“What’s that?” Tempest asked.
“Why has no one contacted Cristie? If he won’t listen to anyone else, maybe he’ll listen to her.”
“He refused to see her before she left. If I was Cristie, I’d refuse to see him.”
“Yes, but, you’re not his mate. She is. We don’t know how she’s feeling. She has no idea that he’s gone off the deep end. Maybe she’d come back to call him on his behavior and straighten him out, even if she doesn’t want him personally anymore. I mean, they were childhood best friends before they realized they were mates,” Bailey said.
“That’s true. And if it were any other time, I might have thought of that myself. Or, I might have even acted on it. But in all honesty, all I want to do is get this baby out of me!” Tempest said, raising her voice to put emphasis on her frustration.
“It won’t be long. Shaun says you look like it’ll be any day.”
“Lord, I hope so!” Tempest said.
“Oh, the bright side, want some positive news?” Bailey asked.
“Yes! Please!” Tempest answered.
“Shaun and I have been getting closer, a lot closer. I really, really care about him. He makes me laugh, Tempest. Life is fun with him.”
“Aww, I’m so glad!”
“Me, too. He said that I’ll never have to worry about him finding his mate and choosing them over me, because I’m it. I’m his mate, and he knew it when he saw me, but I was happy with Remi, and part of loving somebody selflessly is wanting them to have whatever makes them happy, even if it’s not you.”
Tempest was sniffling.
“You alright?” Bailey asked worriedly.
“That’s so romantic! Why’d you have to tell me that? Now I’m crying,” Tempest said.
“You’re crying?”
“It’s hormones. I cry over freaking dog food commercials!”
Bailey laughed. “I’m sorry.”
“You know, everything happens for a reason. I swear it does, it’s not just a saying. And if Remi hadn’t brought you into the fold, maybe you and Shaun wouldn’t have met.”
“That’s true. Or maybe we would have. I’m sure he’d have come in for coffee at some point.”
“He doesn’t like coffee. He’s just forced himself to learn to tolerate it, because you sell it.”
Bailey burst out laughing. “Again, he just makes me laugh.”
“Aw, crap,” Tempest said, struggling to sit the recliner up so she could get out of it.
“What’s wrong?” Bailey asked.
“I gotta pee. Again.”
“Oh, well go ahead and take care of you. I’ll see you soon.”
“I want you at the hospital when I have this little ruffian,” Tempest said. “So, even if I don’t think to let you know I’m in labor when the time comes, you’re welcome there. You’re my best friend.”
“I’ll be there as soon as I hear about it.”
“Thank you. Love you.”
“Love you, too,” Tempest said. “And I’m happy about you and Shaun, but I really gotta pee.”
