Page 111 of Cashmere Cruelty

The last time I woke up in a good mood, it didn’t last.

Still, I can’t bring myself to sour it on my own this morning. Call me a sucker, but I believe in second chances. And right now, I’m giving my luxury tea break a second chance.

“Yesterday, we had vanilla,” I say out loud. “Whatcha feeling like today?”

Nugget doesn’t reply with words, but it gives a little kick instead.

“What was that?” I call, leaning in with my hand around my ear. “Extra dark chocolate chip from Ecuador?”

Another, gentler kick.

“Alright then!” I clap my hands together. “It’s forever onmyhips after all, not yours. Better enjoy it while it lasts, yeah?”

On second thought, I grab some Greek yogurt from the fridge, too.Just to have something healthy with it,I tell myself.

Then, on third thought, I grab the Nutella jar.

“Brunch,” I murmur to myself. “Let’s call this brunch.”

But Mom, I picture the tiny creature in my belly objecting,we’ve already had breakfast.

“I won’t tell if you don’t,” I whisper, holding up a pinky to my belly.

God. This is getting pathetic, isn’t it? I’m so lonely I’ve started talking to the walls. Worse, to an imaginary projection of my future child.

It’s clearly out of character, too. Nugget wouldn’t chide me for having breakfast twice; instead, it’d kick me around noon for the third. I swear, it’s like I’m growing a hobbit up in here.

“Sir, you can’t go?—”

I’m distracted from my daydreaming by a deep voice by the door. I don’t recognize it, but it takes me a couple of seconds to realize it must be one of the bodyguards that stay here when Grisha’s busy elsewhere.

That poor man. When does he even sleep?

“She knows me! Please, just let me?—”

Another voice—andthis…

This, I recognize.

I walk to the door as if in a trance. Because there’s no way, right?

“Sir, step away from the door.”

“I’m telling you, she’s my?—”

“Charlie.”

Big eyes blink up at me. Hazel eyes, just like mine.

“… sister,” he finishes.

And then those eyes zero in on my belly.

It takes longer than I’d like to bring the boys to heel.

“Miss,” Gorilla #1 insists, “you can’t have unannounced visitors.”

“Not without permission,” Gorilla #2 doubles down.

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