CHAPTER ELEVEN
I take a step toward him. Ryan’s gaze softens as I do, the anger in his expression fading into something else. Something hopeful.
“Ryan,” I whisper.
“Yes?” he replies without hesitating, moving closer, his hand twitching.
The fire door from the ballroom suddenly swings open and the two of us spring apart as Isabella Blossom appears. She slams the door shut behind her, before leaning against it and shutting her eyes in despair, rubbing a hand in circular motions around her bump.
“Isabella, hi!” I begin, my cheeks still burning from my interaction with Ryan.
She opens one eye to look at me. “Oh, hey, Harper. How are you?”
“Good. Are you doing okay? I didn’t realize you were here.”
“Yeah, well, maybe I shouldn’t have come,” she admits with a heavy sigh. “I was determined to save face by showing up tonight. You know, make sure the world knows that I’m not a big mess after the breakup and—”
She pauses, opening both eyes this time to study Ryan suspiciously.
“Don’t worry, I can vouch for him,” I assure her. “He works with me.”
“So he’s a journalist,” she surmises grumpily.
“Yeah, but anything you say here is completely off the record. He’s not interested in that kind of journalism anyway, isn’t that right, Ryan?” I say, tapping his arm.
“Yes,” he says quickly, nodding.
“I like your dress,” I comment, admiring the pale pink tulle skirt.
“Thanks. It’s Versace.”
“I didn’t realize Versace did maternity wear.”
She chuckles, wiping her forehead. I can see that she’s sweating and she doesn’t look too steady on her feet.
“Are you okay?” I ask again, watching her with some concern.
“Yeah, fine. Sort of. Everyone’s being so nosy and fake in there. I kept trying to smile my way through it, but it got a bit much,” she admits, before suddenly grimacing and adding in a strained voice, “Also, I think I might be having contractions.”
Ryan turns to me in alarm.
“Y-you what?” I ask, my eyes widening at her.
She can’t answer, instead letting out an “argh!” and shutting her eyes tight.
“Isabella, oh my god,” I say, rushing over to her. “You’re having contractions?”
“I know. I’ve been having them a while now. Such bad timing.” She winces. “I need to put a pause on them.”
“You can’t put a pause on contractions!”
“I have to, Harper!” she cries, her eyes filled with anguish. “I need to show all those people in there that I’m over Elijah! They all think I’m falling apart. That’s why I had to come tonight, despite the fact my water broke this morning. I had to show them I’mfine.”
“Isabella,” I say slowly, taking her hand, “if your water broke, you are having yourbaby.We need to get you to the hospital.”
“The baby won’t come for a while yet, don’t worry,” she says, shaking her head. “It can take hours after the water breaks foranything to really begin. And anyway, we can’t go to the hospital. Not right now.”
“What?”
