Page 186 of Darling Obsession

“Now you sound like me.” I release her and pull out some underwear to slide on as she races around, pulling out bras and jewelry and whatever.

My Christmas gift to her was a little moving-in shopping spree. She was hesitant to buy too many clothes while pregnant and not her usual size, but we managed to fill her half of the closet pretty decently, and I made sure we got plenty of lingerie.

“It’s crazy,” she says, laughing a little. “I feel like this is my debut into high society or something, and I don’t know what the hell I’m doing.”

I snicker. “You give my brothers way too much credit. And the guest list is literally them, my sister, Megan, and your mom. It’s low pressure.” We decided to make our first official party as a couple in our home family-only. And I’m really looking forward to it.

To starting off a fresh new year with my family—all of them.

“I know. I just really like everyone you just mentioned,” she says, “and I’ve never had siblings before. I feel so lucky to have your family becoming mine.”

“Baby. We’re the lucky ones.”

Our eyes catch across the room, and she gives me a sweet look that tells me she fucking adores me.

The feeling is mutual.

I choose a suit—easy—as she searches through her new dresses. She pulls out a long black one and a short blue one,holding them up for me. “Decide, please? I need to get dressed, asap.”

It’s tough, but not that tough. Blue always looks fire on her.

“Blue,” I tell her.

“You’re so right,” she says, and promptly stuffs the black one back, dashing off to the bathroom with the blue one.

As soon as I’ve pulled on my pants, I go into the bedroom and grab my phone, to check for progress updates from Carlisle. I want to make sure preparations are rolling along perfectly downstairs, for Quinn. If anything’s not perfect, I want to make sure it’s taken care of, so she doesn’t need to worry about a thing tonight.

But I see I’ve missed calls from Savannah. Seven of them.

And a text message that says,Call me.

I call her back right away.

“Harlan,” she says breathlessly. “I’ve been trying to reach you.”

“I see that. What’s going on?”

“I just wanted to get you on the phone. To tell you, rather than just text you…”

“Tell me what?”

She groans a little. “I’m so sorry, okay? But I’m not going to be able to make it to your party tonight.”

“Are you serious?”

“I know it’ll be a great party. I’m sorry,” she repeats.

Quinn struts out of her bathroom, looking much calmer—and absolutely gorgeous—in the off-shoulder blue dress that makes her eyes glow.

I drop my jaw, and she does a little spin.

“Savi, I’m putting you on speaker,” I tell my sister. “Quinn’s here.”

“Oh, hey Savannah!” Quinn calls out as I put the call on speaker.

“Oh, hi Quinn,” Savannah says. “Is anyone else there?”

“Nope! Just me.”

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