Page 34 of Bound Hearts

The way she says that causes me to break out a little smirk. “You sound so enthusiastic there,” I tease her.

She touches my arm to reassure me. “Don’t get me wrong. She is lovely and crazy about Lola, just… a little much.”

Shrugging a shoulder, I’m sure it sometimes comes with the territory.

“Did you find those vitamin C gummies I mentioned? They'll help you beat office germs.” Yesterday, she noticed my low energy and suggested them.

“I did, thanks.” It was in my shopping basket, buried under three pregnancy tests.

I try to nibble my sandwich, but it’s a no-go. It’s not even nausea; I just have no appetite. Looking around the busy lobby, I’m reminded of my job and career.

“Hey, can I ask you something?”

Elodie nods. “Shoot.”

My eyes focus on my sandwich. “A friend of mine may apply here. She has a baby. Lola goes to company daycare. How is that?”

“I mean, it’s convenient, and she loves it. If I had a choice, I would probably be home with her more. Also, it feels as though kids get sick more at daycare. I try not to check on her at lunch because she needs the structure, but it’s great having that option.”

“I bet Hayes must love it.”

“Completely. He mentioned getting a nanny once, and I nearly lost my cool. No joke, I feel so threatened that my daughter will love her more. But really, he’s happy he gets all of the daycare updates and is a bit more observant of ending the workday in time to pick her up if I can’t. Teamwork.”

“Teamwork,” I murmur. “You’re both good at it. So balancing work and a kid is okay?”

Elodie looks at me strangely. “It’s not always easy, but doable. You have a lot of questions. Is it someone I know? Do you have another best friend we don’t know about?” She pretends to be surprised.

I laugh. “No. Just someone from college.”

Lie of the century.

Curiosity and anxiety twist together as I try to see every angle, weighing my options.

“Anyway, I should get back to the office.”

“You barely ate.”

I hold my sandwich up, still mostly in the paper wrapper. “I’ll save it for later. I had a late breakfast, so I'm not that hungry yet.”

Elodie doesn’t think much of it, and I manage to return to my day and bury myself in contracts.

It works for a few hours, but eventually my mind short-circuits and reality crashes back in. I have to face what’s happening to me.

I sneak a glance at my phone resting on my laptop case, tapping my nail against the screen as I debate texting Foster.

But I refrain in the end.

By mid-week, the news has lost its sting. I finally slept through the night, and today I crown myself queen of compartmentalization. At the office, it’s all business—nothing else.

Stepping off the elevator, I’m tested right away. Foster is standing on the legal floor, charming the receptionist about a meeting with Celeste. He’s in his element, sharp in a dark three-piece suit. He glances up from his phone, does a double take, and his eyes lock on to me.

My heart stutters, but I steady myself with a practiced smile, reminding myself where I am.

Foster holds his finger in the air to the receptionist. “Can you give me a sec?” He doesn’t wait for the reply and walks straight to me. “Just the woman I want to see. I had a question about the contract you sent over.”

I squint, racking my brain for any emails I might have sent him. I trail after him into the hallway, far enough for privacy. Down the corridor, a man slips into an office, sunlight from the windows stretching into the space wide.

“Which contract?” I seriously am trying to catch up.