Page 181 of Salvatore

Is she joking?

“In my defense,” she continues, “he truly did go above and beyond to convince everyone he was a piece of shit. And by all accounts he’s an Oscar-winning performer. But given what our parents put me through I should’ve known better.”

I don’t know what to say to that, so I sink into the silence, hoping she appreciates how I don’t attempt to fill it with a careless placation.

“What are you leaning more toward with the baby?” she asks quietly. “Do you want to be a mother?”

Yes. Undeniably. Unequivocally.

But instead of admitting the truth I shimmy my shoulders in a noncommittal shrug. “I don’t know. I still have a lot of concerns.”

“That we’ll eventually figure out.” Salvatore’s voice travels from the hall.

I raise my gaze to his, my body instantly warming.

“And here he is,” Abri drawls, pushing to her feet. “The man who’s living proof that natural selection takes coffee breaks.”

He cocks an unimpressed brow and leans against the doorframe, too damn handsome for his own good.

“Maybe next time don’t send me on an errand run for a pregnancy that hasn’t received the green light.” She strides up to him and gives his chest a condescending pat. “Women prefer patience over pressure, brother.”

His hard eyes don’t leave mine as she brushes past him into the hall.

Silence settles between us, stretching until the sound of her footsteps fades. Only then does he move, pushing from his leaned position to stroll toward me with measured intent.

“I woke up alone,” he states flatly. “Why?”

“I didn’t want you to be disturbed every time the doctor checked my vitals.”

“For future knowledge, disturbed sleep is a preference to waking up without you.”

I swallow down the giddy tingle in my throat. “Understood.”

“How are you feeling?” He stops in front of me, sliding his hands into his pockets.

“Entertained enough to be distracted by the pain.” I grab a hardcover from the pregnancy wasteland beside me and shoot him a questioning look. “A baby name book?”

He squares his shoulders. “I assumed our child would need one.”

Our child.

It hits harder every time.

“Salvator—”

“You want this baby, Ivy. So I’ll be doing everything in my power to ensure you have it. All we need to do is discuss the lengths you’re willing for me to take in an effort to make you feel secure in the decision.”

The exhaustion increases. The yearning for our baby, too.

I glance away, needing a temporary change in topic until I’m firing on all cylinders. “You should know I had a substantial amount of money transferred into my bank account overnight. I think Gabriel is setting me up or planning to bribe?—”

“The money wasn’t from Gabriel.”

I snap my gaze back to his. “Don’t tell me it was from you.” I brace my palms against the mattress, preparing to stand.

“Relax.” He inches closer, placing his hands on my shoulders as he peers down at me. “You have enough concerns for the future without worrying about money.”

Oh my god. He’s such a slow learner.

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