CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE SCHRÖDINGER’S CUPCAKE #2
“Sorry, sorry,” she said, even as she kept going. “I’m feeling for debris. It looks a little red. It doesn’t feel warm, so that’s good.”
I tried to gently dislodge myself, going slow and cautious like I was dealing with a wild animal.
I didn’t get far.
Her hold tightened, and her gray eyes continued studying my forehead. “Sit still.”
First, I’m shushed, then I’m told to sit still. Is this some sort of motherly instinct taking over?
“The EMTs cleaned and cleared me,” I shared to ease her concern.
“No harm in double-checking.” She leaned back suddenly.
“I did it again. Just jumped in with zero explanation. I swear, this baby is going to be a genius because she is siphoning my brain cells. I’m not some random nutjob poking and prodding at you.
I’m actually a nurse nutjob poking and prodding at you. ”
“I’m really fine,” I said, trying again to squeeze out of her hold.
That time, she let me go. “It’s not as bad as it looked at first. Keep an eye on that redness, though.”
Her words were reassuring, but the look on her face was anything but.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Baby girl is testing her somersault skills, and I think she was using my kidney as a kickoff point.” O reached toward me but caught herself. “Want to feel?”
Yes.
Wait, no.
Don’t do it, dummy.
“Uh, if you’re sure,” I answered instead, unable to help myself.
She grabbed my hand and pressed it to her lower belly.
Nothing.
“Of course she stopped. I just know she’s going to be a pain in the ass like her daddy.” She grinned. “And, fine, also me.”
Feeling awkward just sitting there with my palm on a stranger’s belly, I was about to shift away when I felt it. A roll followed by a kick.
Wow.
My chest clenched with such an empty ache, it stole my breath. I quickly dropped my hand.
“That must feel wild for you,” I said.
“It’s indescribable.” Still standing, she put her hands on her lower back and stretched backward.
I fought the urge to grab her in the same way she’d grabbed me, worried she would fall over if she kept it up. Or that the movement would squeeze the baby down. I knew that wasn’t how it worked—at least, I was pretty sure—but she was still making me nervous.
I must not have been hiding my fear well because she caught the look on my face and started laughing. “She isn’t going to launch out of me.”
“I didn’t think that,” I said.
And lied.
I totally thought that.
“I’m only a little over halfway there,” she added.
I didn’t have a wealth of knowledge about pregnancy or motherhood or any of that.
My mom died when I was barely a toddler.
My dad never remarried. He hadn’t even dated—at least that I knew about—so there were no maternal figures there.
My brother Silas’s ex had barely come around the family when they were together.
And I was a young teenager when Maggie was pregnant with Logan and Cora, so I didn’t remember much.
But even still, it was rude. I knew it was rude. Yet I couldn’t stop my eyes from widening that she wasn’t closer to her due date. Her stomach was just so perfectly popped out.
“I know, I know. When Mac was pregnant… Did you meet Mac?” At my nod, she continued.
“When she was pregnant, she had this evenly rounded belly. It looked fake, that’s how picture-perfect it was.
I was bloated before I even knew I was pregnant, and it never went away.
It just keeps growing straight outward instead of to the sides.
Like I’m smuggling an oblong watermelon. ”
“You look beautiful, if that helps. I know this is cliché, but you really are glowing.”
“It’s more sweat than glow, but thank you.” She beamed. “Judge is a big fan of my pregnancy, but everyone knows compliments from other women are what we really want.”
I nodded since she was absolutely correct.
Assured she wasn’t about to go into labor or fall over, I returned my attention to where it belonged.
My cupcake.
Finally.
“Lo.”
Dammit.
Snack-blocked again.
I was tempted to ignore Rhys—at least until after I ate the strawberry goodness. But with the wires and Glitch’s caginess and all that, I knew it had to be important if he was interrupting.
“Hey, Rhys,” O greeted around her own mouthful of something.
“Hey, darlin’.” I turned in my seat in time to see his dimpled smile aimed her way. “You here ’cause you’re taking me up on the bouncer job offer?”
I ignored the way my stomach clenched at the term of endearment, giving me yet another reaction to add to my irrational list. I’d told him not to call me that, and he’d listened.
So why did it suddenly bother me?
Focusing on the rest of what he’d said—the potentially important stuff—I looked between the two of them.
Neither offered an explanation, and I was willing to bet my cookie that there was a reason for it since they shared pretty freely.
It’s the day of secrets, I guess.
She gave a pointed stare to her stomach and then to him. “If you keep me up past nine and make me stand on my feet for longer than twenty minutes, I won’t just kick out the troublemakers. Everyone would be out on their asses so I could get home to bed.”
“Maybe after the little one is born,” he said.
“Yes, because it’s well documented that new mothers have an abundance of energy, time, and patience. I’m probably going to have too much sleep, really.”
“With all the brothers jumping to babysit? You’ll likely be fighting for a chance to just hold the kid.”
The back and forth was clearly fake bluster, but a very real smile curved her mouth at that.
Pangs.
Pangs of envy everywhere today.
If I keep this up, I’m gonna be green with it.
I choked down the stupid emotion and asked, “Did you need something?”
His eyes—more green than blue thanks to his green tee—met mine for a long second that turned into seconds. “Glitch wants to run you through what he suspects.”
There were very few things that would take precedence enough to drag me away from what I was doing. That was pretty much top of the list.
With a forlorn—and, fine, dramatic—sigh, I set my cupcake back in the box. “If this is an elaborate ruse to steal these, I am going to let O kick you in the junk and Judge cut out your tongue.”
His eyes widened, but they also crinkled at the side in amusement, so I knew he wasn’t taking me seriously.
But I wasn’t one hundred percent sure I was actually joking.