Page 112 of Lethal Attraction

Loxley takes me in her arms, crushing me to her as she smooths a hand down my back. “Shhh. I know it’s hard to move past, but Reed doesn’t think for a second that you two don’t deserve each other. You can let yourself have good things, Thalia. You deserve happiness too.”

I sniffle into her hair, burning my face as my eyes screw shut. “I’m so worried about him. I-I can’t let him get hurt.” My voice cracks.

“Then don’t,” she whispers gently. “A lot of us will be staying in a hotel for a few days until this all blows over. We’ve already discussed the plan with Taryn and Emma. We’ll only be three hours away from the compound in Cincinnati.”

I close my eyes, letting everything flow out of me. I already know Reed won’t agree to leave me behind. He’s too good for anything like that. He’s going to want to be together through everything.

But I can’t allow that. Not when it’s possible, he could die because of me.

“Okay,” I say as we pull apart. “I’ll talk to him.”

She nods before grabbing the virgin pina colada mix and pouring herself another glass. “Everything is going to work out, you know? Just wait, and it’ll all fall into place.”

I smile despite the war raging in my head. Something wet splashes my shoes and I frown as I look down at the floor. There’s a massive, clear puddle under Loxley.

“Hey, did you piss yourself—OH, MY GOD!” I shout as realization slaps me.

All the color drains from her face as her head whips down to her feet. She waves her hands at the mess, words evading her as her eyes shift back up to me. Her mouth hangs open, but no sound comes out.

I do the same, my mouth gaping as I wildly motion to the liquid pooling on my kitchen floor. I glance up at her. Then back down. “Say something!” I finally urge.

“Ahhhhh,” she elongates before tucking her lips in. “Well, this is great. Can you call your brother for me before I pass out?”

I nod, fumbling with my phone.

“What’s going on in here?” Addison asks before she notices the womb juice? I don’t know what to call that on the floor. Her eyes widen. “Oh, fuck. Right now?!”

Loxley nods. “Yup. Seems so.”

“Okay,” Addison says calmly as she walks cautiously over to her best friend. She wraps Loxley’s arm around her shoulders before guiding her back towards the living room. “We got this, okay? Don’t panic.”

“What’s going on?” Bailey asks.

“Breathe, Loxley,” Addison coos. “Her water broke.”

“Oh,” Taryn says as if this isn’t a big deal at all. “You probably won’t feel contractions for another few hours.”

“Really?” Loxley asks breathlessly as I dial my brother’s number.

“Lie down so I can see how dilated you are,” Taryn orders.

Whatever the guys are doing, I hope its something they can abandon fast. Come on, pick up.

Chapter thirty-two

Reed

Ihave no idea where the fuck we are.

A tall building, like a dorm, stretches over the nearest sidewalk. We’re parked only a few feet away from it, Rowan’s truck idling as he taps his fingers on the wheel. He’s staring intently at a car that’s parked a vehicle ahead of us, the red taillights illuminating the back license plate.

“You had better be right about this,” Rowan warns his brother.

Atlas scoffs, his head rolling towards the center console from the passenger seat. “When have I ever been wrong?”

“I’m not answering that.”

I lean forward. “Um, where are we again?”