Page 52 of Mind

“She’s yours, Chase. Yeah right, over your dead body!” I promise to the room. Looking at all the images of my girl staring back at me. Her image calms me and I’ve got thousands of them now, plastering the walls like wallpaper. My own Gillian room.

“Can’t wait to bring you here, my love. Soon. Soon we’ll be together again. I swear it.”

Chapter 16

Gillian

“He’s driving me crazy already!” Bree groans dramatically, slumping into the booth. We’re at our favorite Irish Pub sitting at our table. I caress the shape of the trinity symbol in the table with my finger, appreciating the familiarity of the trinity in our lives and the circle protecting it.

Maria pushes the plate of melted aged cheddar towards Bree. “Eat. You’re bitchy already and you’re only like what, all of three months pregnant?”

Bree huffs loudly. “It’s just that he wants it all the time now, and I don’t want to hurt him,” her bottom lip puffs out.

“What did the doctor say?” I ask genuinely interested in the details about sex while pregnant.

She pinches a crusty piece of bread, plops it in her mouth then swings the piece around. “He said I’m totally fine. Baby is healthy, heartbeat looks good. It was so sweet when Phil heard the heart beat and got to see the image on the sonogram.” Her eyes light up and she hugs herself. “He was mesmerized by the image of our baby. He’s really going to be great. Hopefully, he’ll teach me a thing or two.”

“So what’s the problem? Hispene roto?” Maria asks.

Nudging her arm I respond, “Stop it! You always think men’s penises are broken.” I laugh. Maria shrugs and sips her Poorman stout, our standard drink when in our favorite pub.

Bree exhales loudly. “It’s just he’s finally starting to feel better and he’s crazy horny which makes me insanely turned on. I don’t know, this baby just makes me want dick. You know,” she looks at both of us. As if on cue both Maria and I shake our head no at the same time then burst out laughing.

“What’d I miss!” Kat runs up sliding into the booth next to Bree giving her a hug. Then she leans down and gives the belly a pat. “How’s our girl doing,” she says.

“Which one?” Maria and I say simultaneously. Again, the laughter takes over. We’re on a roll!

Maria controls herself first. “Bree’s telling us how horned up she is, but too afraid to break her man’spene,” she says by ending with a crunch to a piece of baguette smothered in cheese.

Bree’s mouth forms an O. “That is not true! It’s just I’m worried about Phil. He’s still healing but we’re both jonesing to be alone.”

Once I’ve controlled the giggles I jump in. “As long as you both take it slow, I’m sure it’ll be fine. Just talk to him about your concerns. Chase and I will take Anabelle to the movie room and put on one of those Disney movies she likes. We’ll pretend we’re at the movies. She’ll love it. Sound like a plan?”

Her hand comes out over mine. “Sounds like Heaven. Thanks, girl.”

“No problem. Besides, it’s the least we can do. I know it can’t be easy with all of us living under the same roof.”

Kat chimes in after waving over the waiter. “It’s really not a big deal. I mean, the house is huge, and all the rooms are spread out. The only time I see you guys is if we’re down for dinner. The rest of the time, I’m working or spending time alone with Carson. Which, by the way, still is a problem!” she pouts.

“What problem?” Maria asks. “He not being good to you? Need me tohablar con él,speak to him? He better be treating myhermanaright!” Oh, I can see Maria’s spine straightening and her feathers ruffling just like a peacock readying for battle.

“Relax, Ria. If Kat wants us to butt in, we’ll butt in. I’m pretty sure she doesn’t. Right?”

“Right!” she gets the waiter’s attention with a hand wave, points to the drink in front of Maria, and holds one finger up. The waiter nods back. “Exactly, Gigi. It’s just, remember guys, I told you that Carson hasn’t said he loves me? Well, he still hasn’t. It’s starting to piss me off. So I’ve stopped telling him that I love him, and you know what’s weird?”

Bree straightens up and gets close to Kat. “What?”

“He keeps trying to force me to say it. For example, we’ll be playing around or have just had sex and he’ll say, “You love me, huh sweet cheeks?” She mimics a male voice lowering her own for effect. “And instead of saying, “Yes, I do. I just nod. It’s driving him nutty.” She snickers. The waiter drops off her drink. “Thanks,” she smiles and takes a sip. A bit of froth gets stuck to her lip.

“You got a little something right here,” I point to my upper lip. “Got Poorman!” I joke.

Kat licks it off and smiles. “No, I got rich man who won’t say he loves me! So what do you guys think?”

I shake my head not sure where Carson’s at with their relationship. I know him, but not well enough to really have a solid opinion on the inner workings of his mind. Bree tilts her head and seems to think about it, twirling a long blonde lock of hair. “What if he’s just afraid to say it? Like he’s a serious commitmentphobe?” she offers.

Kat puts her elbows on the table and sighs. “I don’t know what to do. I mean, if he doesn’t love me after this long, he’s never going to. But I’m so deep in love with him, I can’t imagine not wanting to be with him—ever.”

Maria reaches out. “You’re going to have to talk to him. I know you don’t like confrontation but I think it’s time to be direct. Straight up ask him why he doesn’t love you.”

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