Chapter 103

**Blue**


I wake up feeling deliciously sore and a little annoyed that Artemis thought torturing me was something I would enjoy, but he sure made up for it.

“We can discuss working together again in the future but as of now our company is exclusively working with one client. Yes…bye.” Artemis shuffles next to me and I feel his warmth behind me before his arm wraps around me and his hand rests on my lower stomach.

He keeps doing that and I can’t help but smile when he does. I hadn’t thought much about what it would look like when we finally found out I was pregnant, but Artemis has been so sweet. He seems genuinely happy about all of it, and that has given me such relief. Talking about having a baby and finding out you are having one are so different that I thought he would freak but he didn’t. His reaction has left me feeling less nervous about the idea of taking care of a baby…three babies.

Shit. Three babies! My heart starts to race as I run through what they will mean. Lots of crying, lots of diaper changes, tons of laundry, constant bottle feedings. So much for feeling calm. Actually, I’m feeling a little sick…

I throw Artemis’s arm off me and rush for the bathroom just in time. Everything I ate last night comes up and then some leaves me a shaky mess. Artemis crouches down behind me and holds my hair away from my face and rubs my arm as I pant over the toilet. God, this is so gross.

“You okay?” Artemis asks when it seems like there is nothing left to come out.

“I think so.” I say before sitting back on my butt and against his chest.

He wraps an arm around me and holds me there while I catch my breath.

“I’m not a fan of that.” I say making him chuckle.

“I’m not sure anyone enjoys vomiting, so I could understand why you wouldn’t have enjoyed it. Do you need some water or sprite? That’s for nausea, right?”
I laugh and shrug. “I don’t know. Maybe some of that tea Abigail gave me. She said it was helping with her morning sickness.”

He turns me sightly so that he can slip his hand under my legs and lift me off the bathroom floor. I hang on to him as he carries me back into our room and sets me down on our bed. He waits for me to get comfortable and covers me with the blanket. Once I’m properly tucked in, he leaves to make my tea. He isn’t gone long before I hear someone in the hallway. Lilly appears at my doorway looking worried.

“Hey you!” I say pushing myself up so I can look at her properly. “Are you all ready for school? I just have to get dressed really quick.”

She shakes her head. “Danny and Uncle Bry are going to take me!”

I laugh at the names she’s given the guys, but mostly Dane’s name. He hates it but hasn’t said a word once about it because he likes Lilly too much to hurt her feelings.

“I can-“

“Mom.” I stop breathing every time she says that word to me. “You aren’t feeling good. I’ll be okay.”

“Are you sure? You’re still getting used to the new school.”

“I’m okay. Bye!” She gives me a quick wave and heads back down the hall.

I hate not being there for her in such a small way, but I guess I’ll have to try again tomorrow when I’m feeling a little better…

Three weeks have passed and I have barely been able to get out of bed. It’s killing me not being able to do more things with Lilly, but Artemis has been amazing. He told me he was going to cut way back on work so that he can be here with us. I have been wanting to ask how things are going with his new company, but I have been throwing up and sleeping so much that I feel like I’m barely existing in this dimension. Abigail’s morning sickness has passed, and she has this annoying smile on her face all the time now.
Apparently, it’s called a pregnancy glow, but all it makes me want to do is smack her. How dare she look beautiful and happy while growing her baby and I look like death warmed over! I know I’m being a bitch about it but she’s been so sweet and makes sure I have everything I need. Today is the first time in a while that I woke up feeling somewhat normal. I’m not sure how long it will last so I plan on making the most of it. I jump in the shower and wash everything and even shave because I want to look my best.

Artemis has been amazing, but I haven’t felt sexy at all and haven’t had the energy to have sex. I feel terrible but he hasn’t complained once. Today though I am going to seduce him and show him I can still be sexy!

When I’m done showering, I walk into the closet and look for something nice to wear. I find a cute summer dress I haven’t worn yet and pull it off the hanger. It feels so soft against my skin when I step into it and pull the sleeves over my shoulders. I reach behind me for the zipper and start pulling but it stops less than halfway up. I try a couple more times but it won’t zip up!

I move over to the mirror attached to the closet door and gasp at my reflection. All this morning sickness and sleeping has had my brain fired. I didn’t even notice the small bump forming! Should I be showing this soon? I rush out of the closet and grab my phone to research the matter. Every picture I see show women with small bumps at the same stage as me with triplets so that’s a relief, but my dress doesn’t fit! A brand-new dress I never wore doesn’t fit me!

Panicked, I rush back into my closet and try on several different items and am hit with the same reality. Nothing fits! How? I mean I know I was slim before but I’m not that big yet! I mean I can get pants on but they won’t button or zip! My shirts fit but there is a small area of skin showing now. This is bad. What am I going to do?

“Blue?” I hear Artemis call from the room.

I quickly grab a hoodie and pull it over hoping it will hide my belly. It barely does!

“In here!” I call back and try to act like I haven’t been panicking for the last few minutes.

He walks in with that soft smile he gets whenever he sees me now. It’s heart melting and I love it but I’m too freaked out right now to enjoy it.

“You’re looking better today. What are you doing in here?” He looks me over and then at the pile of clothes on the floor next to me.

“I was getting dressed. Since I’m feeling pretty good I thought we could do something with Lilly. I’m not sure how long the good period will last, and I’ve missed being able to have fun with her.”

He nods and pulls me into a hug. I melt into him and let myself forget about my dumb clothes for a minute, but when he pulls away his eyes are fixed on my tummy.

“What-“ He reaches for the hem of my hoodie and slowly lifts it.

I squeeze my eyes shut and wait for him to laugh or something but he doesn’t. He shocks me by getting down on both of his knees and resting his hands on either side of my little bump.

“This is amazing. I felt it a little when we would be sleeping but seeing it like this is…unbelievable.” He looks up at me with eyes full of emotion.

“None of my clothes fit.” I say with a whine. “What am I going to do?”

He smiles wide and stands before leaning in to give me a lingering kiss. “We’ll buy you new ones! Until then you can wear one of my shirts and some sweats.”

I scowl at him. “I wanted to dress cute today not like a homeless woman.”

“You look beautiful no matter what, but it will only be until we can buy some stuff. Then we can do anything else you want to do today. We can even get those caramel apple things your obsessed with.”

That brightens my mood up real quick. I’m grabbing the first things I find and pulling on my converse like I’m late for an important date. I guess I am because me and caramel apples have been in a long time relationship at this point and I need my fix.

“Let’s do this!” I say grabbing my purse and throwing it over my shoulder.
Artemis laugh follows me as I strut out of our room to go and find our daughter.