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“I know,” I agree with a heavy sigh. “I’ll deny I ever said it, but it wasn’t his fault. I’d just been at the doctor’s office and was distracted by the ultrasound picture. I wasn’t looking and just stepped out onto the road. It was stupid. My head is so consumed with these babies that I’m not thinking about the little things, and it’s getting me into trouble.”
Cass gives me a tight smile that’s followed up with a shitload of sympathy. “I bet,” she says. “I think I’m actually a little jealous. After Georgia was born, I’ve been thinking about having one of my own.”
“No, don’t do that,” I tell her with a laugh, the stress of those first few nights with little Georgia still so fresh in my mind. “I’m having two. We can share.”
“I don’t think it works like that,” she laughs.
The room falls quiet, and as I take a deep breath, I look up at her and press my lips into a hard line, willing myself not to be so obvious, but the curiosity gets the better of me. “How’s he doing?”
“Honestly, I don’t know,” she says. “I think he’s in shock and doesn’t know how to handle it. He only talked to me because he assumed I already knew and didn’t tell him. But the second he found out I had no idea, he completely shut off and didn’t say another word. Which is why I had to come here for myself. I needed answers.”
Shit. This isn’t good.
“I’m really sorry, Cass,” I tell her again.
She squeezes my hand again, giving me a small, encouraging smile. “It’s okay.”
I appreciate her trying, but we both know nothing about this is okay. “No, it’s really not.”
“You’re right. It’s not. But there’s nothing we can do about it now apart from moving forward and figuring out the best way for you to have a healthy, happy pregnancy.”
I give her a smile, which is when she finally relaxes into the couch and hits me with all the pregnancy questions. We settle into our usual friendship, and while it’s still a little strained, I know we’ll be fine. After all, I’m growing her newest family members inside of me.
I’m in the middle of telling her about the nipple biting dream I had when a banging sounds at the door. We look at each other, both our brows furrowed, but it doesn’t take long to figure out who could be trying to bust down my door.
“Brianna Lucas, open this damn door,” Carter calls from the other side.
“Shit,” Cassie mutters with a cringe. “I think I better go.”
“What? No. Don’t you dare leave me with him,” I beg. “He’s probably made his way through a whole bar by now and is on the rampage looking for more.”
“Sorry, girl,” she grins, the amusement in her eyes making me wonder if this is some kind of payback for lying to her for three months. “You got yourself into this mess.”
“Cass,” I whine, sounding like a child whose mom just told her she couldn’t have any candy.
The banging continues at the door. “Brianna,” Carter grunts in warning. “I know you’re in there. I can smell the deception wafting through the door.”
Fucking hell.
Cassie gives me a wide smile, enjoying this way too much. “You two need to sort this shit out, and soon. It’s in both of your best interests to find middle ground. Otherwise, this pregnancy is going to be a pain in everyones’ asses.”
I couldn’t agree more.
She starts to leave, and I grab hold of her, giving her my award-winning puppy dog eyes. “Please.”
“Nope,” she says, getting up and reminding me that those puppy dog eyes only ever worked on the asshole at the door, and something tells me they’re not going to work this time.
Carter bangs against the wooden door again, and I roll my eyes at his determination, but honestly, Cassie didn’t lock it behind her when she came storming in here. All he’d have to do is try the handle.
Cass strides across my apartment before grabbing hold of the handle and yanking the door open, and before she even gets a chance to move, Carter is storming in, stepping right into her and invading her personal space, his finger against her chest, more than ready to say what’s on his mind.
His eyes widen briefly, quickly realizing it’s Cass before backing up and pointing out the door and down the hallway. “Out,” he rumbles, that single word and the authority in his tone making chills race through my body.
“Already on it, brother,” Cass says, reaching up onto her tippy toes and pressing a kiss to his cheek. “Try not to be too hard on her. I know she hurt you, but she’s still my best friend. Besides, she’s in no state for stress.”
Cassie ducks under his arm and quickly disappears down the hallway as his piercing stare lifts to mine. My heart races, nervousness blooming through me, while distantly aware that I’m wearing nothing but my underwear.
