Page 12 of When She Needs Them Most
She frowns. “I don’t actually know. Originally, they were supposed to follow me up and unload everything tonight, but they said I gave aninaccurate representation of my belongings.” She does air quotes around the last few words. “So, I had to pay for an extra day. Which is so weird because I told them I was moving from a two-bedroom apartment. Honestly, I didn’t think it was all that much stuff to move.” She shrugs. “But by that point, I was pretty much stuck. Everything was already on the truck, so I just agreed that it could be delivered tomorrow.”
That sounds shadyas fuck.
I’m sure they saw a pregnant woman with no support system and knew they could milk her for extra costs.
What was she going to do?
Cancel and ask them to unload the truck?
That’s highly fucking unlikely.
I’m going to make sure I’m around in the morning to ensure they don’t try to pull any other bullshit.
“Good night, Chelsea.” I aim for the door, slapping my thigh to call Sky. “Get some rest. Come find me if you need anything.”
Chapter Five
Chelsea
I’ve always been a light sleeper. It’s one of the things I’m grateful for, since I’m not too worried I’ll oversleep and miss Luna crying. Unless exhaustion takes over, which might be a real possibility, considering I’m doing everything alone.
Sky wakes me up a couple of times, bumping her head against the door to demand entry. Unfortunately, my bladder requires I visit the restroom during each wake-up check. Around five in the morning, I give up and leave the door pushed to the frame. At some point after that, she invites herself in and snuggles on the bed like a furry portable heater.
Not that I mind. It’s been too long since I cuddled with any living being, even if her breath leaves something to be desired. I wake up warm and toasty, but the furry beast is gone.
Light streams through the window, and when I check my phone, it’s after nine-thirty. I panic, rip back the comforter, yank on my socks, and force my slightly swollen feet into my tennis shoes.
I’ve got to get over there immediately, so I can let the movers in when they arrive.
I only plan to peek outside to make sure the truck isn’t there, but when it is, I panic a little.
Okay, a lot.
I jog out the front door and down the stairs. There’s a weird drainage ditch or something between the two houses, so I’ll have to go out to the road to be able to access my driveway.
I’m about halfway down the guys’ driveway when Arden calls out, “For the love of God, where is your coat?”
I don’t stop waddling with a purpose.
“Chelsea, stop!” Arden growls. It’s not a bark, but it does roll through my system like one.
I freeze, turning back to face him. “They’re already here. No one called!” I sound hysterical, even to my own ears, but this is bad. I need to get over there as quickly as possible.
“Arms out.” He makes it to me in three long strides and holds out a coat. Once I’m bundled up in it, he zips it for me. It’s kind of embarrassing how tight a fit it is to get it closed over my stomach, but he manages. “Hands.” I hold out my hands, and he unceremoniously yanks on a pair of men’s gloves before pulling a knit hat from under his arm. He tugs it on, pushing down my mass of hair.
“Are we good? I have to go.”
“Let me close the door, and I’ll accompany you.” He spins around, patting his thigh for Sky. She doesn’t seem like she wants to go back in, and I bolt for the street while Arden is preoccupied.
That damn ditch makes everything more complicated. Instead of walking across their lawn and into mine, I have to hit the street and then go back down my driveway. I parkedon the street last night to ensure the truck would have room to back in. They definitely managed that, but they also have all my belongings piled up in front of the garage and even some on the porch, from the looks of it.
“You finally show right as we’re finishing up,” Russell says. He’s the main guy in charge. Or that’s the way it seemed yesterday.
“Why on earth didn’t you call me? I was right next door.” My voice sounds a little hysterical, but this isn’t okay.
“Listen, lady, you knew we’d be here this morning. The truck is empty. Take a look inside and sign the fucking form.” He jabs the paper at my face.
“What? I paid for you to put it away, like inside the house. I can lift some of it, but there’s no way I can move the dressers or my bed.”
