Chapter 73 75

Chapter 73 75
LARA PARKER
Mariah made a sharp sound beside me and I put my hand on her arm before she could open her mouth and say something we both know she would not regret.
"Well then. Thanks for the warning." I said to Savanna keeping my tone blank, my face flat and unbothered. Like she had just told me something I would forget in five minutes and not something that would probably keep me tossing in bed and fighting for my sleep.
She blinked, clearly taken aback by how coolly I am taking her jabs and attempt to bring me down.
I reached for my bag and stood up, wanting nothing more than to be out of her presence. "Mariah, let's go."
Mariah looked at me. Then at Savanna. I could see the she was fighting herself hard not to say what has been at the very tip of her lips since this all started. "Lara—"
"I am tired." I said quietly which is not entirely a lie, then I gave her a look that said the rest of what I could not say out loud. Not here. Not tonight. Let's just go.
i do not want a repeat of what happened with Dixie that night.
Luckily, she understood and did not press it, holding shelf back. She pushed her chair back and grabbed her bag with a slight sway, the alcohol catching up with her.
Savanna's face contorted into that of anger. The act fell away a little and what was left underneath was not as polished. "You really are just leaving?" She asked.
"Should I stay and entertain your nonsense then?” I held her gaze, without backing down.
She laughed. "He will get bored." She said it louder now, like she wanted the words to have somewhere to land and stick. I almost pitied her because she is just plain out desperate at this point. "Women like you always think they are special. They never are."
I stopped and turned to look at her one more time.
She was standing with her chin up, ready. Waiting for me to come back at her so she could have something to work with.
I did not give it to her. She does not deserve it. If I do, I will be playing right into her game.
I held her gaze for just a moment, long enough to let her know that I had heard everything and had simply decided it was not worth my time. “So be it then.” I shrugged. Then I turned back around and walked.
Mariah caught up to me and fell into step beside me as we moved through the crowd. She was quiet, which took real effort from her, I could almost feel it because I could almost hear the war ongoing in her mind.
At least, until she suddenly said, "I really cannot stand that bitch—"
"Drop it, Mariah.” I said, my tone exhausted. “I am tired.”
"But she—"
"Mariah. Drop it please." I gave her a pleading look.
She blew out a long breath but said nothing more.
We moved through the main floor and into the corridor that led to the exit. The music faded behind us, becoming more of a dull thud the further we walked. The air was cooler here and I pulled in a slow breath, letting my shoulders fall.
Then something hit me.
It came from nowhere. A thick, rolling wave of nausea that started low in my stomach and rose fast, and for a moment the floor felt like it was not entirely steady beneath my feet. I stopped walking.
"Lara?" Mariah turned around.
I pressed my palm flat against the wall beside me. The coolness of it helped a little. I swallowed hard, my mouth going watery the way it does right before things get bad.
"Hey." She was in front of me now, her hand on my arm. "Hey, talk to me. What is wrong?"
"I am fine." I said, though I know otherwise.
"You do not look fine." She was already looking around. She spotted a small bench against the wall and guided me toward it. I did not argue. My legs felt strange. "Sit. Do you have water? Give me your bag—"
"I am okay, it is just—"
"You did not even drink tonight." She cut me off, crouching in front of me, her eyes searching my face. "I was the one drinking. You had water the whole time. So what is this?" Her brows were pulled together tight. "Did you eat today? Are you sick? Lara, talk to me—"
"I ate, I am fine, it is probably just the heat in there—"
The nausea rolled through again, heavier this time, and I pressed my hand to my stomach without thinking.
Mariah went very still.
Her eyes dropped to my hand. Then came back up to my face. Something was moving through her expression that she had not said out loud yet.
"Mariah, do not." I said quietly.
She pressed her lips together and said nothing.
Then from behind us came a voice that made the back of my neck prickle.
"Well."
I did not need to turn around. But I did.
Savanna was standing a few feet away, arms folded across her chest. I had no idea how long she had been there or how much she had seen. But her eyes were on my hand, the one still resting low against my stomach, and when she looked back up at my face her expression was nothing like it had been at the table.
The sharpness was still there. But underneath it was something else. Something genuinely caught off guard.
Her mouth opened slowly.
"Wait." She said. "Are you pregnant?"