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Bleeding? No, she’d flip out, and I’d know. It mentions Braxton-Hicks contractions and suggests warm baths and herbal tea.
Really? Herbal fucking tea? That’s it?
Desi grabs another donut, this one fall-themed with unpleasant leaf-shaped sprinkles. “Our sister did yoga to help.”
Aurora’s face lights up. “Oh, I love yoga!”
“Shit,” Ricky curses. “I was going to find a prenatal yoga class for you.” He slips his phone from his pocket. “I’ll do it now.”
This motherfucker is always trying to one-up me, but I have more urgent concerns at the moment.
I reach out, guide Aurora onto my lap, and place my hand on her stomach. “Has the baby been moving?”
She settles into me and lays her head on my shoulder. “He will for you.”
As we wait, a quiet lull comes over the room.
“Okay, well, about my rent...”
I am so looking forward to Ethan getting here.
48
ETHAN
“What’s going on?”I ask, winded from jogging down the tunnel. I almost slipped and fell on my ass trying to get off the ice to call her.
“Nothing. I’m fine. I’m getting ready to do a photo shoot.”
She’s pushing theI’m finea little too hard, her tone a little too light. It’s difficult enough being separated from her. Having something happen while I’m away...that’s my worst nightmare.
“No, you’re not. Jax wouldn’t tell me you were in pain unless it was true.”
“It’s normal, and it subsided.”
I need to research some pregnancy-related stuff. We’re pretty terrible at preparing for this baby. We’re too busy.I’mtoo busy. There are two of us caring for her, and we’re still failing.
I pace in the hallway. “Should you call the doctor and ask?”
“I will if it gets worse, I promise.”
A female voice murmurs in the background.
“Who’s there with you?”
“The boys and Emily. We’re waiting for the photographer to arrive.”
Emily and Jax, never a good mix. Then, something else occurs to me. “It’s not that photographer you dated, is it?”
“I didn’tdatehim. We went to dinneronce, and I hated it.”
“That doesn’t answer my question, Aurora.”
“No, it’s not him. Don’t be jealous,Blackwood.”
“I’ve decided I’m not jealous. I’m territorial.”
“That’s not any better.” She chuckles.