Chrysalis by Emily Gould Read Free Book Online Page B

of him, remembering how comforting it felt when he was holding me.
    I'm still hugging him when Thibby comes back, holding a can of something. He gives us a quick glance, but he doesn't look angry or snarky; just slightly like he wishes he could join in. He doesn't sit down, either, just keeps walking up and down the corridor until the can is empty, then he heads back into the ward. I sort of want to go back in with him, so I whisper to Josh, "Are you okay if I take a look?"
    He grips me tight for a bit, and then nods, taking a deep breath. "Y-yeah. Luke, kid, you know I'm not usually like this, sorry. It just got to me a bit, yeah?"
    "It's fine," I whisper, although I have no idea why I'm whispering. I don't like hospitals all that much; they remind me of death and ugliness, and it feels strange associating them with birth and Chelsea's baby.
    I get my hand free and head back inside. Chelsea's leaning forward now, still kneeling and grabbing her stomach with a nurse rubbing her back. Charles is sitting by the bed, and if he wasn't interested in relationships before this, I think the look on his face makes it clear that he'll be even less interested afterward. Thibby is rubbing Charles's shoulders. God knows what the nurse thinks about it all. She's probably wondering if Chelsea's their surrogate baby's mother or something.
    That thought makes me laugh a little, even though it comes out all nervous and it's clearly no time for laughter. Chelsea looks up and smiles, reaching forward to take my hand. "I-it  doesn't look like there's going to be a problem … unnggg … "
    "Does it hurt?"
    "Urghhh, yes." The nurse makes soothing noises and Chelsea makes a face. "I've got a whole heap of pain meds, though; Charles keeps feeding them to me, so it's not too bad; just feels like period cramps at the moment." She shakes her head, laughing a little, as well, although it's not much better than my laugh. "Like you would know!"
    "Josh's here," I remark, as Thibby heads out again to get Charles a drink of something. "I'm sorry. I just really wanted to bring him, and I know you barely know him and he hasn't come in to see you, but I—"
    "Luke, shh … " She strokes my hand and I feel like a bastard, because I'm meant to be giving her reassurance, but instead it's the other way around. "Don't worry so much. I don't care if you've brought Josh. It'll just give the nurses another candidate for 'potential father'. I've already had them asking about you and Thibby."
    I manage to force a smile and clutch her hand tightly as she grabs her stomach again.
    *~*~*
    Thibby and Josh are asleep when I head back out again, Thibby's head slumped down and resting on Josh's shoulder. I quickly shake them both, trying to hide my excitement. "Thibby, get up, it's, it's—"
    My voice is cut off by a high, plaintive cry, which steals my thunder by breaking the news I was about to give. Josh's eyes open wide and Thibby almost falls off the chair.
    "Jesus, s-she's okay?"
    "Fucking hell, Luke!"
    Thibby gets up first, stumbling a little as he gets to the door and wrenches it open. Josh stands up slowly and I wrap my arm around his waist. "Do you want to see?"
    "Y-yeah … "
    We head inside together. Chelsea's sitting cross-legged with the baby in her lap and Charles has pushed his fringe forward over his face to hide the fact that he's been sniffling. Thibby sort of stops dead in the doorway, staring at them all and I can't help but feel a little proud. Out of all of them, I was the first one to hold the baby, as the nurse helped it out of Chelsea, and I didn't drop it or screw it up at all. Sure, I haven't yet actually managed a proper date with my boyfriend that didn't involve screaming, crying, or unexpected midnight births, but I've held a baby and that feels pretty special. I slide my hair back behind my ear and the nurse gives an unexpected frown when she sees my scar, and then goes right back to fussing over Chelsea and the tiny baby.
    "Wow …  " Thibby