Page 68 of Pretty Little Disaster

NIC

The old me would have bidded on the jet ski. It looked cool-as-fuck, but I’m going to become a father, I won’t have much time for ripping through water.

I sensibly decide to let someone else have their fun with it.

I feel a few spots of rain on the back of my neck before I step back inside to check on Lorna. She’s tired and uncomfortable, I’d understand if she wants to get out of here. Part of me really hopes she does. We could stop and get gelato on the way home, then she can sit on the couch in her sports bra and maternity shorts and we can watch her stomach move. I like that vision so much that I’m going to suggest it.

“What's got you looking so happy, Conte?” Gio steps up beside me, with his trophy fiancée hanging off his arm.

“Just life.” I glance over at the chaise lounge where I left her and wonder where she is.

“Have either of you seen, Lorna?” I check, scanning the room and seeing no sign of her. Of course, the most obvious place to look would be the bathroom, she’s always in there these days.

“No.” Bianca shakes her head and pouts her overfilled lips.

“Who’s Lorna, again?” Gio asks, being purposely arrogant.

“She’s my–”

“The huge pregnant one, darling,” Bianca talks over me.

“Nic.” My sister power walks toward me, holding her long, silk dress up out of the way of her feet.

“Have you seen Lorna?” She’s looking worried, which immediately makes me fucking worried.

“Not since I went outside, I’m trying to find her.” I keep scanning the room, expecting to see her.

“Well, earlier, she was heading for the lobby, and she seemed upset. I asked if she was okay and she assured me she was, but she started asking some strange questions.”

“Did you not think to question why she was heading for the lobby?” I try to keep my voice calm.

“Why would I? That’s where the bathroom is.” Madalina shrugs like I'm some kind of idiot.

“Okay, what was she asking, was she okay?” I move her on, starting to panic. I don’t like her being out of my sight, not even when we’re at home.

“She…” Madalina looks at Gio and Bianca, cautiously, before turning her back to them. “She asked if you two being married would help you get the district,” she whispers.

“And…” I have to hold off from shaking her for more.

“And I told her yes because it’s true.” My sister keeps her voice to a minimum.

‘Anything else?”

“She just asked how bad you wanted it, and if there were any limits.”

The tiny giggle that Bianca makes proves that not only has she been listening, but that she heard what my sister said.

I look up at her smug face and shake my head.

“What the fuck do you find so funny?” I step forward and Madalina

quickly presses her hand into my shoulder to keep me back.

“Don’t bite,” she looks up and warns me. Knowing as well as I do that if I cause a scene here it will do me no favours.

“I’d appreciate you not talking to my fiancée like that, Conte.” Gio puffs out his chest like he’s thinking about doing something.

“Relax, darling. You don’t have to defend me.” Bianca rolls her eyes impatiently before fixing them on me.

---