Page 98 of Reckless Promises

“He’s just worried.” I can’t help but stand up for him, knowing we’re all going through a sea of emotions right now. “And he’s having trouble processing it.”

“I know, but it doesn’t mean he should be such a fucking idiot about it.”

She’s not wrong, even if he does fail at properly expressing emotion.

“How did this even happen?” Fallon twists her legs under her in her chair, picking at the fringe at the bottom of her shirt.

“I don’t know, the restaurant seemed fine, didn’t it?”

Fallon nods. “And as much as Daniel pisses me off, he wouldn’t let something like this get past.”

“Tell your brother that.”

“I will. Even if Daniel annoys me, he didn’t do anything wrong.” Fallon rolls her eyes. “But Cill’s not going to let this go easily. At least, not until whoever came after you suffers—probably their whole family too.”

I don’t doubt it.

Fallon sighs, sitting back in her chair and staring off.

My stomach pings with a cramp, and I try to secretly rub it so she doesn’t notice, but the sting worsens.

“You okay?”

“I don’t know.” It surges again and my vision spots.

“You don’t look okay.” Fallon rushes over to the door and swings it open. “Daniel, call the doctor.”

I tip my head back as the commotion kicks up around me. The pain is passing, but it still flutters in waves. And I’m not sure what scares me more, that it might be the baby, or that I haven’t even told Cillian, so he’s not here with me.

I shouldn’t have been a coward. I should have told him last night before he left. Because if he finds out any other way than directly from me, I’m not sure how he’ll react.

The doctor walks in and starts checking my vitals. He reads my temperature, checks the output on the screen, and reviews it against my chart.

“Fallon, can you get me my phone?” I tip my chin to where it’s sitting on the cabinet across from the bed.

“Don’t worry, Daniel will call Cillian.”

“No.” I shake my head. “I need to do it.”

Her eyebrows scrunch, but she doesn’t ask any more questions as she gets it for me. Opening it up, I hit Cillian’s number and it only rings once.

“What’s wrong?”

“I—” The pain fades a little more as my body relaxes. “I was just having a little pain. But I’m fine. The doctor’s checking me as we speak.”

“I’m in the car now.”

Relief fills my lungs. He’s on his way here, and I need to see him more now than I ever have before. As much as I want to tell him what’s going on before I miss my chance, I’d rather do this face-to-face. And with the pain fading, and him being on his way, it doesn’t feel as urgent as it did a minute ago.

“Okay, never mind then, I’ll see you soon.”

“Odette.” Cillian pauses for a moment, quiet with what’s on his mind. “I’m sorry about yesterday. I was just—”

Scared.

But he doesn’t say it, and I don’t make him.

“I know. Just get here, please. I need to see you.”

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