Page 72 of Cruel Alpha Bully

I shake my head. “No, not yet.”

“That’s making things terribly difficult for us, you know!” Laura cuts in. “Why can’t you just ask at the ultrasound like a normal person?”

I rub my belly, which isn’t that big yet. “It’s a bit too early. Besides, we haven’t decided if we want to know or not.”

“Hello!” a voice calls from the hall. “The door was open, so we let ourselves in!”

Three older women appear in the doorway, and Mom hurries over to greet them. It’s Lorna, Sally, and Jen, Mom’s best friends. They’ve always been like aunties to me.

“Thank God you’re here,” Mom says to them. “We need at least, like, three more bread dips made.”

“Mom!” I groan. “Will you calm down with the food?”

“It’s a hungry pack we have,” Lorna says, hurrying over to kiss me on the cheek. “I hear just about everyone is coming, too.”

I’m excited to have so many pack members come to celebrate the baby, but nervous as well. It sounds like this party is going to be much bigger than I planned.

My phone rings. When I see it’s Bae, I grin so wide, I feel like I might break my cheeks.

“Hello,” I giggle, making all the girls in the room chuckle.

“Hi, beautiful,” Bae says. “I’m just finishing up a few things. I should be heading off in about an hour. How’s the party going?”

“Great! The girls are starting to arrive, and we’ll get going with gifts and games soon. Don’t rush, we’re still getting ready.”

“Okay, no worries,” he says. “I can’t wait to see you.”

“You saw me this morning,” I remind him with a laugh. “A few hours ago.”

“I know, but I miss you already.”

“I love you, Bae,” I say softly.

“I love you, too,” he answers. “I won’t be long, my love.”

“Okay, see you soon.”

We hang up with kisses. Everyone gushes about how sweet we both are, making me blush.

“By the way, dear,” Jen says, holding up a white envelope, “this was in the letterbox.”

“I wonder what it could be,” I mumble, ripping it open. It’s a single, neatly typed page.

Dear Gina,

We have received your inquiry, and we are pleased to inform you that we are currently looking for an experienced pianist to play at our key events. We are impressed by your experience and would like to conduct an interview very soon. We look forward to hearing from you!

The letter is signed by the director of a large establishment at the far end of town. It’s not a place I’m familiar with personally, but I have heard of it. Already, I can feel the excitement of performing coming over me—the hush of the crowd, the sound of my music beginning to fill the silence and echo around me, thrumming through my bones and singing in my blood.

“What is that, dear?” Mom asks.

“It’s a letter from a concert hall,” I say, holding it up so she can read it. “Bae must have sent the inquiry.”

“That’s so sweet,” Sally gushes, taking a look at the letter.

“I have to go and thank him,” I say, getting up.

“He’ll be home soon, won’t he?” Mom asks. “Why not just wait?”

---