It takes a second to locate my phone under the pile of clothes on the floor and grimace when I realize this right here is part of why Amy will be so busy today.
Least I can do is toss the pile into the hamper.
After that’s done, I pull up Ella’s number and put it on speaker, sitting it on the dresser as I search for something to wear for the day, something other than the comfy lounge clothes I’ve pretty much lived in since my heat.
Sweats and t-shirts. Boxers and t-shirts. Shirtless more often than not. And quite often naked. That has been basically my uniform.
I miss my nice clothes, the designer labels, the quality fabrics.
“What’s up?” she says after a couple rings.
“You working today?” I ask.
“I’m at work now. Why? Something up?”
“I want to get out of the house.”
“Aw,” she says, her voice low. “Trouble in paradise already?”
I know it’s meant as a tease, but I can hear the bite in her tone. She hasn’t held her tongue from the moment I told her about this whole thing. I can’t imagine what she’ll have to say when I tell her I’m not only pregnant but carrying the marks of two of the alphas…
The marks they obviously regret.
The sooner I accept this is temporary, the sooner I accept I imagined that connection, the mutual attraction, the sooner I can start healing.
Although, I don’t know how easy that will be when I have a piece of one of them growing inside me.
I force a chuckle even though her words feel like a knife to the heart. “Something like that. Any chance we can hang out later? I want to get out of the house for a while. The alphas are working on some big case and won’t be home until late every day this week. And next.” And until further notice. I.e., When the case is complete.
“Sure. What are you up for? Drinks? Dancing?”
“Not sure I’m up for clubbing on a Monday.”AndIcan’tdrink. But I keep that to myself for now. Really don’t want to tell my best friend I’m knocked up over the phone. “I’m going to head to my apartment for a while. Meet me there when you get off?”
She’s quiet a few beats. Then I hear a squeak that sounds a lot like an office chair. A door closes. Then she says, “Tell me. Are they assholes? You need some reinforcements? I can bring my brothers and pack up every one of your belongings and have you back at your apartment before the fuckers get home.”
A laugh huffs from me. “Nothing like that.” At least they’re not intentionally being assholes. “I’m just lonely. And I miss you.”
“Well, I’m not the one who locked myself in a mansion with big, strong, fertile alphas to knot me to within an inch of my life.”
Flashes of yesterday with Alex play through my mind but I push them away when it causes an ache in the middle of my chest.
“I know. Sorry. It’s been a crazy few weeks. Well? Meet me at my apartment?”
There’s another beat of silence. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
The backs of my eyes burn as I pull a pair of buttery soft jeans from a drawer then head to my closet for my favorite cashmere sweater. Just happens to be one Alex helped me pick out.
“Honestly? Not really. I’ll fill you in later. But don’t sit there stressing all day. Not like I’m physically in danger or anything.” I chuckle again, the sound forced. You know, since I literally had to force it considering the last thing I feel like doing right now is laughing.
“I’ll be there by six,” she says. “If you need me before then, call and I’ll leave work early. Or I’ll call my brothers.”
This time, the laugh is genuine. “You really got to stop weaponizing your family. I’ll see you later. Love you.”
“Love you more.” And with that, she ends the call.
Once I’m dressed, I pull on a pair of sneakers and grab my phone and the keys to my new car. Or I suppose it’s technically an SUV. I’m supposed to have a guard with me. Not that it’s a hard and fast rule, rather something the alphas requested.
I’ve taken care of myself this long without them. And no, I’m not one of those stupid ass characters you see in movies or read in books who runs into danger. I’m not at all worried about driving myself to the place where I’ve lived for the last five years.
