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“I think I can manage the toast, but I’ll order the other stuff.” He brushed his lips over my brow and stood. “Sit tight. I’ll feed you and our love bug as quickly as possible.”
“Love Bug,” I murmured, touching my stomach. “I love that little nickname. Until we find out what we’re having, let’s call the baby that.”
Remington picked up his phone to order our dinner. “You got it, my love.” He flipped through the app he was on. “What else would you like?”
“Just the fries, wings, and toast,” I assured him as I pulled the blanket over my lap. My gaze fell on the open medication bottle. “Remi, is your head still hurting?”
“I’m good,” he said, put
ting his phone away and dropping down beside me. “Food will be here in half an hour. Do you want the toast now or with your wings?”
“You’ve had to take your pain pills three days in a row.”
He pulled me onto his lap and touched his lips to my cheek, then moved down to my neck, making me shiver. “Don’t worry about me. I’m fine. Toast now, or with the wings?”
“With the wings,” I murmured, pressing my head into his chest to hide my tears. Because I knew he wasn’t telling me the truth. He wasn’t fine. He was getting worse, and I was losing him.
--
Remington woke me the next morning with a kiss and to tell me he had something he had to take care of. He said it was for work and that he had to fly out, but he would be back no later than the next morning.
The sudden trip confused me because he’d turned all his business responsibilities over to his CEOs, but he was gone before I could get a straight answer out of him. Unable to sleep because I was worried something was wrong with him and he wasn’t telling me, I got up and started my day.
It was still really early, and I didn’t have anything to keep my attention occupied, so I spent the morning just wandering around the house looking for something to do. Bored, I scrolled through my social media to see if any of my family had posted anything interesting.
When I saw Lyric had posted a sonogram picture of his twins, announcing they were having boys, I couldn’t help wondering what the little love bug I was carrying under my heart would be.
But seeing Lyric also reminded me of his parents and the rift I’d caused between them and my own mom and dad.
Grimacing, I called the only person I could think of to help me figure out how to fix what I’d broken. Aunt Emmie asked me to come to her office for lunch to chat about it, and I didn’t hesitate to agree to the meeting.
I told the housekeeper I was going out so she would know to take Krush out for a walk while I was gone, and then told Jenner where I wanted to go.
When he pulled up outside the building my aunt owned several floors of, I got out before he could come around to assist me out. The action got me a warning glare from him, but I was too anxious to see my aunt to worry about my bodyguard disliking anything I did.
I did wait for him to walk in with me, though, and we made quick work of going through security. Upstairs, Aunt Emmie was already waiting for me at the elevators with a welcoming smile and a gentle hug.
“How are you feeling?” she asked as she ran her green gaze over me. “Shane told me you’re pregnant but not to tell anyone because you’re waiting to announce it to the others.”
I rolled my eyes. “I knew he couldn’t keep it to himself.” Linking my arm through hers, I let her guide me to her office. “I’m good. Just a little morning sickness. And weird cravings. I think Remington made up a work trip just so he doesn’t have to watch me eat crazy combinations.”
“I remember your mom always wanting sweet and salty things when she was pregnant with you,” she said with a laugh. “But with Mason, she wanted savory and spicy. Your dad said it matched your personalities perfectly.”
“You think so?” I touched my free hand to my tummy. “I’m all about the sweet and salty right now. Do you think my love bug could be a girl?”
“It’s a strong possibility.” At her office door, she glanced at Jenner. “I think she’s safe from here, Godzilla.”
He started to protest, but she smirked at him and closed the door in his face. I bit my lip to keep from laughing as she walked around her desk and took a seat facing me. “I ordered lunch for us. My assistant will be back with it soon. I had her get a few selections of your favorites.”
“Thanks, but I really don’t care if we eat or not.” I leaned forward after taking my seat across from her. “How do I fix this, Aunt Emmie? I swear I didn’t mean to cause trouble. I can’t stand the thought of Dad and Uncle Jesse being at odds.”
“I know that, Vi,” she rushed to assure me. “Look, I get where both your parents and Layla are coming from. I’m not taking sides in this, but I do want to help you. If I can.”
The fact that she didn’t seem confident that she could made me queasy. If Aunt Emmie couldn’t fix something, it really was unfixable.
“How bad was it?” I asked. “Did Mom and Aunt Layla get…physical?”
“You don’t look as if you really want to know the answer to that, sweetheart.”
