jeni. We’re going to sedate you now.”

  I shake my head violently. “No. You have to save my baby.” She holds me down as someone puts a cannula into my hand.

  “Please, please, at least try and save my baby,” I yell out, but no one’s listening as my heart races so fast.

  I try to fight the pull, but I swiftly fade into unconsciousness.

  My eyes flutter open. Aiden’s holding my hand, stroking it softly. His saddened face stares at the floor. He looks miserable.

  “Aiden?” I ask quietly.

  His eyes meet mine, and he manages a half-smile. “How are you feeling?” He kisses my hand tenderly.

  My breath catches as the memory of it all hits me full force. “I’m… so… sorry.”

  “Why are you sorry?” A confused and bewildered look crosses his face.

  “I lost our baby, didn’t I?” A slow tear slides down my face.

  He swallows hard and sits on the edge of my bed, wrapping his arms around me. “Oh, Jeni. This is not your fault. Our baby was hurt when you fell. There’s nothing you could’ve done.” A tear forms in his eye, but somehow, he manages to blink it away. “How long have you known you were pregnant?” Aiden pulls me close to him.

  “I didn’t know for sure. I was going to tell you when you came back from your appointment today.”

  He nods and kisses my head. “Try not to worry.” He sniffs like he’s holding back his emotion.

  “I felt dizzy on the ladder, and…” I pause trying to remember. “I don’t even know what happened. I’m sorry.”