"I'll be careful," I promised. "And I'll text Rafe when I arrive and leave."
Edward looked like he wanted to argue further, but at that moment, Chef Lucia emerged from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron.
"Bella!" she exclaimed, her warm smile at odds with Edward's stern expression. "You go out? I make lunch for you here instead, no? Much safer."
I couldn't help but smile at her motherly concern. "I already have plans with my friends, Lucia, but thank you."
She clucked her tongue disapprovingly. "These friends, they not cook like Lucia. You too skinny still." She gestured vaguely at my body. "Need meat on bones to make babies with Mr. Rafe."
I choked on air. "We're not—I mean—that's not—"
"Lucia," Edward interjected, "perhaps Mrs. de Luca would like some privacy regarding her personal matters."
I shot him a grateful look, though my embarrassment only deepened when I noticed the faint twitch at the corner of his mouth that suggested he was holding back amusement at my expense.
"Fine, fine," Lucia sighed dramatically. "But you be careful, yes? Bad things happen to pretty girls who not careful. These letters, they worry Lucia." Making the sign of the cross, she muttered a prayer for my safety in Italian.
"I'll be fine," I assured them both, though the reminder of the stalker made my skin crawl. "I have my phone, and Rafe's private security has been watching the building. Nothing's going to happen in broad daylight."
After a few more assurances and promises to check in regularly, Edward finally relented. I left the penthouse feeling both touched by their concern and suffocated by it. Outside, the crisp autumn air filled my lungs, and I took a moment to simply breathe, to feel normal despite the abnormal circumstances of my life.
The café where we'd agreed to meet was a chic little place in the heart of Manhattan, known for its excellent pastries and coffee strong enough to wake the dead. I arrived early andsnagged our usual corner table, ordering a round of coffees and settling in to wait.
Kate arrived first, elegant as always in a tailored dress that suited her perfectly. She slid into the chair across from me with a warm smile.
"You look different," she observed, tilting her head slightly as she studied my face. "Good different."
Before I could respond, Izzy appeared, dropping into the seat beside me with her usual lack of ceremony. "Sorry I'm late. Some asshole client thinks the laws of physics don't apply to his commission."
"You're not late," I pointed out. "Evie's not even here yet."
As if on cue, my sister waddled into view, one hand resting on her swollen belly as she navigated the narrow space between tables.
"Sorry, sorry," she said as she carefully lowered herself into the remaining chair. "Everything takes twice as long these days, including peeing, which I had to do three times on the way here."
Laughing, I reached over to squeeze her hand. "You look amazing, Evie."
She snorted. "I look like I swallowed a beach ball, but thanks for the lie."
"Pregnancy suits you," Kate said firmly. "You're glowing."
"That's sweat," Evie deadpanned. "Apparently growing a human is like having a personal furnace installed in your abdomen. But enough about my bladder and sweat glands." She turned her sharp gaze to me. "You had news?"
Three pairs of eyes focused on me with varying degrees of curiosity and anticipation. I opened my mouth, closed it, then blurted out, "I think I'm in love with my husband."
There was a brief moment of silence before Izzy let out a triumphant whoop that drew startled glances from nearbytables. "I knew it. It's the dick, isn't it? He's wielding that magical light saber like a Jedi master, am I right?"
"Izzy," Kate hissed, though her lips twitched with suppressed laughter.
I buried my face in my hands, mortified and amused in equal measure. "Can you not reduce my emotional revelation to Rafe's sexual prowess?"
"So you're not denying he has sexual prowess?" Izzy pressed.
"I'm not discussing the details of my sex life in public," I insisted, though I knew my flushed cheeks probably gave me away.
When I dared to look up, I found Evie watching me with an unreadable expression. Her opinion mattered most.
"Are you... okay with this?" I asked her hesitantly.
