“Well, in regards to the pregnancy, I throw up every morning. I’ve realized that hunger is not my friend, so I’ve actually started keeping dry crackers on me wherever I go. And don’t even get me started on the exhaustion. But at the same time, the symptoms are almost comforting, like my body’s reminding me it’s making a baby and doing what needs to be done.”
“That’s great. After everything you’ve done to get here, you deserve it.” A frown formed between his brows as he added cocoa powder to the pan. “And the other stuff?”
“I’ve been trying not to think about it.” Although, she was not always successful. This morning, she’d made Colt check the back seat of the car three times before she felt safe enough to get in.Three. That fear probably wouldn’t go away for a while.
“You know you’re safe with Colt, right?”
Was the fear as thick in her voice as it felt in her chest? “I know. I’m mostly scared something will happen to me and hurt the baby.”
Even thinking about the possibility made a shudder crawl down her spine.
“Nothing is going to hurt you or the baby.” The ringing of Noah’s cell cut through the room. “Hang on, it’s Addie.” Instead of putting the cell to his ear, he hit speaker while he continued to prepare the hot cocoa. “Addison, everything okay?”
“Addie,” the voice on the phone corrected.
Indie frowned at the instant smile on Noah’s face. Did he call her that, knowing she preferred Addie? Just to get a reaction out of her?
“Addie. What’s happening?”
“I’m just finalizing details for the opening party and someone named Burt called. He offered to donate some pizza—”
“No!”
Indie chuckled under her breath.
Addie was quiet for a second. “Really? He seemed really nice. He won’t charge you. Said something about how proud he was of you and Colt.”
“Addison—”
“Addie.”
“Here’s my pro tip, now that you’re living in Amber Ridge. Don’t eat Burt’s pizza.Ever. Don’t even smell it. It’s not like any of the pizza in Bozeman. In fact, I would go so far as to say it’s the worst pizza in Montana. Maybe America.”
“It can’t be—”
“It is.”
Oh, it definitely was.
“Um. Okay. I’ll let him know we don’t need any.”
“But say it nicely. In fact, don’t worry about it. I’ll call him tomorrow. I like Burt.”
“You like Burt, but not his pizza?”
“Yeah, he’s great.”
“Uh…okay. I’ll leave it with you, then.”
“Good. Everything else okay?”
“Yeah. It’s been easy. You’ve left some great notes.”
“Ihavebeen told that I’m the master of note leaving. Call if you need anything else.”
“I will.”
Noah hung up, another ghost of a smile on his face as he lifted two mugs and carried them into the living room.
