Chapter 43
Clover
The month deadline came and went, but they already knew I was staying, so I’d marked the day by stealing every bit of the guys’ bedding I could get my hands on.
Half their closets, too, if I was being honest. They’d been remarkably well behaved, if bemused, as I’d marched through each of their rooms and made off with their belongings.
Now my nest was cozy as fuck, and if one of the guys wasn’t around, I was buried in my nest, surrounded by their entirely too delicious scents.
Maggie peeled off my blanket pile, tugging it until she’d revealed me. “Come on, we’re going out.”
“I can’t. I’m a whale.” I gestured to my pregnant stomach. My little bean had opted for a growth spurt the second I hit my sixth month. It probably wasn’t that much growth, but I felt bigger every day.
Maggie laughed. “You’re hardly a whale, Clover. Up!”
“You try getting knocked up and have your entire center of gravity changed because the no-doubt-adorable child you’re growing is throwing everything out of whack.”
“I don’t plan to get pregnant anytime soon, when you’re taking the heat off me by growing my family’s first grandbaby.” Maggie grinned.
“But misery loves company,” I said petulantly.
“Okay, this isn’t going to do.” Maggie held out her hands. “Get up. We’re going for retail therapy, and if you say no, I’m sending your pack in to cheer you up.”
“I’ve dealt with enough testosterone for a while. I desperately need a girls’ day.” I took her hands and grunted as I heaved myself up with her assistance. “Parker gave me a credit card, and I haven’t had a chance to use it yet.”
“Well, then, let’s go cause some damage! Can I drive your car? I’ve been eyeing that puppy since I saw it in the driveway the first time. I need to drive it. Please?”
“You’re welcome to take her for a spin.”
“Fuck, yes!”
Maggie and I were going to get along just fine.
This was exactly what I needed. Looking at all the adorable baby clothes vastly improved my mood.
“How cute is this?” Maggie held up a pink frilly baby onesie.
I bit my lip. “But we don’t actually know if it’s a boy or a girl yet.”
Maggie tilted her head. “You said you were pretty sure you were having a little girl, didn’t you?”
“I know—I am sure…but maybe it’s wishful thinking because girls are better than boys?”
Maggie giggled delicately. “Why didn’t you find out?”
“My whole life with the pack has been a surprise. Why not add one more?”
“Fair enough.” She showed off a more sedate onesie. “I hope for a girl too. I don’t understand boys. No matter how grown up they get, they never truly mature.”
“I think Parker over-matured.”
Maggie pursed her lips. “You’ve got a point there. Somehow, my brother went from teenage boy to grandpa overnight.”
He certainly didn’t fuck like a grandpa, but I wasn’t going to say that out loud and traumatize Maggie. “I won’t disagree—but I’ve been enjoying his sweeter side.”
A smile spread over Maggie’s face. “Well, he wasn’t always the frosty asshole you met a few months ago. You’re good for him, you know?”
I warmed at her praise. Joining the pack had been a chaotic and highly unplanned adventure, but it was working out surprisingly well.
Maggie peered out the window, frowning.
“What’s wrong?” I padded over to her. Her scent was still the same calming Earl Grey tea, but there was a slight tinge of charred concern to it.
“Nothing—at least, I think it’s nothing.” She frowned. “Do you think your guys would have stuck security on you without saying? I could’ve sworn I saw that van earlier…”
“I wouldn’t put it past them since they’re all worrywarts.” I immediately clocked the vehicle she was talking about. It was pretty nondescript and seemed exactly like what a security team or delivery company would drive.
The van in question moved across the parking lot, coming to a stop outside a hardware store, but no one made a move to get out.
Picking up my phone, I typed into the pack group chat.
Clover
Guys, really? I’m fine. Stop being overprotective.
Logan
Overprotective about what?
Avery
What did we do this time? Have you bought many pretties?
Clover
Tons. Your bank account will be crying.
Avery
Do your worst
Clover
And overprotective with the security detail?? I don’t get a vote on that?
Logan
I never hired anyone. Did someone else?
Avery
I thought about it, but haven’t yet.
Parker
Not me.
Hunter didn’t reply yet, and the others were going around in circles, trying to figure out who had hired someone. I brushed it off and put my phone away in my purse.
“Avery has challenged me to spend as much money as possible.”
“Smart man.”
“I should be responsible with Parker’s money…”
“Fuck that. Let’s hit up some expensive boutiques after this. I’ll tell him I bullied you.” Maggie smirked and held up the pile of baby clothes we’d chosen. “Do you think we’ve got too much?”
“No such thing as too many baby clothes.”
As we checked out, I let my hand rest softly on my bump. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but something wasn’t quite right.
It was probably gas.
“Can we stop at a coffee shop before the next store?” I asked Maggie while our items were bagged up.
“Sure, I won’t tell Parker that you drank coffee.”
“They have decaf, but also I’m craving a frappe.”
“In that case, we’re going to the nearest drive-thru.”
Twenty minutes later, we pulled up to Maggie’s favorite boutique with our drinks in hand.
She took an appreciative sip of her chocolatey concoction. “Nectar of the gods.”
“Ten out of ten,” I confirmed, taking a sip of my own.
“The clothing here is always so cute,” Maggie said as we got out of the car, “and the team that does alterations are sweethearts, so if any of the items fit weird, they can correct it.”
“I feel like everything will fit weird at this phase, but it sounds like a great service.”
The little shop was gorgeously decorated in pastel spring shades.
I was immediately drawn to a selection of denim and flipped through the offerings. I had only been wearing stretchy things, but a couple sizes up should work.
It took less than a minute to find a cute pair, and a staff member was immediately there to collect it and take it to a fitting room for me. I followed after, waving to Maggie. “I’ll be right back, I need to try these on.”
My pregnancy symptoms weren’t particularly painful or bothersome yet, but I felt more sluggish lately and less like myself. A cute pair of jeans would make me feel better.
I stripped out of my leggings, pulled the jeans up, and struggled with the zipper…but it was useless. The button was nowhere near closing. Did I finally have enough of a bump for maternity wear? “They won’t do up!”
Maggie peeked through the curtain with an amused smile. “Why do you sound excited about that?”
“I need maternity jeans!” I squealed, pulling Maggie in for a hug, a wave of giddiness hitting me. “I was barely showing the first five months. This is a milestone!”
“Okay, fair. Let’s celebrate you rounding out, then!” Maggie giggled.
We were both chuckling as I went to take off the jeans. I hadn’t even gotten them past my ass when frantic footsteps sounded. “Excuse me, do either of you own a pink car?”
“Yeah, I do. Why?” I hastily dressed so I could come face-to-face with the wide-eyed sales assistant.
“Did I park illegally?” Maggie asked, already going for the keys. “Or block someone in? I’ll take care of it.”
“N-no, it’s not that. It…well, it appears your car was vandalized.”
Maggie and I cast twin looks of confusion at each other. What did she mean, vandalized? It took a moment for the word to sink in, but when it did, we both cursed and raced out of the store.
“Shit, Clover!” Maggie cried, seeing the state of my car.
It was trashed.
The windows were all cracked, the pink paint keyed to hell and back, the tires were slashed, and across the windshield was the word SLUT in bright red spray paint. Holy shit. Whoever had done this was inflicting as much damage as possible.
My beautiful sparkly princess mobile was trashed. Tears took over, and I barely heard Maggie’s voice as she called the police to report it.
“My parents are going to be so mad I didn’t use my driver,” Maggie muttered.
“Your parents? What about your brother? He’s going to lock me up at the pack house and never let me leave.”
“Fuck.”