Page 89 of Definitely Not Him

Stuck in Your Ways

Tyler

The following weekend

Seattle, Washington

Congratulations, Chloe & Tyler!

It’s a boy! Times two!

Iran my fingers along me and Chloe’s photo from over the weekend, when her friends lured her to the ice cream shop for the private gender reveal party.

It was only the four of us, and I had a front-row seat to how close their friendship was, how they could spend hours laughing and talking about nothing at all. How they were fiercely protective of Chloe, and not-so-jokingly threatening to have me killed if I ever hurt her.

She’d cried tears of joy for most of the party, rubbing her face against my chest every time the babies were up for discussion.

Placing the photo in my wallet for safekeeping, I picked up my desk phone and called my condo’s private line.

“Yes, Mr. Carrington?” Zoey answered on the first ring.

“Tell Chloe I’ll be home later tonight,” I said. “Ask her what she wants for dinner and let me know if it’s from a restaurant.”

“I will as soon as I see her, sir.”

“What do you mean, as soon as you see her?” I asked. “She’s not at home?”

“No sir,” she said. “I’ve called her cell phone a few times, but she’s not answering. I’m sure she’s still at work or something.”

“Noted. Thank you.”

I ended the call and noticed that she hadn’t read my texts since this afternoon. She’d also failed to send me her usual screenshots from the What to Expect app.

Confused, I walked down to her office, but the lights were off and the staff had abandoned all the desks. I checked the coffee bar, the meeting rooms, and the slush-pile room in the basement.

As I was checking the media department, I spotted her slumped in a chair by the window.

Fuck.“Chloe, can you hear me?”

“I’m fine.” She muttered. “Just taking a nap.”

I tilted her head up with my fingertips. Her eyes were red-rimmed and puffy, and she looked like she was seconds away from passing out on the floor.

“Why didn’t you call me?”

“I have to turn in this assignment for Hazel by tonight. I can’t leave until it’s finished. I can’t believe she didn’t turn this in months ago. It’s like she’s determined to fuck up everything, you know?”

“I think the other CEO can handle that for you.” I glared at her. “You’re going home.”

“It’s just nausea, Tyler. I’m almost done anyway.”

“Can you, for once, stop being so fucking stubborn and let me help you?”

A smile slowly crossed her lips. “I can’t help it. I’m sorry.”

“Apology unaccepted.” I grabbed her hands and slowly pulled her up. I held her against my side and led her onto the lift. “Let’s pretend this office doesn’t exist for a few days.”

“Are you bringing the work home with us?”

“Shhh.” I kissed her forehead. “We’ll discuss that later.”

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