Page 35 of Pretty Little Disaster

“Dario told Madalina who, of course, told me and I think it’s cute.” I lick my lips when he pulls on the tee he’s been carrying around then growls as he passes me to open the door. I step through it and call for the elevator, and once we’re inside and he presses the button that will take us to the parking lot, it confuses me.

“I think taking the car kind of defeats the object,” I point out.

“I run to clear my head, you can’t do that in the city. I have a spot where I go, somewhere quieter,” he explains, still looking irritated.

I decide not to question him again. I’m happy to just go with it, I figure time away from the city, and some fresh air will do me and the baby some good.

“So, how often do you come out here?” I ask when we’ve made it out of the city traffic.

“Not often enough, I don't have time. It’s easier to just use the gym at home,” he mumbles.

“But you already did that, today,” I point out.

“Yes, I did.” Nic makes it clear he doesn’t want to elaborate on that so I move on.

“Well, how far away from home is this place?” I’m starting to realize why he finds it too time-consuming, we’ve been in the car for nearly forty minutes.

“Another few miles.” He stays focused on the road, and when he eventually pulls over in a rest area by the woods, I get out of the car and use the door to help me do more stretching.

“It’s pretty.” I stare up at the trees and listen to the birds. I can’t remember the last time I heard them.

“We’ll have to take a different track to what I usually run, the terrain will be too rough for you.” He sounds irritable as he slams the car door.

“Don’t be silly I can–”

“You wanting to run with my baby inside you is bad enough, I’m not risking you falling,” he cuts me off and grabs my hand, crossing the road and moving us onto a narrow but steady foot trail.

“Keep a steady pace and if you start getting tired or out of breath, we stop straight away.” He sets off, leaving me to follow after him. We get a little deeper into the forest and I can tell he’s holding back on his own pace to keep me controlled. So, I pick up some speed and overtake him, that deep growly noise comes from behind me and makes me smile to myself. I’m even starting to like this guy when he’s grumpy, it has to be the hormones.

“Do you ever do as you're told?” He shakes his head when he catches up to me.

“Up to now, I think I’ve been doing quite well. Especially since you seem adamant on controlling every aspect of my life.” I smile at him politely, knowing that it will piss him off even more.

“I don’t want to contr… I just want to make sure you're okay, and I don’t think running when you're sixteen weeks pregnant is a good idea,” he explains.

“Well, since I’m the one who is pregnant, maybe I should be the judge of that.” I ignore the fact that my lungs are already starting to burn and it’s feeling very hot beneath this hoodie as I carry on.

“Lorna, there are other ways to exercise. You could do yoga, Madalina, swore by it when she was pregnant with Max.”

“Yeah, well, Madalina wasn’t eating everything in fucking sight when she was pregnant, was she?” I snap, hating that I have to stop and rest my hands on my knees so I can catch my breath.

“Is this what this is all about?” Nic throws his head back and laughs.

“You asshole.” I automatically stomp on his foot, before fighting against my body’s refusal to move and managing to power walk myself away from him.

Insensitive, spiteful bas–

“Wait up.” Nic is still chuckling under his breath as he catches up with me for a second time, but I ignore him and pick up my speed. I know it’s been a few months since I last put my running shoes on, but I wasn’t expecting to be this unfit.

“Lorna!” he shouts louder and when I give up and turn around, he’s smiling. The grumpy asshole that didn’t like me calling him out on his books, and stropped all the way out here because he doesn’t like the idea of me running, is fucking smiling.

“Yes, Nic.,” I answer him sarcastically.

“Are you out here trying to run because you're worried about what you're eating?” he questions me, stepping closer and taking both my hands.

“No…Kind of.” I look up through the trees so I can avoid the satisfaction on his face and prepare for him to give the ‘I love your cute, little belly’speech. If that's the case, then why is it always me askinghimfor sex?

“That… and the fresh air, it’s good for the baby. Didn’t one of your books tell you that?” I make a dig and pull a smug face back at him, but he’s clearly unaffected by my attempt to get under his skin.

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