chapter 78

MAY.

“I told you I didn’t want to,” I snap. “And now, everyone is asking if I’m fat because you’re feeding me or putting a baby in me.”

Ethan raises one hand in surrender as he pulls the door open for me. “You’re right, honey. You’re always right. What do I know? Absolutely nothing.”

I scowl, growing more annoyed by the second. Lately, it’s harder to contain my emotions. Sometimes, I’m so happy, I could nibble on Ethan’s cheeks like waffles—and he lets me—other times, I’m so angry and irritated by everything that I stay in the guest room to avoid strangling him in his sleep for no reason. His grandmother and annoying cousins think I’m pregnant, but I’ve done the test twice and there’s nothing. My period is usually irregular, so it being late is nothing out of the ordinary for me.

He mentioned getting checked at the hospital, just to get rid of all doubt, but I don’t want to find out yet. I don’t know, I’m freaking out about the entire thing. It’s easy to say you want kids until it actually happens. Between being Ethan’s ‘consultant’—I don’t even understand why he gave me such strenuous work. It could be because I complained for a whole month about staying in and doing nothing. I think he’s trying to punish me for nagging him. As if enrolling me in business school isn’t enough, he’s had me take more classes, to keep up with the demands of his many jobs. I swear I barely even have time to breathe.

But I will not cave and tell him to take it away. It does feel good earning my money, even if Ethan’s basically my boss now, but what’s even better is the sex on the conference table after the meetings. I don’t know what it is about my husband and makes me become so hungry and insatiable. I see him dressed in a suit, I’m a goner. He runs his fingers through his hair, I start to ache. He pulls on his tie absentmindedly, and I start to imagine it around my wrist while he does other nasty things with his tongue.

This is probably why companies have work ethics that most frown upon couples working together in the same environment, because, heavens, when the man is around me, I’m not thinking figures or strategies or projects. I’m thinking sex.

It’s also great being included in meetings where I practically have to watch women undress him with their eyes, and Jared rolls his eyes every time I lean in and sprawl my hands over his chest, marking my territory.

It feels great. My life, and every time I look back, I find that I have something new to be thankful for. For one, Anna is finally done with the divorce proceedings with crazy-ass-Sean. They decided on shared custody of Finn, but last I heard, Sean is too busy whoring around to actually keep to his end of the agreement.

Anna and Neil…well, that’s certainly none of my business, since for some reason, even if it is clear as day that they are crazy about each other, they won’t make their relationship public.

“Why are you agreeing with me? You’re just being annoying,” I tell Ethan as I take his hand and let him pull me out of the car. I wince at the ache in my lower back and I feel like an old lady as he grips my hip, walking me over to the door.

“I’m just adhering to your rules. During any and every argument, you’re always right.”

“That’s not what I said.”

He twists the doorknob, ushering me inside, and my heart jumps into my mouth when I hear cries and shouts from everywhere. “Happy birthday, May!”

I didn’t even realize I had screamed and stumbled into Ethan’s arms until he started chuckling behind me, his arms tightening around me. I laugh too, unable to hold it in. There are so many people in our living room, that they’re spilling into the kitchen and the dining area. Anna stands in the middle, holding a cake almost too large for her hands, and Finn is poking at the sides, licking the icing.

Ethan ushers me over to where they stand, Neil walks forward, kissing my cheeks softly as he murmurs birthday wishes. I have barely responded when I am whisked away by Ginny and Harriet, who start fussing about what the results of the tests say.

Harriet looks disappointed when I tell her I went to work and not the hospital. She pushes the frame of her glasses up and her lips pull into a frown. “Why do you torture me so, child? I swear my blood pressure is rising because of you.”

Ginny suddenly pokes my breast and I smack her hand, glaring at her. “Stop it.”

“But they’re bigger. And fluffier.”

Ethan said so last night too. My cheeks burn when Ethan coughs pointedly not too far from me, as if to say, “I told you so.”

Ginny’s eyes rise over my shoulder and her eyes darken with contempt. I turn a little and see why almost immediately. Bridget smiles softly at me, Ashley standing awkwardly beside her, looking like this is the last place she wants to be. Of course, it would be. After ruining our apartment, Ethan called the cops on her. It didn’t matter how much wealth she had, they refused her bail on Ethan’s demands.

Bridget had pleaded with Ethan for days, and her brother, Liam, had shown up on our doorstep not twice but three times to…make requests to have his sister released. Ethan had smiled and shut the door in his face.

Ashley spent exactly two weeks in jail, and I knew the exact moment she got out because I got a text from her that read: STUPID ASS CUNT.

I arch a brow in Ethan’s direction. Why invite her here? I bet she wants to run me over. I can see it in the way she looks at me, at the house, at my husband and what seems to have evolved into my life right now. She hates me and isn’t bothering to hide it.

“Happy birthday, dear,” Bridget says and moves in for a hug and I let her wrap her arms around me, pulling me into a cocoon of warmth. Unlike her daughter, Bridget is very likable. Even now, I find myself leaning into her warmth. It’s hard, but I’ve been trying to get used to it. Talking to her, getting to know her. She’s nice, but it’s hard to just…accept her. I have a small haven in my heart. In it, there’s Anna, Finn, Ethan, Ginny and Harriet. Family, and inserting Bridget into it is going to take a long time.

She pulls back and hands me a gift box. Her warm blue eyes crinkle with laughter as she whispers, “Open it later. At night.”

I eye the box skeptically. “Why? What’s in it?”

Mischief shines in Bridget’s eyes. “That would ruin the surprise, wouldn’t it?” Her head tilts a little and she regards Ashley with reproach. “I believe my daughter has something to say to you.”

I bet she has so many things to say to me.

“Good luck with that one,” Ginny murmurs behind me. “Jared looks rather scrumptious tonight, don’t you think?” she adds, eyeing Ethan’s assistant with heat flaring in her eyes. If I didn’t know better, I’d think they started something.

I change my mind when Ginny walks over to him, feints a stumble and squeezes his ass. Christ. Jared’s head whips back and he eyes Ginny like she’s lunch. Maybe I don’t know any better. Maybe all the women are keeping their involvement private.

Harriet excuses herself, walking away with Bridget, leaving me with Ashley, alone. She looks leaner and uncomfortable. “Mother wants me to apologize to you.”

“But you don’t want to.”

“No,” she whispers, her fists clenching. “I don’t want to.” She pauses, and suddenly leans forward, touching my hair. “You look…good.”

I step out of her reach before she can get it into her head to pull out my hair. “Yeah, I know.”

She starts to say something to me when a waiter walks past with food. I don’t know what it is about the tray and the spiced meat that turns my stomach. She keeps talking, but I don't hear a single word she says to me. My body goes cold and sweat breaks on my forehead.

I swallow, but it only makes the feeling worse.

Nausea takes hold and my lunch is rising to my chest faster than I can stop it, and I bolt down the sitting room, barely avoiding a crash as I find the nearest room. I dash inside and barely make it to the toilet before my chest heaves.