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Aurora’s gaze locks with mine, and she cocks her head in an exasperated gesture. I give her a wink. She has to be used to my antics by now.
Desi leans over. “Did you and the blonde date?”
I scowl at him for even having the thought. “Fuck no.”
“No, we’ve just known each other for a long time,” Emily lies straight through her pearly white teeth.
“That’s not true. I met you the same night I met Aurora.”
“That you remember.”
She’s gaslighting me and trying to upset Aurora, and it’s pissing me off.
“We didn’t meet. Talk. Anything. You worked for my father. That means nothing to me.” As if I’deverbe interested in something Kyle had.
Ricky sits up straight, and I see the moment it clicks in his brain. His gaze flashes to Emily, as if seeing her for the first time, then shifts to Aurora with...hurt?
He looks at her as if he already misses her.
“It doesn’t matter.” Aurora’s brows knit together. “I want him here. He offered to leave, and I said no. He’s not bothering you...” With a wince, her strained voice trails off, and her hand comes to the side of her stomach.
I jump out of my seat, my heart in my throat. “What’s wrong? Are you in pain?”
Her face remains contorted. “A cramp...I believe.”
My head and mouth spiral. “Should you have cramps? I don’t think you should have cramps. You’ve been doing a lot. Fuck. The doctor said to rest. We’re shit at this.” I wave my arms around the room. “Everybody, get out!”
“They’re probably...” Desi snaps his fingers at his brother. “What are those practice contractions called?”
“Braxton-Hicks,” he answers.
“Yes, Braxton-Hicks. Our sister had those with her first baby. Perfectly normal.”
“I don’t think pain is normal. She shouldn’t be working.” I point to Emily. “You need to fucking leave.” Then, to Ricky. “You fucking too.”
He glowers at me from the other side of my girl. “What the fuck did I do?”
“You’re...you.”And I see the way you look at her.
Aurora places a hand on my heaving chest. “I’m fine. It’s already fading.” Her slightly elevated tone doesn’t soundfine.
Desi shakes his head in amusement. “He’s totally going to pass out when you go into labor.”
“Or murder a doctor,” Dante adds.
I ignore them and grab my phone from the end table to text Ethan.
Aurora tries to snatch it from me. “Don’t you dare call him. He has a game tonight.”
I spin away from her. “I’m not calling, I’m texting.”
“Jax, no! You’ll only worry him.”
I do it anyway, knowing she’ll listen to him, and maybe because I miss the big fucker.
Your baby girl is having pains in her side. She thinks it’s normal, but she needs to rest. She’s working too much.
That’ll do it. I sit back in the chair with a shit-eating grin as I search Google.