Page 99 of More Than Words

Zipping up my suitcase after I disconnected the call, I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down enough to get through today. Two back-to-back signings and the dinner awaited us today, and I didn’t want to draw the focus from Evan. Tonight was his grand proposal to Chase, and I knew Adrian would never keep his mouth shut if I told him before tonight.

“Hey, babe,” he greeted, kissing me on the cheek before opening the passenger door to his car.

The strong, sickly sweet smell of my usual coffee order hit me as soon as I put my hand on the doorframe to step in. My stomach rolled, and I knew I’d never be able to make it four hours in the car with that smell.

“Oh, shit. I left my folder with the itinerary for today on my desk. I’ll be right back.”

Not giving him a chance to respond, I grabbed the cup and escaped toward my building, holding back the bile creeping up my throat while I swiped my keycard.

I looked back, making sure Adrian wasn’t watching as I slipped around the corner next to the elevator and into the single stall bathroom, wrenching the lid from the cup in my hand. I turned on the water, pouring the coffee down the drain while I took shallow breaths through my mouth.

It didn’t work, and my chest heaved as I escaped into the stall, retching over the bowl, but nothing came out since I hadn’t eaten this morning.

Bracing my hands on the toilet seat, I tried to relax—closing my eyes and taking deep breaths. When I felt like my stomach wouldn’t revolt, I retreated to the sink, washed my hands, and rinsed out my mouth before I turned off the water.

Adrian was on his phone when I walked out the front door of my building, a frown pulling at his lips as he hung up while I walked in his direction.

“Was the folder not there?” Shit. I hadn’t even made it to my apartment.

“Must be in my bag.”

“Where’s your coffee?”

Shrugging, I brushed past him and lowered myself into my seat, thankful the coffee smell hadn’t lingered. “I was thirsty.”

“Yeah, you do like to guzzle the creamy stuff in the morning.” He laughed at his own joke, closing the door, and walking around to the driver’s side. “Your croissants are in the same place as last time.”

Their existence seemed like a bomb waiting to go off. Hesitantly reaching behind his seat, I pinched the top of the paper bag, pulling it across the console and setting it in my lap like it was going to explode if I wasn’t careful.

He pulled away from the curb and I carefully unfolded the top, hesitantly leaning forward to sniff the contents. Thankfully, my empty stomach growled, and I reached in to grab one, taking a bite and humming before I relaxed back into my seat.

“That sound is gonna get you into trouble,” he laughed, reaching over to place his free hand on my thigh.

Covering my mouth with my hand, I swallowed enough to talk. “Keep it in your pants. We’ve got a busy day.”

“I could always practice knocking you up in the back seat at the next rest stop.”

“While that sounds so romantic, gonna pass. We don’t have time.” And he wouldn’t need to practice until the next kid.

Fuck. This pregnancy was clearly messing with my head if I was thinking about having another baby with him while this one was still in the incubation process.

“Just wanted to make sure you knew I’d be willing to put in the effort for you.”

“Thanks,” I laughed, finally feeling the weight start to lift from my chest. “Nice to know how much you’re willing to sacrifice to get the job done.”

Now to gather the courage to tell him he’d already accomplished it.

ISOBEL

New York

Evan was just as much of a romantic as Chase. And part of me envied her right now. Adrian, Sam, and Chase’s brothers had turned the courtyard in the center of The Met Cloisters into a surreal, romantic dream this morning after we’d arrived. Twinkling lights hung from the archways, and a long table set up nearby covered in lush floral arrangements and a variety of ornate platters.

The garden where he intended to propose was filled with summer flowers, the fragrance amazing, but too strong for my stomach, so I’d left the men to finish setting up the lights and rose petals Evan had requested. I waited in the main courtyard, idly flipping through my phone while some of the other guests started arriving and the sun sank in the sky.

“Isobel,” Kristine greeted when she joined me, smiling for once. I’d thought she’d be desperate to escape everyone involved with the tour, but she’d readily agreed to the invitation for tonight. She didn’t know the hiring committee’s decision yet, so I wouldn’t spoil it for her, but I was going to miss her when she moved on.

It felt like so much of my life was changing all at once, and I blinked hard when she hugged me, trying to fight off the urge to cry. Fucking hormones.

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