Page 115 of Calamity Rayne Knocked Up

“I couldn’t sleep.”

He came into the office and glanced at the computer screen. “What are you doing?”

“You know how you’re always telling me not to feel bad that we have money?”

“Yes.” He chuckled nervously. “Are you impulse shopping?”

“I haven’t bought anything yet, but I’ve decided you’re right.”

“Is that so?”

“Yup. I’m about to cost you a ton of money, sir.” I clicked open a tab and turned the screen so he could see what I found. “We’re buying my mom this house.”

A-B-C-D-E-F-You

By the time March rolled in, I was roughly the size of a planet. My cravings consisted of antacids, key lime popsicles, and the saltiest olives I could find. My weight was not to be discussed—at least not by anyone who valued their life.

I’d found the perfect gem for my mom, about twenty minutes from our house, in the center of the iconic Old Town. She loved to people-watch and talk to strangers, so this seemed like the perfect place. It was quaint and buttercream yellow, with a balcony on the front and a big porch for sitting and taking in the tourists.

The house also had a super cute attic loft. My plan was to get my mother settled thenconvince her to rent the loft to Tyler. Of course, I’d also have to convince him to uproot his entire life, find a new job, and move to the other side of the country, but those were minor details.

We had the property completely renovated, inspected, and furnished without my mom’s knowledge. She was set to fly out this Friday and stay until the baby was born. Little did she know that she could now stay as long as she liked.

“Don’t forget you have your ultrasound today.” Hale placed a plate of toast in front of me.

“I know. You’re picking me up at two, right?”

“Yes.” He sipped his coffee. “Andrew has Elara for the day, and I have a meeting with Xander in Miami.”

“Miami? He can’t fly out to meet you here?”

“I suppose he could, but I offered.”

I buttered my toast with obvious disapproval. “Seems to me that would be the thoughtful thing to do since you have a pregnant wife at home who could pop at any minute, and Xander’s perpetually single and living a less complicated life on account ofbeing a prick.”

“You’re not due for three weeks, Rayne.”

“Says you. I could blow at any second, Hale.” I took a bite of my toast. “Which reminds me. We have to book Willow’s flight.”

“Are we still doing that?”

“Of course, we’re still doing that. I want her here for the birth.”

“Reiki is not a calculated science. This woman has no experience with childbirth, yet you act as though she’s a midwife.”

“She’s my spiritual doula, Hale. Are you trying to make me cry?”

“How long are we putting her up?”

Considering that I often performed like a prized pedigree for formal affairs that helped Hale’s business connections, I didn’t see this as a huge ask. Not to mention that I had to stomach Xander’s presence more than a few times since he and Hale started collaborating on projects. The man gave me agita worse than Marta’s spiciestbirria.

“I don’t know, Hale. How long will I have to smile and be nice to your friend who F-U-C-K’d over my friend?”

We had started spelling out profanities to stop Elara from repeating bad words. It didn’t matter that Elara was already out withAndrew. We got in the habit of doing it so much that we did it whether she was there or not.

“This again? You promised to keep an open mind.”

“Keeping an open mind and liking someone are two different things.”

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