Chapter 30
I ndie woke up feeling surprisingly well rested.
She opened her eyes, gazing around the room. Something felt like it was missing . . . Rock.
Rock was missing.
She could remember him climbing into bed and holding her until she fell back to sleep.
And she hadn’t slept this well in ages.
She felt like someone else had been here as well . . . but that was silly, right? She glanced down at herself. She was still wearing Rock’s jumper. Her things!
She glanced over at the nightstand and saw her gargoyle sitting on her book and the photo, with her hat next to him. Picking up her hat, Treasure Island, and the test, she got up and carried them back to where her backpack sat, putting them into it.
There. Safe. She also took off Rock’s jumper and placed it into the backpack. As she walked back into the bedroom, she heard her phone beep. Sitting on the bed, she checked it.
Shoot. There was a new message from her boss, Benito.
Bollocks .
She was the absolute worst. She still hadn’t read the messages he’d sent.
Do it now.
After reading them all, she felt even worse.
He’d sent a number of messages asking her how she was. Demanding to know if she was all right.
This last message was basically him saying that if he didn’t hear from her soon that he was coming to find her.
What was she going to do? She could call him. But also . . . she felt like the walls of this room were closing in on her.
A trip outside could be just what she needed.
And if Billy finds you?
But no one could locate Billy. The police seemed to have almost given up. She knew the guys hadn’t, though. They’d asked Shepherd, an old classmate of theirs to look for him.
Knowing it wouldn’t be long until Spencer arrived with her breakfast, she got out of bed and grabbed some clothes from the wardrobe.
Urgh.
There were holes in her pants and the only jumper that would fit wasn’t really warm enough for late autumn in London.
But her coat had been damaged by Billy along with her warmer sweaters. She might need to do some shopping.
She took a really quick shower and got dressed.
With a grimace, she stared at herself in the mirror.
She couldn’t tie her hair up, it hurt to raise her arms that much.
And she didn’t have any of her makeup. She’d left most of it at Billy’s since he’d bought it.
She’d found some cheap foundation and mascara at a budget store, just enough to make her look alive after she’d been vomiting half the morning.
But that was gone too.
Well, she couldn’t help that, she guessed.
Leaving the bathroom, she stared at the bed. She should really make it. Spencer had changed the sheets for her a few times, which she’d protested against but he’d insisted .
He’d always been happiest when he was taking care of someone.
After struggling to pull up the covers, she left it half-made and walked out into the kitchen.
To find Slade, Spencer, and Rock there.
Okay. That was a surprise.
Didn’t they have to work? What were they all doing here at nine in the morning?
“Um, good morning,” she said as the three of them turned to look at her with various levels of disapproval on their faces.
Was Quaid here? She hadn’t seen him much since she’d left the hospital. But she had this weird sense that he’d been around last night.
She must have been dreaming.
Out of the four of them he’d been the most distant and she didn’t think he really wanted her here.
“Princess, what are you doing out of bed?” Spencer demanded, walking over and wrapping his arm gently around her waist. As though he was worried that she might fall over.
When she’d first arrived, she’d gotten dizzy a few times. But she was feeling much stronger now.
“I was about to bring you some breakfast,” he said.
“I’m going to eat breakfast out here this morning,” she said firmly. “I’m feeling claustrophobic. And the doctor said it was good for me to move around.”
Spencer’s frown increased. “I think we should have gotten a second opinion.”
She gave him an exasperated look. “We don’t need a second opinion.”
“Spencer said you’ve been under the care of a midwife throughout your pregnancy,” Slade said. “But wouldn’t it be better to have a doctor?”
“My midwife is amazing. And she knows what she is doing,” she told him.
Slade grunted. “Spencer. ”
“I’ll look into it,” Spencer said cheerfully. “You look a bit tired, Princess. Why don’t I take you back to your bedroom and you can get in your jammies? I’ve made you some porridge.”
“Porridge?” Slade asked, wrinkling his nose. “That sounds awful. Why didn’t you make her a full English? Or pancakes?”
“Because porridge is good for her, that’s why.” Spencer glared at Slade.
“I don’t mind what it is. I’m just glad I can eat breakfast, I was always too ill before. And that I don’t have to split my lunch into two so I have something to eat for dinner.”
And why did she go and say that?
Idiot.
Now they were all frowning at her.
“I’m not going back to bed,” she said, trying to distract them. “I’m going out. That’s why I got dressed.”
“Not happening,” Slade said.
Right. They might be helping her, but that didn’t mean they got to completely boss her around.
No matter how hot they were in bossy mode.
“It is happening. You don’t have to take me. I can take an Uber.”
Again, they glared at her.
Sheesh.
Rock even moved to get between her and the door. As though he thought she was going to make a run for it or something.
“Definitely not happening,” Slade said. “You are just out of the hospital with broken ribs.”
“I got out of the hospital eleven days ago,” she protested.
“And what if Billy is out there, waiting for you?” Slade said.
“Fuck, Slade,” Spencer warned as she grew tense. “Go easy.”
“She needs to take this threat seriously,” Slade said. “I am not letting her go out there on her own with him still free. I’m also not letting her wander around alone, pregnant, with broken ribs.”
“Then you’ll take me?” she asked Slade.
She didn’t actually want to go alone, but she also figured that they had other things to do. “Shouldn’t you all be at work? Spencer, do you even work anymore?”
“We’ve all taken time off,” Slade told her.
Time off?
“Why?” she asked.
“Come and sit down,” Spencer told her, leading her to the large table. He drew out a chair and she sat. “I’ll get your breakfast. While Slade explains himself. Now.”
