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Alexa:What can it hurt?
Whitney:My heart lol
Alexa:I’m not saying go marry the guy. Just get some fancy dinner and enjoy.
Whitney:Fine. Shoot me his info.
Alexa:YESSSS!
Half horrified, half thrilled, I flopped back on the bed, my mind whirling. My hand dropped immediately to the thickness at my belly. I had the perfect dress. I could wear heels. I bit down on my lip, pulling my legs under myself as I wondered what Gates would do while I was being wined and dined. I grimaced. Well, just dined. Hold the wine.
The text came across, and an instant later there was a text from him as well. And Alexa was right. He seemed genuinely excited.
I shot off a response. Dinner did sound amazing.
***
Emerson
I had to give the guy credit. So far, things were looking top notch. He had offered to pick her up, to which I’d only glared and rolled my eyes. She’d chosen to meet him there but conveniently left out the part about me coming with her.
Which was fine. I was fairly sure that bringing me to the date was an automatic buzzkill. I knew that she’d been a bit flustered since last week.
After that appointment, I’d gone home, my mind awash in the sounds of my baby. Of the way her skin felt on mine. And then I’d done what I’d done almost every day that month. I’d moved down the hall to the room across from mine. It had been painted a soft yellow now, my handiwork from a few weeks before. Then I’d spent my night alternating between staring at the live feeds of Whitney’s house and setting up baby furniture.
I wasn’t sure which gave me more pleasure. The ability to know she was safe, or the reality of feeling my child’s future come into fruition.
But that wasn't what tonight would be. Tonight was watching Whitney go on this farce of a date. I gritted my teeth and found them again, watching her elegant form tuck into the waiting chair.
I drifted away to lurk at the fancy bar to one side. Just busy enough that I didn’t look out of place, but with a perfectly clear view of Whitney. The bartender looked me up and down, smiling slowly as he noticed the bits and pieces of wealth on my person. I narrowed my eyes, unafraid and unwilling to stand down. He must’ve noticed, because he gave me a shallow nod of respect.
“What will it cost me to sit here until she's done?”
The bartender’s eyes flickered to Whitney. “Depends. What are you doing following the girl?”
“I’m her bodyguard.”
“Interesting.” With a slow nod, he moved to the back of the bar and poured three fingers of whiskey into a glass and put it in front of me. “That ought to do it.”
“My thanks.” I tipped a card in his direction and turned my attention back to Whitney as he ran the card.
I didn't want a single thing clouding my mind around her, other than the ongoing lust that seemed to follow me. Whiskey would do me zero favors tonight.
I perched at the edge of my seat until precisely at eight o’clock, her date arrived. Tim. He was in a nice suit, matching a nice haircut with a nice smile to go on top. I snorted as she rose to press a quick hug against his body. Not much for chemistry. She immediately dropped back into her chair, smoothing her hair as she moved.
Then again, she never did stuff like that around me. Well, maybe the first hour or two I’d been there, but ever since it’d been all eye rolls and huffing laughter and even more than a few teasing grins.
I wondered if she wrinkled her nose at him when she laughed like she did me. I wasn’t sure when that became so goddamned cute. But it was.
I hoped our baby did that too.
My eyes strayed briefly to the drink I held, swirling it as I pretended to be having a drink alone. Tim and Whitney had settled in, their voices drowned out by the surrounding dinner guests. It made my skin crawl to not be able to see her face. I wanted to know what she was thinking, and she was horrible at hiding her expression.
But still, I sat. I did the job I was supposed to. Holding my overpriced Scotch as one hour ticked into almost two.
Finally, when the bill arrived, my lips quivered. At least this could be my little joke at the end. I saw the moment the waiter leaned in, whispering something to Whitney as she turned to him.
Her shoulders stiffened, and I knew she would be flushed with what she considered righteous anger. Cackling to myself, I took a short sip of my drink, just to leave the taste on my tongue, and stood to shadow Whitney across the dining room.
