Tobias jumps up and goes to close the door behind us, motioning that it’s okay for me to take off my ear protection. “Holy shit. What are you doing here?”
“Maren has been nice enough to let me tag along while she works so I can check this place out.” I was hoping I’d feel a little better once I took the ear things off, but I still feel weirdly overheated. “You guys are really busy back here.”
Tobias rakes a hand through his dark hair, smile slipping. “We’re so fucking far behind I don’t think I’m ever going to get caught up.”
I try to shoot Maren a look so she pays attention to the swear Tobias just dropped, but instead of picking up what I’m putting down, my new friend is looking at me strangely.
“Are you okay?” She drops the box of ink pens in her hand and starts toward me. “You don’t look so good.”
I try to wave off her concern, but my arm ends up floppingweirdly instead. “I’m fine.” My tongue doesn’t seem to want to work right and the words come out a little garbled.
“Mariah?” Tobias steps closer, his eyes narrowing as they move over my face. “What’s wrong?”
What’s wrong is pregnancy is stupid and obviously doesn’t like me. “Maybe I should sit d?—”
I can’t finish, because my body decides it’s already going down.
“Catch her.” Maren’s voice sounds so far away.
“Holy shit.” Tobias grunts, and my body bounces a little. “Call Titus right fucking now.”
I try to blink, but my eyes stayed closed. I’m in a familiar position, but not a familiar space. The arms holding me are strong, but not right. The chest under my cheek is probably plenty attractive, but it doesn’t have a familiar feel or scent.
I don’t like it.
“He’s not answering.” Maren sounds panicked.
But not as panicked as Tobias. “Go find him. I don’t know what in the hell’s wrong with her, but he’ll kill me if I sit here and wait until we get a hold of him. Tell him I’m taking her to Willowdale.”
My body bounces with a steady beat, but I can’t identify what’s going on. I want so much to tell Tobias this is fine. ThatI’mfine. But my mouth isn’t working any better than my eyes. When I try to talk, all I do is make a weird groaning noise.
“Hush. Just relax.” Tobias's voice is calm now. “You and I are going to go to the hospital real quick. You’re probably fine, but Titus will kick my ass if I don’t make sure.”
I don’t need to go to the hospital.
Well… maybe that’s not entirely true, but I don’twantto go. Not when it’s just another obvious example of what a shitty mom I am. Can’t even figure out how to stay conscious.
“Here we go.” Tobias jostles me around, and then I’m in some sort of seat. An engine starts—loud and vibrating—and then my body jerks as we take off. “It will take us twominutes. I can get you there before an ambulance could have even pulled out of their garage.”
I start to feel heavy. My limbs. My head. My mind. The last thought I have before everything goes black is how grateful I am it’s Tobias who had to whisk me away.
Because Trevor would have lost his shit if he’d been forced to pretend like he was anything other than the asshole he’s convinced everyone at McKinley Security Systems he is.
32
Titus
“You’re really getting the hang of this leaving your house shit.” Trevor slaps me on one shoulder, looking annoyingly proud. "You want me to have them put an office in here for you?"
My reaction to his offer is visceral and swift. I can't stop the full-body grimace that clenches my ass cheeks and tightens my throat. "No fucking way."
I’m happy to come in once a week and meet with my team. I think it's actually been really good for productivity and my own understanding of how things work amongst them. But one day a week is more than enough.
It'll definitely be more than enough once the baby comes and I'm helping with feedings and diaper changes.
"If you change your mind, just let me know." His grin turns to a smirk. "I'll even add one for Mariah right next to yours if it makes you happy."
I'm not going to claim that wouldn't make me happy. I'm also not going to try to make my brother think he's headed down the wrong path. I won’t attempt to convince anyone Mariah and I don't have something going on. I’m just not confirming it either.
