She stirs in her sleep, and I watch her eyebrows slowly move toward one another, a frown tipping her lips down in unison.
Is she having a bad dream? Should I wake her?
I suddenly realize how warm she is, feeling the sweat that’s formed between us, a mix of both of ours. She whimpers, and my heart fucking aches at the delicate sound.
“Lain,” I whisper gently, but she doesn’t move.
Her lips part, and she inhales, jostling back and forth, mumbling something incoherent.
“Lainey,” I whisper again.
Suddenly, a screech—no, her scream tears through the room, and I cup her shoulder, rocking her awake as my heart plummets to the floor.
This time, I’m not quiet. “Lainey, wake up!”
Her eyes fly open, and she gasps, her eyes locking on to mine, pure fear in her dilated stare. For a moment, she’s still in her dream, and she’s staring at me like I’m a monster, but all I can think about is who the monster truly is and where I can find him.
Maybe this was just a random nightmare, nothing more.
But as she sits up, pulling her stare from mine and avoiding it again, I have a feeling it wasn’t random at all.
“Lainey?” I murmur, but she ignores me. “Are you okay?”
Standing up, she grabs her phone and water from the coffee table. “Yeah, I’m just going to head to bed. Sorry for falling asleep early.”
She’s already moving, heading up the stairs before I get a chance to respond, and I’m left with far more questions than answers.
CHAPTER 18
LAINEY
We sleptin separate rooms last night, and it was horrible. I was spoiled with that night together when he slept wrapped around my body like my own personal blanket, and waking up alone felt lonelier than ever, especially when I remember that I stormed off to bed.
I had known he’d want to talk about it, and I’m just not ready. I want to tell him soon, but there are so many other things I need to talk to him about first, like the baby growing inside me.
I needed fresh air this morning, which is why I’m out for a run before I’m meeting up with Morgan and her friend Chloe for coffee.
Guilt hits my chest as I turn the corner back to Jensen’s place. I’ve already drunk alcohol and had an exuberant amount of coffee while I’ve been pregnant. Granted, I didn’t know, but that doesn’t make me worry less.
I called the doctor yesterday when I got to Jensen’s and set up an appointment to be seen and check everything out.
I need to establish care with someone here anyway since this will just be the beginning of a slew of appointments. Thankfully, I was able to quickly find someone in my network. My first appointment is scheduled for next Friday at four p.m.Depending on the status of my job when I get back tomorrow, I might not have to work it out with the schedule. Hopefully, my job is just fine, or I’m going to have a whole new problem to sort out.
Caitlin didn’t seem too upset during the game when I interfered. I think if anything, she was just mad I’d kept her in the dark. I should’ve disclosed it sooner, but it’s too late for that.
When she pulled me aside after wrapping Jensen up, she reprimanded me for letting my feelings get the better of me. At that moment, I was thinking more about the emotions and less about the medical needs. But I can’t look at Jensen objectively; he’s my weakness.
The doorman opens the door for me as I approach, and I thank him as I step through before getting in the elevator and using the spare key card Jensen gave me to move the lift up to his penthouse.
He’s at the arena this morning to watch practice, and I’m happy that I can avoid him for a short while longer until dinner tonight. I need to find a time to talk to him about everything, but anytime I feel like I have an ounce of courage, he does something so sweet that makes me want to grab my bags and run for the hills because he deserves someone so much better than me.
Maybe Cole was right about no one else ever being able to love me. I know he’s an asshole, but maybe his words aren’t completely wrong. Jensen may think he wants me, but he probably won’t feel that way when he learns the truth.
I’ll talk to him after the dinner tonight. Putting it off for too long will just drag it on, and that’s not fair for him. But before I can face that mountain, I have a girls’ date at The Little Dove.
Chloe and Morgan are the epitome of best friends, literally two peas in a pod. They are so funny and entertaining; I could laugh with them for hours.
“What are you wearing tonight?” Morgan asks me, and my blood runs cold.
