Chrysalis by Emily Gould Read Free Book Online Page A

whoever's on the other end when I finally manage to grab it from under my shoe.
    "Luke, for fuck's sake, how long does it take you to get your phone out?" Thibby screams as soon as I answer, and then I know that something's wrong, because Thibby never, ever panics this much.
    "What is it?" I ask quickly. Josh's breathing has changed, so I know he's awake now, and his arm wraps around me in the darkness.
    "Chelsea." He doesn't really need to say much more. I close my eyes, trying to stop my brain-panic going into overdrive. "Charles just phoned, I'm in a taxi, she's at the central hospital."
    "Is she okay?" I ask, and beneath me, I feel Josh tense up completely as he suddenly works out what I'm talking about. "We'll be over there soon, I swear."
    "I don't know how it's going. Charles was all … Charles. What do you mean ' we'll be over soon'? Who's coming with you? What the hell does your stupid lump of a boyfriend have to do with Chelsea's baby?"
    I shut off my call and fall out of the bed, scrambling for some clothes and wincing as Josh turns on the light. He looks pale. "Was … was that your friend?"
    "Chelsea's baby." I grab at my jeans and try to phone a taxi all at once. "Y-You don't mind coming with me?"
    Josh shakes his head, looking like he's going to be sick.
    *~*~*
    I keep hold of Josh's hand in the taxi, but for some reason, it almost feels like I'm the one comforting him rather than the other way 'round. We practically run into the hospital and get directed to the right bed by a nurse who seems seriously confused as to why Chelsea has so many men coming to visit her and wait for the baby.
    Josh stops right outside the ward door and squeezes my hand so hard I wince. "Luke, babe, I can't go in there."
    I nod and manage to get my hand free, scuttling inside. Chelsea's kneeling up in a nightgown, her knees spread out and her hands grabbing at her stomach. She gives a weak smile when she sees me. "Hey, Lukie … you didn't need to drag yourself up at this time, it'll be fine."
    "Are you okay?" I ask kinda stupidly.
    "Yeah it's fine … just started the contractions about an hour ago." Charles is holding her hand, looking like he's just been hit by a brick. Thibby is holding Charles and doesn't look much better. "Luke, maybe you should take Thibby outside and get him a drink of water or something … "
    It seems strange her so calm, when we're all standing around panicking, although I notice she keeps tight hold of Charles's hand as I lead Thibby out. He stumbles off, looking for a vending machine and muttering under his breath about bastards who don't use protection, and I sit down next to Josh in the waiting room. He still looks pretty bad, so I take his hand and squeeze it gently. "She's fine. Really."
    "Good."
    "I–I guess you aren't used to being around women giving birth," I say to sort of lighten the mood a bit. Josh's friends are mostly guys and I can't see them getting involved with anything to do with babies.
    "I've been here before." Josh gives a quick nod and almost snaps my hand in two again. "With my mum … when she had my sister."
    I blink, surprised. "I didn't know you had a sister."
    I should have let myself think about that one. I should have twigged a little sooner, but it was still early in the morning, I hadn't quite woken up and I was all shaken about Chelsea.
    "I don't." Josh's voice is short and clipped, and I suddenly know what he's about to say and know why he's been shaking every time I mention Chelsea's pregnancy. I want to tell him to stop, that he doesn't have to say it, but I can't get the words out and he just keeps talking. "She didn't make it. Didn't make it out."
    He slumps forward a little and I wrap my arms around him. My brain starts to panic again, but I shut it down because I can't panic now . Not when Josh is almost crying, Thibby's stalking around the hospital in a terrified rage and Chelsea's having a baby. "Josh … " I can't think of what to say, then, so I just keep hold