“Great. I thought we could get some food together?”
“Sounds perfect.”
The call disconnects and I lower my phone slowly.
Ray’s watching me. “What now?”
“My aunt’s here,” I say, adjusting the bags again. “A day early.”
“Perfect timing,” he mutters.
“She’s waiting at the casino,” I continue. “So . . . this conversation will have to wait.”
Something unreadable crosses his face at that, disappointment maybe. But he nods. “Fine.”
By the time we arrive back at the casino, my feet are throbbing.
The second we step through the doors, I spot Aunt Lucy perched on one of the bar stools like she owns the place, chatting animatedly with two members of staff behind the bar.
One of them is laughing so hard he nearly drops a glass.
She looks completely at home already.
“—and then I told him if he tried flirting with me again, I’d report him to his mother,” she says as we approach.
The bartender grins. “Bit harsh.”
“I’m a delight once people earn it.”
Her eyes flick up then, landing on me instantly. Her entire face softens. “Oh, sweetheart.”
She’s off the stool before I can blink, pulling me into a hug so tight I nearly lose hold of the shopping bags.
“There’s my girl,” she murmurs, holding me at arm’s length afterwards. Her eyes sweep over my face carefully, checking for damage only she can apparently see. “You look tired.”
“I’m pregnant,” I remind her.
“And he’s stressing you out,” she replies immediately, shooting a look past me towards Ray.
His expression flattens.
Lucy’s gaze drops to the bags hanging from my wrists. “And why exactly are you carrying those?”
Before I can answer, she reaches over and lifts one slightly. “Jesus Christ, Wynter. What’s in here, bricks?” I roll my eyes at her exaggeration.
Ray steps forward, taking the bags from me without a word.
“As I thought,” Lucy mutters. “Completely useless.”
“Nice to see you too, Lucy,” Ray says dryly.
She looks him up and down. “Can’t say the feeling’s mutual.”
I bite back a sigh as Ray’s jaw tightens.
Lucy, however, seems entirely unbothered by the tension she creates. She loops her arm through mine instead. “Right, I’m starving. The food on the train looked like someone had already chewed it.”
I laugh quietly. “We can eat here if you want. My feet are killing me.”
