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“They’re confident they can squeeze it into an hour.”

The lights turn green, and I pull away, taking a left onto the street where our office is located. “Okay, I’ll be there in five minutes. Get them a drink, and I can take it from there.”

Margo hesitates for a second before answering. “Okay…no problem. Just take your time on the road.”

“No problem,Mr. and Mrs. Parker; I can draft the pleadings as soon as possible and have everything moving forward.”

My stomach rolls again.

“Thank you, Kate. We’re so glad we held out to see you. I know you have a busy schedule, but you have one of the best reputations in Seattle.” Mrs. Parker smiles sweetly at me.

“Thank you, I really appreciate th?—”

I throw a hand over my mouth, unable to contain the nausea any longer.

Resetting myself, I take a deep breath and go to open the door.

Another wave.

“I’m so sorry,” I rush out. “I’ll have Margo show you out.”

Racing to the bathroom in high heels, I swing the door open but don’t make it far enough when I puke straight into one of the sinks.

Then I puke again.

And again, until I’m a crumpled mess on the floor, my suit dress gathering muck. Kicking off my heels, I curl in on myself and close my eyes. The room won’t stop spinning, and I know it’s because I haven't eaten anything since yesterday at lunchtime when the nausea bouts began.

“Kate?!” Felicity barges through the door, dropping to her knees beside me. “Are you okay?”

“Never better,” I slur.

“Come on, we need to get you up and home.”

“I’m good. My day is packed. I can’t miss any more appointments.”

My best friend glares at me in a way that sears straight through my bones; she isn’t messing around. “You’re probably the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, and I thought that from the moment I saw you. But right now, you look like absolute hell. I won’t accept anything other than you going home and getting into bed. You’re in your first trimester and have bad sickness.” She wraps an arm around my waist to support me. “Trust me, I had it with Jack, and it was the worst.”

“I’m good,” I repeat, trying to smile and failing.

She holds out her phone to me. “Call Jensen, please.”

I throw her a puzzled look. “Why?”

“Because he tried to text you, and you haven’t answered in all of ten minutes, so now he’s blowing up mine.”

“Really?”

“Yep. He makes Jon look like a slacker.”

“He’s just got the first-trimester jitters.”

Felicity blows out a breath and looks at me. “You really believe that? That this is just about the baby and nothing else?”

“I don’t know what to believe anymore, babe.”

“He’s obsessed with you. He has been for a long time.”

“I know. But I don’t want that. I just want to co-parent and keep some independence.”