Page 31 of Pretend it’s Forever

It looked good from where I was standing. She was all flushed and swoony.

Me:

Please stop. It was just a kiss.

Isabella:

How did it happen? I didn’t even know you two knew each other that well.

Me:

It just happened. And it’ll never happen again.

Isabella:

I’ll kill him.

I sighed, as that thought reminded me of exactly what Carson had promised. Danger radiated off that man, and even though I knew he most likely hadn’t ever killed somebody in truth, he had threatened Cale enough to make it happen. And the rage, well, part of me liked that.

Me:

We’ll talk about it at girls’ night. It’s nothing to worry about. It was just a nice kiss.

Nice had nothing to do with it, but I didn’t mention that.

Isabella:

Oh, we will be talking.

Blakely:

Leave off. Let her live. She deserves it.

My heart ached, and I ran my hand over my chest.

Me:

I love you all, and now I’m getting back to paperwork. Go bother one of the boys.

Harper:

I’m going to go bother Dorian. Because this is all his fault.

My lips twitched as they all agreed, piling on Dorian, and I set my phone down. I loved my family, all of them. But with so many of us, not only did it get confusing, it got to be a little too much sometimes.

When my phone rang, I didn’t bother looking at it. Of course it would be Isabella. My big sister needed to be protective, no matter that I had it on my own.

“I’m fine. Stop worrying about me.”

“Oh, really? That’s not what I hear.”

That sickly-sweet voice filled my ear, and my entire spine went rigid. My hands shook, bile coating my tongue.

“You’re not supposed to call me,” I told my ex-husband, hoping that the fear wasn’t evident in my voice. From the way that Cale chuckled, I had a feeling I hadn’t been able to hide it.

“I’m not supposed to be near you because of some judge. So interesting. But I’m not calling to hear about you. Or why you think you’re fine. I get to see them, Sophia. You know that. The law is on my side.”

“Is it? Who did you pay off to make that happen?”