Page 59 of Shark’s Rise

I heard Dori’s voice from across the kitchen. “Drink the water.”

I felt for the bottle, but Rio was already handing the uncapped container to me, mumbling, “She’s a miniature Shark. No wonder he liked her.”

The comment made me spray the water I just drank all over my sister-in-law’s face and chest, and then I burst out laughing even harder. Quickly, I found a towel and blotted frantically at Rio’s face and shirt.

“You did that to yourself!” I was still chuckling.

“I did, I did.” She joined my laughter.

We hugged each other for a full minute before Dori and I left, making one pit stop on the way home.

“What are we stopping for?” Dori asked as we got out of the back of the car. I still wasn’t used to pulling up to places in a limousine. It wasn’t uncommon in Los Angeles, and while people didn’t gawk as much as they would in a smaller town, they still looked to see who was “arriving.”

“I just need a few things,” I said, heading toward the front entrance of the store.

“Abbigail, I can do these errands for you. I don’t want you to overdo it.”

“Dori.” I came to a full stop while turning to face her. “I haven’t been inside a Target in months. Please don’t deny me my fix.”

Just then, my phone signaled an incoming text from Sebastian.

Get back in the car.

I screwed up my face while I stared at my phone. I looked at Dori with an accusatory glare next. “Did you tell him we were here? When did you have time to text him? This has to stop!” I went to stand in the shade of the building’s overhanging architecture.

She held her hands up in innocence. “Wasn’t me this time.”

Joel!

No. Can I get you

anything while I’m here?

I would address this new stalking problem when he came home later.

That’s what Dori is for.

I’m serious. Go home.

No.

Red.

The exact color I see right now.

Chapter Ten

Sebastian

Ten weeks later…

“Are you nervous?” I asked Abbigail while we waited for the ultrasound technician to come into the little room.

“Nope. I’m ready.” Sitting on the exam table, she swung her dangling legs back and forth to the beat of her drumming fingers. “Are you nervous?”

“Of course not.”

“Liar.”