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“Oh, shoot.” Heidi’s eyes widen and gloss over. “I’m so sorry, Hope. I…”
“It’s fine.” Hope wraps her arm around Heidi’s shoulders. “I know what you meant.”
Charlotte stands and quietly leaves the room.
“Alexa came a little early.” Heidi squirms in her seat. “And I was not quite prepared for how gruesome things would be.”
Hope’s green eyes fix on me. “You have youth on your side, and all of us to support you. You’re going to be fine. And,” she flicks her gaze to Lilly, “Lilly will fight me on this, but I swear by the prenatal yoga program Swan put together for me.”
Swan blushes and glances at the floor. “Thanks, Hope.”
“I seem to remember you having a different opinion during your pregnancy, Hope,” Trinity says, tapping her finger playfully against her chin.
“You hush.” Hope leans over and swats Trinity.
“I believe it,” Shelby says. “Yoga’s good for lots of things.”
“It is,” I agree. “I recommend it to a lot of my patients when they finish physical therapy. Sometimes we combine the two. It can be really beneficial to anyone managing a chronic health condition.”
“I didn’t fight you on it,” Lilly argues. “I said, dragging my ass out of bed for yoga during the last trimester was bullshit.” She winces and bites her lip. “Sorry, Serena, we’re not trying to scare you.”
“After some of the things I’ve survived, this will be a piece of cake.”
“I’m already sold on the yoga.” Heidi rubs her hands over her stomach. “I’ve been meeting with Swan every morning.”
“You’ve been very diligent,” Swan agrees.
“Well, having a husband who’s supportive and actually helps makes a big difference too.” Heidi snaps her mouth shut and nervously glances around the room.
My heart squeezes. I’d forgotten about her first husband, Axel. Murphy and Alexa seem to have such a tight bond, it’s hard to think of him as anything other than her dad.
“I’m going to go help Charlotte with the cupcakes.” Heidi stands and rests her hand on Hope’s shoulder. “Do you need anything?”
“I’m fine, honey.” Hope pats her hand and gives her a warm smile.
“Grinder seems very involved, Serena,” Lilly says tentatively.
“This might sound weird, but he’s so sweet.” I sigh and look away, unsure of how to put my feelings into words. “He’s so happy about the baby. He doesn’t let me lift a finger. Just spoils me rotten.” No matter how hard I try, the darkness from my past creeps into my present to whisper that I’m not good enough. “I’m not used to being treated that way.”
“You absolutely deserve to be treated with love and respect,” Hope says, as if I’d projected my ugly thoughts into her head. “No matter what, Serena.”
“This makes my heart happy.” Lilly clasps her hands over her chest. “Z keeps teasing Grinder, calling him Grumpy. It’s good to know he has a sweet side.”
“Don’t they all, though?” Trinity’s mouth quirks. “It’s always jarring when I run into someone at the gym, or anyone really, who works with Wrath. They’ll talk about how gruff or scary he is, and I have a moment of ‘wait, are you talking about my man?’ I don’t see that side of him at home.”
Lilly holds her arms at her sides in an imitation of a wrestler. “It’s his size.”
“And the death scowl,” Hope adds.
“He also doesn’t have patience for bullshit,” Trinity says. “And ninety-nine percent of those sales reps who stop by the gym are full of shit.”
“I used to find Rock intimidating too.” Lilly nods at Hope. “I was worried about you that first night you let him take you home.”
Hope snort-laughs. “I was drunk.” Her smile fades. “But I knew I was safe with him.”
“Z only seems slightly more approachable because of his dimples.” Trinity taps her cheeks. “And he likes to joke around.”
“But hell help the person who threatens anyone in his family.” Hope shivers. “Then, he’s pretty terrifying.”
Lilly’s lips curl. “One hundred percent true.”
“Sorry, Serena.” Hope reaches over and pats my hand. “We were supposed to be talking about you and Grinder.”
I can’t help laughing. “It’s okay. I like listening to you guys.” For once in my life, I actually feel included and accepted. I don’t want to open my mouth and say anything that might disrupt that.
Trinity cocks her head, like she’s listening for sounds of impending doom. “We shouldn’t have left Heidi alone with the cupcakes.”
Hope shakes with laughter. “I think Shelby and Charlotte are there to supervise.”
“Murphy mentioned her sugar cravings have been out of control this trimester.”
I clutch my stomach. “Oh God, is that what I have to look forward to?”
“Everyone’s different,” Lilly assures me. “I barely wanted to touch food my first trimester. Then, I wanted salty stuff one minute and sweet the next.”
“I just liked slightly odd combinations,” Hope says. “Apple pie and strawberry ice cream was my favorite for a while.” She sticks her tongue out. “Sounds awful now, though.”
