Page 67 of Forbidden Mistress

“Uh, no. Actually, we don’t,” I say. “That’s the great thing about free will—we can both just go about our lives and pretend nothing happened.”

He takes a step toward me, and I swallow. “Cass. We can’t ignore this thing between us. God knows I’ve tried over the years, but something is pulling at us both and we owe ourselves the chance to find out where it leads.”

I shake my head. “That might have been true before you took everything from me, Liam.” I swallow, suddenly feeling nauseous. Must be all the stress of the last couple of days. “I really can’t deal with this right now. I have enough on my plate.”

His dark brows are drawn together in concern. “What’s going on?”

I ignore his question. The elevator pings and the doors slide open. Saved by the bell. Literally. Two or three people file out, then I step inside. “I think it’d be better if we just stay out of each other’s way until you leave.”

Thankfully, Liam doesn’t follow me into the elevator. In an uncharacteristic act of mercy, he allows me to leave, his eyes locked on mine until the moment the doors block him from view. As soon as they slide closed, I release a relieved breath.

That evening, I’m sitting on the couch in the living room, half-watching a sitcom while staring at my phone when Haley walks in with a bowl of nachos. She plops down on the couch next to me and shoves the bowl at me. “Want some?”

The smell hits me like a Mack truck, and I pull away like she’s just offered me a platter of steaming cat poop. Bile claws up my esophagus once more. “Ugh, what do you have on those? They smell horrifying.”

She looks at me with some serious side-eye. “It’s regular nacho cheese, Cassie. You love my nachos.”

“No, they smell different. Are you sure the cheese hasn’t gone bad?”

She takes a chip that’s dripping with cheese and pops it in her mouth. She crunches loudly and appears to be analyzing the taste. “Nope, they’re fine.”

I shake my head and grimace, my stomach clenching. “Yuck.”

Haley puts her nachos down and twists her body to face me. “What’s going on with you lately?”

I stiffen under her scrutiny. “What do you mean?”

Her gaze flicks over me. “You’re more tired than usual. You’re not eating. I mean, nachos gross you out, for God’s sake. That’s weird.”

I shrug one shoulder and look away. I’m not comfortable being the subject of her concern—even though she’s right on all counts. But it’s probably because I’m so torn up over this Hart and Liam situation.

I glance back at her. “I’m just going through some stuff right now. I’ll be fine.”

Her eyes narrow. “Is this about the guy dressed up like a deer?”

“Stag,” I correct. “And…kinda. It’s complicated.”

“Well, whatever it is, I just want you to know you can talk to me about it.” Then she scooches close and pulls me into a tight hug.

The pressure on my breasts makes me flinch. “Oh, ow,” I cry out.

She lets go immediately and looks at me with renewed concern. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

“Yeah, it’s just my boobs,” I say, cupping them gingerly. “They’ve been so sensitive lately. Just the slightest touch is excruciating.”

She leans back and studies me again. “Tired. Grossed out by nachos. Painful breasts.” She points at me. “You need to take a pregnancy test.”

“What? No! I’m not pregnant. I’ve been taking my pill”—when I remember, but I don’t say that last part. “I’m just depressed or something. It’s nothing to worry about.”

She shakes her head. “If it were just the tiredness, and loss of appetite, then maybe. But sore boobs are a sure sign that something else is going on. My aunt had the same thing happen to her, and it turned out she was pregnant with twins.”

Oh, Jezus.

I lift my hands in surrender. “Fine, I’ll take a test tomorrow if that gets you off my case about it.”

Haley stands up and grabs my hand. “Oh, no, we don’t have to wait until tomorrow.” She pulls me up the stairs to Sam’s room. She knocks on the door once, then opens it. Sam is sitting on her bed, doing homework. “Hey, Sam, do you have that extra pregnancy test? Cassie needs it.”

“I don’t actually need it,” I rush to clarify. “Haley just thinks I need it.”

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