Yikes.
Spencer sounded almost mad.
Slade slipped into a chair across from her while Rock sat next to her. Spencer returned with a bowl of porridge and a cup of tea.
Bless him.
She sipped her tea as she stared at Slade.
“Why aren’t you working? You guys always work.
You live for work, right? I remember when you had pneumonia and I came over to cook you chicken noodle soup, you were still working from your bed.
I know it’s really important for you all to be successful away from your parents. ”
They were all silent and she glanced up from her porridge, which was really unexciting. She winced, sending a silent apology to Spencer.
She didn’t mean to be ungrateful. Food was food after all.
“We’ve come to realize that we put too much emphasis on work and being successful,” Slade told her. “And not enough on everything else in our lives.”
Indie gazed at Slade, shocked by that statement.
Wow. His girlfriend must be a good influence on him. She was . . . happy for him.
Yeah. Happy. That’s how she felt.
“So that’s why the three of you are home on a Tuesday morning?” she asked.
They shared another look. She’d always been envious of the way they could talk silently to each other .
“Actually, we’re here because of you,” Spencer told her. “We all took time off so we could be here for you.”
But that was nuts.
They didn’t all have to be here.
Well, they weren’t all here, were they?
Indie pushed that thought aside. She had no right to be greedy and want Quaid here as well.
What did she think she was building here? Her own reverse harem? She’d talked to Maggie yesterday and the other woman was so ridiculously happy with her men.
It was . . . amazing.
But it was also making her feel envious.
“You’re all here for me?” she repeated.
“Whatever you need, we’re here to make sure you have it,” Slade told her seriously.
“Although what you need right now is to eat,” Spencer said. He took the spoon from her and scooped up some porridge.
She took the mouthful automatically. She was getting used to Spencer feeding her.
“Who was up eating ice cream in the night?” Spencer asked. “I found the bowl on the coffee table this morning.”
“Oh, that was me,” she said. “Sorry, I should have put that in the dishwasher.”
What was she thinking, leaving it sitting out? Idiot. She knew better.
“Bad houseguest.” She slapped herself lightly on her hand.
“Don’t,” Rock said sharply, making her jump.
“W-what?” she asked.
“Don’t hurt yourself.” His face was hard. Serious.
“I . . . I wasn’t. Not really. It was just a light slap to tell myself off for being a messy houseguest. Sorry.” That was said to Spencer.
“You’re not a houseguest,” Spencer told her.
“You’re family,” Slade said quietly.
Oh. That filled her with warmth .
Rock glared at her hand like it offended him. “No hurting yourself.”
“I really didn’t, Rock,” she told him softly. “I’m fine. I’m not hurt.”
He nodded stiffly and got up, heading into the kitchen. Guilt filled her for upsetting him. She grasped hold of the spoon off Spencer and stirred her porridge.
Spencer leaned in. “He’s okay. He just feels guilty that you got hurt.”
“We all do,” Slade added. “But no one will harm you again. Not counting spankings of course.”
A spanking?
“I already told Spencer this! No one is spanking me!” She pointed at Slade with her spoon and a blob of porridge flew through the air, landing on his nose with a plop.
She stared at the blob in shock. Sheesh, if she’d been trying to hit him she wouldn’t have been able to.
Spencer let out a hoot of laughter and Rock’s mouth twitched as he walked back in and saw Slade.
“Eek!” she cried. “Sorry! I didn’t mean to.”
“That’s what makes it even funnier,” Spencer said, cracking up. “You should see your face.”
Slade glared at his friend, before swiping off the porridge and putting it in his mouth. He grimaced. “This stuff is disgusting. No wonder Indie isn’t eating it.”
Spencer sat up straight. “It is not! And it’s good for her.”
“It’s fine,” she said, stirring it again and taking a spoonful. “Yum-yum.”
Spencer turned to look at her and shook his head. “You’re lying.”
“Nope,” she said quickly. “I’m not.”
Spencer narrowed his gaze at her. “You are. Lying is breaking the rules. And breaking the rules gets your butt spanked.”
What the heck?
Why did they keep threatening to spank her ?
And why do you like that idea so much?
Urgh.
She pushed her legs together, trying to pretend that she wasn’t turned on.
Bollocks.
She dropped her gaze before they could notice the heat in her eyes. So much for keeping her distance from these guys. It seemed like every time she attempted to put up a shield, they smashed it to smithereens.
Spencer cleared his throat. “Eat some more. You’re not eating enough. And ice cream at night doesn’t count. It will make you sick.”
“Sorry,” she whispered, forcing herself to look up.
“Easy,” Rock croaked.
“A bit of ice cream never hurt anyone,” Slade added.
Spencer shook his head. “I researched a suitable diet for a pregnant woman as well as what would help Indie heal faster. The list of approved meals and snacks are on the fridge and ice cream is not one.”
Indie gaped at Spencer who sat back, his arms crossed over his chest as he glared at them all.
Reaching over, she placed her hand on his arm and squeezed it. “You did all that for me?”
He turned that bright blue gaze to her. “Of course I did. I’d do anything for you.” There was a hoarse note to his voice and she thought his eyes looked extra glossy. Then he blinked rapidly. “Excuse me. I’ve got to go and order some more groceries.”
She tightened her hold on him as he tried to get up. “Spencer?”
“Yeah?” he said, not looking at her.
Moving slowly, she leaned her face on his arm. “Thanks for taking care of me.”
He was still tense and she thought it wasn’t going to be enough. But then he relaxed and sighed.
“Like I said, Princess. Anything for you.”