“Sounds like Ronan.”
“This whole mole situation has him completely wound up, and every time I speak to another man, even if it’s Stephen, he sees red.”
“That’s not good.”
“I don’t even think herealizeshow far he goes until it’s too late. I mean, he punched Stephen the other night, had the audacity to fire him, and then spent days hiding in his office like a coward. The only reason he apologized to Stephen was that I forced him to, and I wonder what he would have done if I hadn’t.”
Mila winces. “Shit.”
“Yeah, and even though Ronan and Stephen have cleared the air, I still feel like I’m walking on eggshells around him,constantly trying to figure out what will and won’t set him off like he’s a ticking time bomb.”
She squeezes my hand. “I’m sorry. That sounds like hell.”
I nod, biting the inside of my cheek as a wave of emotion hits me like a freight train.
I rest a hand on my stomach. “He’s trying, though. But I don’t know if he’ll ever change. Maybe this is just who he is, and I need to find a way to deal with it rather than force him to be someone he’s not.”
Mila nods slowly, the crease between her eyebrows deepening as she thinks for a moment. “Do you want my opinion?”
“Always.”
“He’s not the only one unraveling.”
I frown. “What do you mean?”
“You’re pregnant, which means you’re dealing with hormones, fear, and a literal warzone of emotional tension.”
“That’s one way to put it.”
“You’re going to reach your breaking point too.”
I nod, and Mila gives me her signature look that has me cringing.
“Please tell me you’ve told him about the baby.”
Now it’s my turn to wince.
“Ciara!”
“Don’t judge me. There hasn’t been a right moment, what with the whole punching the security situation.”
“That should have been theperfectopportunity.”
“Oh, sure…”
“I’m serious! He’s going to be a father, which means he has to set an example for his kid, and from what I’ve heard, he’s not setting a very good one.”
Well, shit.
“He deserves to know, and it might be the catalyst he needs to change for the better.”
Silence falls between us as I consider Mila’s words.
She makes a good point. Ronan will be setting an example for our child, and him throwing punches when he feels threatened is not a lesson I want them to learn. But he can’t change if I don’t tell him about the baby.
“Anyway, enough about me. How have you been?”
“I haven’t been doing great either.” Mila sighs, leaning back to rest her head on the back of the couch. “It’s been hard to get out of bed most days.”
