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9. Family
Salima slid one arm over Kai's prone torso and rested her head on his shoulder. It was approaching midday and the pair hadn't moved other than to pull back the bedcovers when the day started warming up around them.
"Kai?" Salima whispered.
"Mm?" Kai's eyes stayed closed. Salima sat up dizzily, twirling her hair around one finger in a nervous fashion. Her head felt like it was being squeezed through a mangle. Had she even managed to get undressed last night? One look told her that, no, she was still fully dressed down to the shoes.
That was the last drink, she promised herself nervously. I needed courage, that's all.
"Can we … can I … there's something …" By this third fumbling attempt at coherent speech, Kai was looking at her curiously.
"What's up?" he asked at last, when Salima looked about ready to give in.
"I'm pregnant," she said in a rush, staring at anywhere but Kai's face.
"You're what?" Kai shoved himself into a sitting position, seeming to feel none of the wooziness that had affected Salima. She could feel his powerful gaze drilling metaphorical holes in her face – still she refused to look at him as she whispered again,
"I'm pregnant."
The silence in the room was thick and heavy, an almost physical thing that pressed on her eardrums and made breathing suddenly tricky.
"How do you know?" Kai demanded suspiciously. "You've not been throwing up."
"I know," Salima apologised without quite knowing why. "I bought a test yesterday." Kai opened his mouth as if to say something, then shut it again. A muscle was twitching under his eye.
"Pregnant?" was all he managed. Salima nodded wordlessly, and jumped as Kai thumped the mattress with his fist. "Dammit, I knew we weren't being careful!" he hissed venomously. Knowing that the only way to stop tears coming was to attack, Salima snapped,
"You could be a bit more pleased!"
"Why?" Kai rounded on her, furious. "It wasn't planned! Why would I want to be saddled with some bawling, wrinkly little-"
"Fine then, I'll go!" Kai head twisted round and he stared at her in shock. "I'm not getting rid of it – you can't make me!" She stood up and stalked over to the closed window, staring out and blinking furiously.
"You really want it?" he said softly, after a long silence.
"Yes!"
"Ok then. We'll … we'll see, all right?" There was yet another pause. "Can we still have sex?" Salima grinned and, walking back over to him, kissed him deeply.
"Like anything could ever stop us."
I seriously hate this one. But, oh well.
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