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“A bit more sleep would be good, but that’s never gonna happen with three other kids in the house. All under five, too.”
I raise my brows. “Seriously? How do you manage? I hope your husband…” I trail off awkwardly, aware that I’m making assumptions about her life. “Sorry. Don’t mean to pry.”
I don’t want to encourage questions about my life. My secrets. I imagine how that may go.My husband? Oh, he’s a mob boss who’s probably going to kill me when he finds me. That’s if the Feds don’t find me first.
That likely wouldn’t go down too well as an opening move toward friendship. I study Nita’s expression, tired but still sporting a friendly smile and a sparkle in her eyes. Do I want to be friends with her? Is it possible to make connections here, without endangering myself or my baby? Or her?
“I don’t have a husband,” she says easily. She doesn’t seem upset that I’ve asked, simply gives a philosophical shrug. “He ran off as soon as I told him about this one.” She pats her stomach, and her smile dips. “Thank God. I hope he never comes back.”
“Oh. Well,” I mumble, not sure how to respond.
How bad must it have been for her to be happy that she’s about to have her fourth child without the support of a partner?
She laughs, a light tinkling sound that causes my lips to lift into an involuntary smile. “Don’t look so sad.I’mnot! Wanna have a drink after our appointments?”
“Um…”
“Oh, you know, not adrinkdrink. Like, a coffee or something, is what I meant. When I’m not heavily pregnant, I usually work in a diner not far from here. I still get a staff discount.”
Her hopeful gaze pins me, and suddenly I’m tired of being alone. Adrift among a sea of complete strangers with no one to talk to. Being disengaged really fucking sucks.
Rio will never know. He can’t hurt her like he did Dave and Shelley. It’ll be okay.“Sure. I’d love that, Nita. Thanks.”
The receptionist calls her name at that point, and she hauls up awkwardly to her feet.
“Great. I’ll hang out here after and wait for you. See you then.”
As Nita wobbles off for her appointment, I pray I haven’t just made the biggest mistake of my life. For me. Or for her.
2
“I am, indeed, a king, because I know how to rule myself.”
Pietro Aretino
Aria
The diner Nitasteers me to is only a block up from the clinic. When we’re finally inside and seated in a corner booth, she spears me with a curious look. “You in some kind of danger, Aria?”
“What? Why would you ask…”
She grins. “You kept looking over your shoulder as we walked—well, waddled I guess is the more accurate term—here. You’re still checking our surroundings even now. And you tookthatseat, which gives you a great view of the door and everyone who comes in here.”
Heat blooms in my cheeks. Checking for danger has become such a habit in the few months since I escaped from Rio that I hadn’t realized I was doing that today.
I can’t tell her the truth, but I need to give her something. It seems like forever since I had real friends, but I still remember how it’s supposed to work. Give and take.
“Yeah, I… err… I don’t want my ex to find out where I live. He’s…”Complex. Dangerous. Sexy as fuck and easily the scariest person I’ve ever met.I settle for, “Problematic.”
Her gaze is wise as she searches my face. Then she nods. “All good, hon. Everyone has secrets from their past in this part of town.”
I wonder what she means, and I’m about to ask when the server arrives with a pot of coffee. Nita accepts, but I shake my head.
“Could I please have tea instead?”
“And pie,” Nita adds. “Two slices of your apple pie. Thanks, June. With a side of ice cream for each of us.” She grins at me again. “My treat.”
“Oh no, I—”
