Page 92 of On Thin Ice

“We’re not just going to talk about you. Go away.” I playfully smacked his arm, ignoring the flutter in my belly as he grinned and sauntered out the front door.

His ass in those jeans should have been criminal. The fabric cupped him just like I wanted to do with my own hands.

“Um, you need a towel to wipe up that drool, Ally?” Darcy taunted.

I glared at her. “I’m not drooling. But seriously, hockey butts are ridiculous.”

She sighed. “Don’t I know it. Okay, what do you want to do first? Chat? You need a nap? Because I’m assuming you had a lot of fun this morning before I got here.”

I patted my hair. “What? Does it look bad?”

She burst out laughing. “You look fine. Just teasing. You know, like you did to me.”

“Yeah, I deserved that.” I’d teased her enough with Jake in the beginning, so it was only fair I take what I dished.

We went over and settled down on the couch, me grabbing a pillow to shove behind my back so I could get comfortable.

“You good?” she asked.

“Yeah. Just getting harder every day to find a good position to sit or lie down in.” Pregnancy was putting me through sucha weird combination of emotions, making me both excited and nervous at the same time.

“I bet. Now, spill all the stuff—about Dom, my precious little soon-to-be-here niece, all the things.”

Tears pricked the back of my eyes. “I missed you so much.”

“Don’t make me cry five seconds into my visit.” She reached out and squeezed my hand. “Ugh. I know this is where you chose to be for a very good reason, but I miss walking into our old place whenever I wanted to. But you’re happy here, right? I mean, you seem pretty happy.”

“I am. Dom’s been—well, he’s been amazing. I had no clue what to expect moving in. Hell, I figured it would be a disaster, that I’d need to take advantage of Ethan keeping the apartment for me, but it hasn’t been. I’m falling for him, Darc. Like hardcore. He’s been there for me through it all, and we have fun together too. And the sex. Fucking hell, the sex shouldn’t be this good with me the size of a blimp, but he finds ways to make sure I’m enjoying myself. He’s always been such a player. Hell, it’s why we were just for a fun time, not a long time. I mean, could I have had this great guy all these years?”

“Okay. Wow. That’s a lot, and I’m so freaking happy for you. And neither of you wanted long-term years ago, so you can’t think that way. Just focus on right now and how happy you are. Also, you’re not a blimp. You’re growing a whole freaking person inside of you that he helped create. He’d be a jerk if he thinks you’re anything less than gorgeous.”

My laugh was watery. Darcy always knew exactly what to say. “I know. And he’s never even hinted that he’s not attracted to me in my current state. Hell, it’s definitely the opposite.”

“Damn right, it is.”

“Ugh, I just don’t want to rush into anything.”

She quirked a brow. “Uh, a bit late for that. You’re about to pop out a kid.”

“You know what I mean. My life is about to get super crazy, and part of me just wants to know where I stand with Dom. Am I dumb for falling for him and thinking we’re going to be all perfectly happy and everything?” It was so refreshing to voice my concerns out loud to Darcy rather than just stewing about it on the inside. I always felt better with a plan.

“You are not dumb. There are a lot of emotions and hormones swirling around you right now, so it makes sense to question everything. Just take it one day at a time. Obviously, I have no clue how you’re going to feel or deal with taking care of a baby, but I know that you’ve got this, and with Dom, just do what feels right.”

“Oh, I am,” I said with a wink.

She snorted. “That’s not what I meant and you know it.”

“I know. One day at a time. I can do that.”

“Can you?” she asked.

I shrugged. “I guess we’ll see. Now, let’s talk about fun stuff. Want to see the nursery?”

“Of course.” She grinned and helped me stand.

“It will be nice to see my feet again soon,” I muttered.

“Soon, Ally. Soon.”

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