Page 59 of Best Friends
He lifts his glass. “I’ll have you know I’m drinking iced tea.”
“Really?” I raise my eyebrows. “Just plain iced tea?”
“Yep.” He looks very self-satisfied. “I wouldn’t feel right drinking in front of you. If we’re going to be a couple, we’ll suffer together.”
I smirk. “Not exactly a glowing commentary on coupledom, but I get what you’re going for.”
He elbows me. “Hey, I’m being romantic. Don’t rain on my parade.” He sips his tea, and I don’t miss the mild wince he makes just before he swallows.
I smile affectionately at him. “You know, you can have a beer. I don’t really care. I just had a rough day and I was feeling sorry for myself.” I pick up my orange juice. “But this is better for the baby, so I’ll stick with juice.”
“No, I don’t need a beer. This tea is delicious.” He takes another sip, giving me a thumbs up.
“If that’s true, why do you look like you’re drinking hemlock?” I ask.
“Nah.”
Cheyenne joins us. “Did you tell Malcolm about the punk who elbowed you in the stomach?”
Malcolm starts coughing on his iced tea and I give Cheyenne a warning look. But it’s too late. Once Malcolm has swallowed and his coughing fit has quieted, he swivels on his stool to face me.
“Someone punched you in the stomach?” he growls, looking around as if he’s going to rip someone’s head off.
“No.” I grab his shoulder and squeeze. “Calm down. It was just a kid I collared. He elbowed me. It didn’t even hurt,” I lie.
His gaze drops to my stomach and he immediately puts his big hand on my flat stomach. “Are you and the baby okay?”
“Yes. We’re both fine.” I put my hand over his. “It was no big deal.”
“No big deal?” Malcolm blinks at me. “Did you get checked out at the ER?”
I sigh. “No, of course not. The kid barely touched me. The baby is fine, Malc. Come on, relax.”
He grits his teeth, and I know he’s struggling to restrain his desire to control me. He probably wants to tell me to ask for desk duty, but he knows I’ll throw a shit-fit if I get stuck on a desk this early in my pregnancy. I already had to fight Captain Jones’ natural desire to bench me.
“You sure you’re okay?” he asks.
“Yes.” I slide off my stool. “Now, I need to pee for the hundredth time today.”
“I’ll come with you,” Cheyenne says, also getting off her stool.
As we head toward the hallway where the restrooms are, Cheyenne mumbles guiltily, “Sorry. I wasn’t thinking or I’d have kept my mouth shut.”
I sigh. “It’s okay. I told you he was overly protective. He can’t help himself.”
She glances over. “Maybe you should have gone to the ER to get looked at, though.”
I groan. “God, don’t you start too, Cheyenne. I’m fine. I’m not a china doll.”
“I know. I know.” She laughs sheepishly.
I stop at the men’s bathroom. “I promise if there’s any spotting or anything like that I’ll go straight to the ER.”
She nods. “Okay.”
I go into the men’s bathroom to use the facilities. When I return to my seat, Malcolm is talking to a very pretty female omega that I’ve seen before. I recognize her as one of Malcolm’s past conquests. She has long dark hair and big tits, and from the way she’s eyeing Malcolm like a juicy steak, I guess she’s back for seconds. The way she’s leaning on him instantly pisses me off, but I try not to give into my jealousy.
Malcolm glances over at me when I sit down and smiles. “You’re back.” He puts his hand possessively on my thigh, but I move my leg away.
