Page 40 of The Wrong Side Of Us

My hand automatically searched out her tiny bump, and she sighed, her eyes closing once again.

“I got a call from the prison today,” she whispered.

Oh shit.

I pulled back from her, looking at her wide eyed. She seemed oddly calm despite the circumstances.

“What happened?” I asked, trying to keep calm. There was no need for exasperation if Evie appeared okay.

“Hannah wanted to talk to me,” she murmured, sitting up. I sat up next to her, studying her actions. For a moment, she seemed nostalgic as a sad smile appeared on her face. However, it disappeared, instead replaced by hope. “She wants to see me, Nathan.”

I tensed. Yes, I understood how that could potentially be good thing for Evelyn, but I wasn’t fond of the idea of having her grow close to Hannah. Not if she was going to hurt her again.

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea, Evie.” I tried not to sound judgmental. Evie’s lips tilted down, and I swallowed. This was going to be harder than I thought. “Baby, you know how she is, and I don’t think having her around during the pregnancy is a good idea. You’re already having a hard time and I—”

“I want to know what she has to say, Nate,” she said, tilting her head to the side. “For whatever it’s worth, everyone deserves a chance to be heard, and I want to hear her out.”

“It’s not a good idea, Evelyn.”

She crossed her arms over her chest, raising a defiant eyebrow.

Oh, damn.

Here we go.

“I can make my own decisions. My decision is to visit her, hear her out.”

“Okay, but—”

“But I’m not done,” she hissed.

Jesus.

I needed to learn not to pick a fight with my pregnant girlfriend.

Especially when she’s just woken up.

“I am smart enough to know whether or not she is lying to me, and I’m not stupid to believe everything she says. I am not the stupid little girl that she messed with, so you should have a little more faith in me. Now, I can do this with or without your support. It’s your choice.”

Sighing, I raised my hands in defeat. “I’m just looking out for you, Evelyn.”

“I can look out for myself.”

“I can help.”

“Stop smothering me.”

“Stop being stubborn.”

“I’m not stubborn!” I gave her a pointed look as she proved my point. Evie wrinkled her nose and looked away. “This isn’t me being stubborn. I’m just…not agreeing with you. This is arguing…as adults, which we are. Adults argue and prove their points and—”

“And now you’re just rambling,” I interrupted, pulling her onto my lap. She obliged resentfully, though she couldn’t hide the way her gaze fell to my lips.

Those hormones. I fucking loved them.

“You can’t blame me for wanting to protect you,” I whispered, my hand going to the hair tie that held her hair back. Her breathing hitched with the small action, and I smirked, knowing her well enough to know what she was thinking. I brought her face to mine, pressing a small kiss to her lips. “I just don’t want you to get hurt again.”

Her lips parted, and I took advantage by kissing her, her back arching towards me with the action.

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