Page 100 of Code Violation

Right at that moment, the woman in question pulls the curtain back and steps into the main room.

I can barely form words as her mom, Mia, steps around her daughter, both hands covering her mouth and tears in her eyes.

“Holy, Vera Wang!” Marley exclaims. Like June and me, she hasn’t seen the lacy fishtail dress Will picked out for his fiancée. “I take it all back. William Jones is, in fact, a genius when it comes to your body and what will suit it.”

Drew props a hand on her hip, eyes fixed on the top of her head. “Okay, yes, I concede too. The dress is perfect, but this tiara has got to go. I look ridiculous.”

Marley gasps and walks toward her sister. “No, no! You have to keep it. It’s beautiful. Plus, it cost, like, ten thousand dollars, so I’d definitely not lose it.”

Drew balks, sputtering out, “What?!”

“More money than sense,” June sings beneath her breath. “I told him the tiara was too much, but he just wouldn’t listen. He never listens to me.”

I quirk a brow at her. “And you listen to what he says?”

She waves away my comment. “I’ll tune in to his opinions and advice when he starts talking sense.”

Mia takes us all in, tears now flowing freely down her cheeks. “I just think you all look perfect. A February wedding, dressed in pink and red, was absolutely the right decision and not the cliché I was worried about.”

I smile at Drew. “Thank you for not insisting on us all wearing the same dress style and color, and I really think an additional fitting was the right call. I can actually breathe in this bodice.”

She studies me for a beat. “How are you feeling today?”

As if my body can sense her question, a burp rises up my throat.

Goddamn acid reflux.

“All good.” I give her a thumbs-up and then burp again. “Pregnancy is every bit the walk in the park I anticipated it to be.”

My girls all fall into laughter before one of the dress store owners begins handing out champagne, and I decline the fresh orange juice on offer.

“Are you going to be well enough for work tonight?” Drew asks, swallowing down a sip of champagne.

I already feel exhausted, just thinking about it, but I somehow manage an enthusiastic smile. I need the money, I want to keep my job, and it’s not like Silas is free tonight since the boys are out celebrating Will’s bachelor party.

“Yep!” I burp for a third time. “I promise I’ll be fine.”

It’s past one in the morning when I finally walk into my apartment and kick off my sneakers.

When I do break the news to the owner, I originally planned to tell him that I’d work right up until my due date, but based on the broken way I feel tonight, I’m starting to question how long I’ll actually last.

Working a shift at Riley’s is hard enough, let alone when you’re growing another human.

But in good news, my appetite has returned, and while I have multiple prepared meals Silas dropped off the other day, the baby is craving one of my favorite foods—pizza. Only this time of the veggie variety. The smell of meat might turn my stomach, but I refuse to sacrifice jalapeños or extra cheese. Acid reflux be damned.

Sending my order through to the pizza joint I always use, I shoot a message to security, instructing not to delay in allowing the delivery guy upstairs because this pregnant girl needs to eat. Then I pad into the bathroom and start filling the tub with warm water and bubbles. Back when Drew and I used to live together, she was obsessed with Bath & Body Works, and apparently, that has rubbed off on me.

Lighting a couple of vanilla candles, I set them on the bathroom counter and pull out my phone when I feel it vibrate in my pocket.

Silas

Full disclosure: I’m still out with the guys when all I want is to be wrapped around you. How was your shift?

Me

I just walked through the door, and I’m filling the tub. Care to join me?

Silas