Page 236 of Fearless

It seems to take forever for us to finally descend on the two best booths in the diner, but no sooner have we sat than two pots of coffee arrive.

“Now, what are we eating?” Hallie asks, pulling her pad from the pocket in her apron.

“Do you even need to ask, Nanna H? Hallie specials all around. One miniature version for the princess.”

She glances around at everyone, checking that they’re all happy with me ordering for them before nodding and scurrying off to the kitchen.

“Fuck, I love her,” Ezra laughs, clearly still a little buzzed.

“Bad word.” Daisy chastises.

“Is it just me, or do you think those are going to be Daisy’s most said words over the coming years?” I ask.

“Agreed,” almost everyone around the table says.

As conversation falls over the table, I do my best to join in. But every few seconds, I find my eyes drifting toward the entrance.

There are only a handful of others in here, filling their stomachs before they head to work, and the only vehicles that have arrived have been trucks. But that doesn’t stop me from searching for that brunette girl from the profile picture Ellis found.

There’s no guarantee she’s going to show. Just because we’ve teased Ezra about her stalking him, it doesn’t mean she’s seen his post first thing in the morning and hauled her ass from wherever she lives to stop by on the off chance of seeing him… or me.

Fuck.

Unease knots up my insides.

I know I’ve made a joke of it, but I’m not sure I’m going to cope if a woman turns up carrying my child. As far as I’m concerned, if Alana can’t do it, then no one will.

But if I fucked up before we embarked on this then I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to forgive myself for not wrapping it properly.

I’ll stand by it and do the best that I can do, that goes without saying, especially after a life in the system with parents who didn’t care. But also, it’s not what I want.

I’ve got my family.

They’re sitting around this table right now.

It’s everything and more that I need.

There’s still no sign of her by the time the food arrives, and despite being beyond hungry after getting no sleep last night, I struggle to swallow any of it.

While everyone else—including Daisy—inhales their food, Alana is aware enough of what’s going on around her to notice my anxiety.

Her warm hand lands on my thigh before she leans in and whispers.

“Everything will be okay. We’ve got you no matter what it is.”

“I know, Dove. That isn’t in doubt.”

She leans closer, her warm breath rushes over my neck, and sends a shot of desire straight to my dick.

“Want to fuck me in the bathroom to help you chill out?”

I groan as the thought appears in my mind.

“Fucking do I?” I ask dragging her hand higher so she can feel what the thought alone does to me.

“Go on then,” she says, making me give her a double take.

“You’re serious?” I balk.

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