Page 47 of Seizing Control: Part Two

“I don’t know what to do.”

“All you can do, little Cherub, is guard your heart and hope for the best.”

After rolling my eyes, I quip, “Gee, thanks. Your wisdom is world-class.”

“I know.”

My best friend hooks her foot around the leg of the coffee table. She drags it closer, then props her feet on it. Settling back with her head resting against the top of the couch, Nadia clutches me tighter and makes me leans heavily against her. I lift my feet onto the coffee table too, then matching her posture, I allow my eyelids to drift shut.

Together, we sigh, a dense sound filled with relief.

The heavy weight of secrecy lifts from my shoulders.

A problem shared is a problem halved.

It feels good to have someone else in on my secret.

“For now, we sleep,” my best friend murmurs. “Then we go and find out the sex of your baby.”

My twenty-week scan is later today. It was supposed to happen at eighteen-weeks, but with all that was happening, I postponed it. After Doc made it clear that I need to leave the safety of the house to see a proper obstetrician, I rescheduled the appointment and organised with the Shamrocks to make the appropriate security measures. I can’t be seen to be pregnant until we’ve worked out how to account for Garrett in a way that doesn’t destroy our alliance with the Trinity.

With Slash on the east coast and Lazarus trapped in the dark, I was planning to go alone.

Nadia’s declaration that she’s coming is another sign of her devotion to me. Another indication that no matter what happens with my husband and my first love, I have her in my corner for life. She really is my ride or die... not matter how much she might spiral out of control at times.

“I didn’t even tell him about it,” I confess in a whisper.

“Lazarus or Slash?”

“Both of them.”

The arm around my shoulder flexes. “Doesn’t matter… I’ve got your back.”

“Do you think I should’ve let them know?’

“Do you think they would come if they knew?”

Shaking my head, I tell her, “Slash is a definite no… he doesn’t even ask about Garrett or my pregnancy.”

“And Ze—I mean, Lazarus?”

“He couldn’t, even if he wanted to.”

“Then the matter is settled,” she retorts. Through a wide-mouthed yawn, Nadia says, “They rarely worry about how their choices impact you, so maybe it’s time you offered them the same courtesy.”

“Okay.”

My best friend nudges me. “Now, let me sleep woman. I needa bring my A-game to this ultrasound. Can’t be lookin’ like a hungover mess the first time my godchild sees me.”

Nadia Appleton is a qualified nurse.

She once had aspirations of being a doctor.

I know she’s aware that the ultrasound doesn’t work like that.

But she’s doing what she’s done best for years.

Distracting me from my seemingly never-ending problems.

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