Page 68 of Cross Me

“He’s not that bad.”

“Really? So you aren’t angry at him?”

“Oh, no,” I said, shaking my head. “I’m pissed. He should have told me.”

“In his own incredibly twisted way, I think he was doing it for you.” She tucked her legs under her chin and sighed. “What are you going to do?”

“What can I do?” That was my problem. I didn’t know how to react.

“Will you leave him?” she asked bluntly.

“No!” My mouth hung open even considering her question.

“I figured that was only a hypothetical question,” she said dryly. “But I had to ask.”

“Why? I mean, it’s a big deal, but it’s not really leave-your-husband material.”

“You left him before,” she reminded me gently.

“Look how that turned out.” The memory tumbled in my mind, and my stomach lurched. I covered my mouth to be on the safe side. Just the thought of leaving him—truly leaving him forever—made me sick.

“Clara, you’re okay.” Belle wrapped an arm around me and I dropped my head to her shoulder. “I was just trying to make a point that this time it’s different, right?”

“I left the first time because I thought he didn’t want me or the baby. I thought he didn’t love me,” I said, working through the painful memories. “He pushed me away then, but this time he’s trying to keep me close—maybe a little too close.”

“Oh, he’s an overbearing arse,” Belle confirmed and I couldn’t help but laugh at her matter-of-fact tone. “But he never stopped loving you. It’s hard to love a stubborn man. Believe me, I know.”

“Is Smith bad?”

“He makes Alexander look like a wallflower.”

“How do you do it?” If that was true—and I doubted it—she made it look easy, somehow.

“I don’t let him get away with it. When he pulls that alpha male crap, I remind him I’m in charge,” she teased, dropping her voice to add, “Except in the bedroom. I don’t mind being at his mercy there.”

“Ms. Price,” I said, pretending to be shocked. In truth, I was a bit.

“Don’t act like I’ve offended you. Every girl needs to be tied up once in a while. It reduces stress. Less stress equals less wrinkles. It’s good for the skin.”

“How scientific.” Giggles spilled from me and I drew away to eye her carefully. She did look incredible. I’d thought it was all pregnancy glow. “So that’s your new skincare regime?”

“Oh, love,” she said, winking at me. “Submission is the new Botox.”

We laughed for a minute before my thoughts drifted back to my own husband. He was trying, which had to count for something. That didn’t mean I was going to go easy on him.

“You’re going to get through this,” Belle murmured, sensing the shift in my mood.

“I just need time, and”—I patted my stomach—“I have other things to worry about.”

“Have you been feeling any better?” she asked sympathetically.

“Much better. I think hitting the halfway point helped.”

“Twenty weeks already? No wonder you’re showing so much more than me.” She frowned as she studied her flat stomach. “I’m only ten weeks.”

“You’ll be big as a house soon,” I promised her. Twenty weeks meant I was due to see Dr. Ball. I hadn’t really thought about it since I’d gotten back from Silverstone.

“Hey.” Belle smacked me on the shoulder. “You disappeared again.”