“What if he likes strawberry shrub?” That would be the worst. Could she be with someone long-term who liked a strawberry-shrub milkshake?
“What’s strawberry shrub?” Irina asked.
“Strawberry ice cream with vinegar,” Courtney said.
“Do they even make that?” Becca was clearly unconvinced.
“I don’t know. What if they do?” Courtney’s heart beat fast like Bax’s had earlier when she’d experienced the one contraction. “What if they do and Bax prefers that?”
She needed to ask. Find out.
She dug through her pocket for her cell but came up short.
“I left my cell on the bus.” Blah. Okay, fine. She’d ask him later.Deep breaths. In. Out. Drink the smoothie.
Her heart started beating at a more normal level when Becca’s eyes went wide.
Irina’s too.
Chet showed nothing.
“I don’t think you’re going to have to wait.” Becca stared at the glass door of the Shake Shack-A-Roo.
“Courtney?” Bax blew through like a Dimefront tornado, with Knox, Linx, Tanner, Mach, and even Hans hurrying after him.
Behind Hans was an entire pack of paparazzi and fans.
Courtney stopped mid-suck.
One paparazzo scuttled in front of Knox, aiming his camera toward Bax. Knox caught camera guy’s foot and fell right on back, taking Linx with him. Tanner hopped to one side. Mach to the other. Hans looked ready to strangle someone. Hopefully not her.
Knox and Linx recovered quickly, but the momentary distraction seemed to take the heat off of Bax and his momentum toward her.
“Thank fuck.” Bax strode across the store, apparently oblivious to the gaping customers and the mess he left in his wake.
She swallowed the gulp of smoothie. “Shouldn’t you be signing autographs?”
“You weren’t there.” His voice cracked. Damn. The guy had impressive vocal control, so his level of upset must’ve been extreme.
“I left a note.” She had. Just in case he came back before her.
“How do you think we found you?” Linx asked. He didn’t look amused either, and she knew he was privy to her milkshake routine because she often brought one back for him.
“I’m sitting down.” She held up the cup. “Hydrating.”
“You weren’t on the bus.” Bax pulled her up into a super-tight hug.
“Bax,” she said against his shoulder. “I always go for milkshakes while you guys do your thing.” This was not really new. “Sometimes if I can’t find milkshakes, I go for cocktails.” Not right now, for obvious reasons. One very obvious reason.
“How am I supposed to know that?” He held her back a little, and, well, damn, she hadn’t meant to worry him.
“Because you’re always there? I’m never there.” At some point, she sort of figured he’d noticed her absence.
The not noticing thing made her heart hurt. Not in a pregnant heartburn way, but in an emotional he-really-didn’t-care way. It stung. Ached. Actually, it freaking hurt.
“Good show, everyone.” Hans clapped his hands. “Grab yourselves a milkshake on Dimefront.”
“I guess it’s time to go back.” Becca stood.
