Chapter 33
REN
NINE WEEKS LATER
“ W e’re not gonna argue about this,” she tells, struggling to get herself up off the couch after she’s slid on her shoes.
“You're right, we’re not. You’re not going,” I tell her, moving over to offer her some help.
“Give me one good reason why not?” She scowls at me, hating that she has no choice but to accept my arm.
“One? I’ll give you twenty.” I look back at her smugly, and she groans in frustration as she straightens herself up and stretches her back.
Eloise only has three days until her due date, and her stomach is rounder than I ever imagined it could be.
She looks so beautiful and fertile, but she’s starting to suffer. I hate that.
“Ren, I need to get out of this house. I agreed to leave work when I hit thirty-five weeks; I’ve spent ever since resting, and I’m going stir-fucking-crazy. Katelyn inviting me over for a pamper day at hers is exactly what I need.”
“I appreciate that, but what I don’t get is why Katelyn can’t bring all her pampering shit around here.” I start rubbing the base of her spine where I know she’s been suffering the most.
“Have you not listened to anything I’ve said? Katelyn always comes here, and I am in desperate need of a change of scenery.” She looks up at me with those pretty, green eyes, then strokes her tummy as a reminder of her condition.
“You do have some business to attend to in the city.” My uncle interrupts our conversation, and I’m surprised when I see him loitering in the hall.
“Nothing that can’t wait.” I turn my head so Eloise can’t see the warning look I give him.
“Oh, come on, Ren. You can’t treat the girl like china forever. Whoever made those silly little threats has probably moved on to someone else by now. Let the girl go to her friend’s.”
“Thank you.” Eloise smiles at him gratefully, even if she does look a little perplexed. “Katelyn also lives close to the hospital, so if I did go into labor, we’d be there in no time.”
“Talking about going into labour isn’t helping your case, Kitten,” I growl into her ear.
The doctor said it could be anytime now, and the thought of leaving her, even for a minute, makes me anxious, but my uncle is right. I’ve put off leaving the house so I could be with her for too long, and maybe spending a few hours with her friend is what she needs to cheer her up.
“Fine.” I give in, and she nearly knocks me off my feet when she reaches her arms around my neck to hug me.
“Go carefully,” I remind her, taking her stomach in my hands as I kiss her, and when I look back out to the hall, my uncle’s already gone.
“It was sweet of your uncle to stand up for me.” Eloise smiles down at the hand that’s stroking her belly as I drive her toward Katelyn’s house.
She’s right, the suburb Katelyn lives in is only a ten-minute ride to the hospital, and I guess that gives me a little peace of mind.
The fact that the person who was in her apartment and sent her that card is still out there cancels it out. .
“Yeah, he’s all heart,” I tell her sarcastically, knowing my uncle didn’t have Eloise's best interests in mind when he took her side. He just wanted to ensure I met up with DeMarco’s brother-in-law to discuss the sale of one of our shipyards.
“Come on, Ren, don’t be like that, you know I’m getting nervous about what comes next.
Katelyn will be the perfect distraction, and I’m more than safe with her.
She once knocked out a guy taller than you because he spilled a drink on her.
” I snigger because it’s exactly the kind of thing I can imagine her doing.
“You’ve got a couple of hours,” I explain as I pull up outside Katelyn’s house. “Lock the doors once you're inside. If you're worried about anything, you call me. If you feel even the slightest twinge–”
“I’ll call,” she finishes my sentence for me. “Relax, we’re gonna be fine.”
Katelyn opens the door, waving enthusiastically, and I nod my head at her politely as I round the hood to help Eloise out of the car.
“I hate this,” I tell her, supporting her back as she straightens herself up.
“But you love me.” She kisses my cheek, before waddling her cute ass up the path to join her friend.
“You take care of her,” I call out, pointing my finger at Katelyn before getting back behind the wheel and driving deeper into the city.