Page 23 of Fall

“Bye, Em.” Allie gives her a hug before she waves to everyone else and leaves.

“We have games planned.” Allie winks, taking my hand and leading me over to some women who are standing around.

We chat for a bit with some of the women, who do remember me from the gym, and the others seem nice when we are introduced. I spend the next hour eating and talking to the women here, most give me horror stories about their births, and others offer advice that may be useful to know when the baby comes. Overall, it’s fun, and the food is amazing.

“Okay, the painter is here,” Izzy says as she comes over to me, with a woman at her side. The woman is older with a huge bag hanging from her shoulder.

“This is a gift from us to both you and Maisy,” Izzy whispers.

“Hi, I’m Daisy, and I paint pictures on your bump. It’s called Bump art. I have a portfolio you can look through and choose from, but I can do anything you want,” the woman says, and I can’t help the smile I give them all as they wait for me and Maisy to say something. It’s actually really sweet.

“I’m also a photographer, so I will take some photos that you can keep,” she says, and I can’t help but think it’s the perfect gift.

“You can go first,” I whisper to Maisy, who gives me an excited look before following Daisy and Allie into a bedroom, some of the women following.

I go over and choose some food from the massive collection, and I’m halfway through eating a fantastic cupcake when Harley, Sebastian, and Elliot walk in. Harley comes straight over to me, and I can’t take my eyes off him as he does.

“I thought guys weren’t invited?” I ask, and he smirks as he sits next to me. I watch as he dips his finger into the icing on the cupcake and sucks it off his finger.

“I’ve never played by the rules, siren.” He chuckles, knowing precisely what he is doing.

“Neither have I,” I whisper back, dropping my tone just as Maisy comes out of the bedroom with her bump on show. There is an amazing painting of a moon with a stork flying across it, and there is a purple-sky as background with flowers at the bottom of her bump.

“Wow,” I hear Sebastian say, and he comes over, trying to place his hand on the bump, but Maisy moves away.

“It’s not dry yet,” she says with a laugh, and he leans over, kissing her cheek.

“Don’t you want a relationship like that?” I ask Harley.

“I don’t do relationships. I don’t date. I would only hurt someone if I tried,” he says, clearly meaning me, and I have to look away from him.

“Tilly, it’s your turn. Your boyfriend can come with you if you want?” she asks, looking at Harley and me.

“Oh, he isn’t my boyfriend. Harley doesn’t do relationships,” I say, and Harley glares at me as I stand up and walk off with Daisy.

“For someone that doesn’t do relationships, the way he just looked at you was awfully possessive,” Daisy comments.

I look back at Harley, who is still staring at me, his eyes are passionate and a tight smile sits on his lips. Possessive is definitely a word I would use to describe the look he is giving me, but it makes no difference. Harley King says he doesn’t play by the rules, but he won’t break his own rule for me.

Chapter Twelve

Tilly

"This dress is not going to work now," I comment, looking down at the dress I’m currently trying to pull over my bump. It doesn’t fit anymore, not like it did just last week, and I groan. I went from having a small bump to a massive one in over a week.

There are a few knocks at the door as I pull the dress off. I put it back on a hanger in the wardrobe, and I shout, "One second!"

I pull my jeans and long jumper on. Thankfully, it falls to my knees but still shows off my big bump. After I quickly pull my hair out of my jumper and make sure I look okay, I pull the door open to see Harley leaning against the wall, and he smiles at me.

"I want to take you out tonight," he says, and I lean my head to the side. This was not what I expected when I opened the door. Harley has all but glared at me since the baby shower two days ago, when I said he doesn’t do relationships. But it wasn’t like I was lying. I don’t get what he wants from me. It’s like he is hot and cold with me all the time, but I don’t know what the reason is.

"Where?" I ask him.

"Somewhere nice, you need to get out. This last week, you’ve been inside so much since you took maternity leave from the gym," he reminds me, and I know he is right.

I took my maternity leave earlier than I thought I would to get finished with my editing work. Harley doesn’t seem to mind me not working, but he apparently doesn’t like me staying out of his way all week.

"Okay . . . but where?" I ask, and he smirks.

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