“I’m sorry, I wasn’t trying to judge you or him. I just needed to ask. I’m sorry for offending you. Unintentional or not, there’s no excuse for it.”
Avery’s body slumps and my hands shoot out because I’m afraid she’s going to slide right down to the floor. She looks weighed down by everything.
The realization that hits me is like a bolt of lightning—she needs me to be strong right now. Sheneedsme, period. Why elsewould she have shown up now with the vestiges of her tears on her face while sadness and hope swirl in her eyes?
“What happened, Avery? Are you hurt? Are you unsafe?”
The tension in the room ramps up a few notches.
“If you’re in danger,” Wyatt’s voice holds a warmth in it which wasn’t there moments ago, “we know some people who can help.”
“I’m going to keep her safe.” There’s a finality in my words that has everyone looking at me.
I don’t look away from Avery. I can’t.
One thing I know for sure, if Avery is in danger I’ll protect her. Her, and our baby.
“It’s not like that,” Avery insists, but her voice wobbles. “No one is chasing me or anything.” She takes a few deep breaths, and I can tell she’s gearing up to talk about something which has hurt her deeply from the way her face twists with agony.
Travis puts a chair behind her and gives her shoulder a squeeze. The contact is friendly and brief, but I still want to punch him for it. He winks at me when I shoot him a glare before introducing himself to Avery. “I’m Travis. Shop heart throb.”
“Oh,” Avery gasps and then with a grateful look, sits down. “Thank you,” she sighs, “it’s nice to meet you, Travis.” She looks at Monroe, “You too, Monroe.”
I should have gotten her a chair, but a good part of my brain is still stuck somewhere around the time she revealed herself to me after five months with a noticeable baby bump. It’s adorable on her. She’s mostly belly, but her curves have become a little morepronounced with the pregnancy. As I look at her, I realize she’s glowing.
Knox grabs a bottle of water from his mini fridge and rolls himself on his stool closer. He holds it out to Avery with a grin. “I’m Knox and, “he points as he speaks, “that’s Ellis and Carson.”
“Hi,” Avery greets before taking a big drink. It seems to fortify her resolve. “Let me start by saying that my father is an asshole. The night I went to Aces my father had told me that afternoon my engagement would be announced in six months.”
I stiffen at her words. She’s engaged? This announcement is happening in a month?
“The last thing I want to do is marry the son of my father’s law partner. He’s a creep. We haven’t been dating or anything. I avoid him in the office like a lot of the women who work there do. Marrying him would mean always being treated like a vapid housewife with no skills.”
“But you just said you’re a lawyer at your father’s firm,” Wyatt points out, clearly confused.
“I might be a lawyer, but I’m treated like a paralegal. My father has certain expectations when it comes to women and strong opinions on their place.”
Everyone grimaces, even the clients who don’t seem to mind that work has stopped for a moment.
Avery waves her hand, “This isn’t the point.” She looks up into my eyes and I find myself crouching down to make it easier on her. My hands come up and grip the armrests on either side of her. I’m close but not touching her.
I swear I can see her rebuilding her strength from my warmth and presence; it’s an odd sensation. “When I found out I waspregnant, I didn’t know what to do. I knew telling my parents would be a mistake. Hiding it seemed like the best option at the time. I’ve been able to, easily, until today.”
Monroe snorts, “Easily? Girl, while it’s a damn cute bump, there’s no hiding it.”
Avery sighs and nods. “I swear I woke up this morning and my belly popped overnight.”
“Like the thing in turkeys that say when it’s done?” Knox quips and Dallas reaches over and pinches his shoulder.
“The same thing happened with my wife, Tenley,” Wyatt tells her. From the look on his face, he’s trying to comfort her. I’m not sure it’s working.
“I didn’t have a lot of options, and this dress is stretchy enough and cut in a way that helps conceal it. I also had a blazer on,” she tells us.
For some reason, the thought of her hiding her bump, of her pregnancy being a secret, pisses me the fuck off. She should be celebrated. She’s bringing life into this world. Life which is half my DNA. It’s a scary thought, but it’s monumental as well.
“I spilled coffee on my white blazer this morning and couldn’t keep wearing it.” Monroe reaches out and gives her shoulder a squeeze in support. I should be doing that, but I’m stuck in place staring into her beautiful dark blue eyes as they shimmer with the tears threatening to fall. “That’s when the whispers and looks started,” she tells us, her voice barely above a whisper.
“What happened then, Avery?”
