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“I mean I’m kinda loaded, babe. Maybe I’ll spend my money spoiling Charlie for a change. I’ve always wanted to know what it’s like being a sugar momma.”
“The two of you have the weirdest dynamic and I am here for it.”
Taylor winks. “Why thank you.”
There’s a knock at the door, jolting me. Ever since the fire, I’ve been nothing but a tightly wound bundle of nerves. The police still don’t have any leads, so my brain always jumps to the conclusion thatyep, this is the day I diewhen an unexpected sound reaches my ear.
It’s only Charlie.
I quickly shove my pregnancy book beneath the nearest couch cushion. He doesn’t know, nor do I have any plan of telling him any time soon. Knowing my luck, Charlie might tell Hunter, and if he tells Hunter…
“Sorry that took me so long, sugar,” he says to Taylor as he gives her a big sloppy kiss. They’re honestly so cute together it’s gross. “Our editing meeting went over our scheduled time. Boss man wasn’t happy with how they cut together the climax.”
My ears perk up.
“How is he?” I ask, despite myself.
Charlie’s smile is sympathetic. “He’s good, I think. Better.”
As heavy as my heart feels, I’m glad to hear it. Not a moment has gone by when I haven’t thought about him and how we left things. I think about him constantly. What is he doing? Does he feel as broke and empty as I do?
None of it was true.
You’re just like your father.
I regret the words I spoke in anger. If I could rewind time and take it all back, I would. I was too blinded by rage to think clearly. Hunter has never lied to me, and the more I think about it, the more I realize he’s too honest a man to even think about having an affair with a married woman. Hell, he was hesitant to even get involved withmeout of some chivalrous need to protect my honor.
Would it hurt to call him just once?
“We’re going out for dinner,” Taylor tells me. “Do you want to come?”
I shake my head. “No, you kids enjoy yourselves. I don’t want to be the awkward third wheel.”
“We’ll bring you back something,” Charlie offers, ever friendly.
“That’d be—”
A sharp pain spikes through me, cutting me off mid-sentence. I clutch my stomach and groan. It feels like a massive cramp, but ten times worse. I’m suddenly winded and dizzy, gasping for relief.
Taylor rushes to me. “Eden? What’s wrong?”
I stand up, unsure. I can feel something wet between my legs. When I turn around, my eyes widen and my heart plummets into the pit of my stomach. Tiny red spots stain the couch cushions.
“The baby,” I rasp. “I think something’s happening to the baby.”
“Oh my God,” Taylor cries, fumbling for her phone to call 911.
Charlie frowns, both concerned and confused. “What baby?”
“Ask questions later!” Taylor shrieks. “We have to get her to the hospital!”
Chapter 42
Tip #42: Normalcy is subjective.
EDEN
I’ve never felt this nervous before. I’m stuck in an endless spiral ofwhat ifand worst-case scenarios. The doctor gave me something for the pain which has thankfully subsided, but we’re still waiting on the test results to come back.
