Page 97 of Fighting Spirit

Trevor just keeps eating, his eyes trained down on his plate. I’m about to speak when he gives a hard nod, a broad smile erupting over his features. “I like her,” he declares. “I mean, I liked her anyway but now I like her a lot.”

“Was that a test?” Ruth asks indignantly.

“You’re an asshole,” I say.

“Sometimes.” He shrugs cheerfully. “But I’m your asshole.”

“Whatever,” I grouch. “You’re lucky I love you, or else I’d sock you in the kidneys for being a dick to my girl.”

“You cuties,” he says with a shit-eating grin. “I’ve never seen you like this.”

“Yeah, well.” I press a kiss to Ruth’s temple. “I’d never met Ruth before.”

Chapter Forty

RUTH

Long after Rowan’s fallen asleep, I’m still tossing and turning. It’s all I can do not to kick him in the shin with the way I’m moving around, but there’s a twisting sensation in my gut that won’t let up. I take some long breaths, hoping to push the anxiety aside, but as the squirming turns into cramping, I realize it might not all be in my head.

A sharp pain has me gasping and I slide out from under the covers, leaving Rowan’s sleeping form as I tiptoe toward the kitchen. I do my best to keep quiet as I pull a glass out of the cabinet, wincing as it clinks against the other glassware.

“Shh,” I hiss at the tap as I pour some water.

“Who are you shushing?”

I groan as Rowan’s sleepy drawl carries into the kitchen, followed by rustling and his thudding footsteps across the carpet. He appears in the doorway all rumpled, eyes half shut, shirt ridden up to reveal the hard slabs of his stomach. He runs a hand through his mussed hair, and I have to suppress a sigh before another cramp cuts off my thoughts. I manage not to cringe as the pain moves through my abdomen.

“Sorry,” I whisper. “I was shushing the tap. I didn’t want to wake you.”

“Did it listen?”

“Only when I turned it off,” I admit with a wry smile.

He moves closer, snagging me around the waist and pulling me into his warm chest. My hands come up to fist the back of his shirt as I breathe him in. “I’m sorry I woke you.”

“Why are you up?” he murmurs into my hair.

“I’m fine, just couldn’t sleep.”

“Liar.”

“I’m not lying!” I look up at him, my indignation cut off by another pang.

“What’s wrong?” He frowns, pulling away and holding my shoulders as he pierces me with that assessing gaze.

My shoulders slump. “I think it’s something I ate.”

“What did you eat?”

“I don’t know, dinner with you guys?” I try to cast my mind back, but I haven’t had anything I shouldn’t have in the last few days. His eyebrows draw together as he takes me in, concern filling his irises.

Rowan pulls away, nodding as if he’s decided something. “Stay here.” He gently pushes me onto one of the bar stools by the island.

“Where are you-Rowan!” I hop back up and follow him, trying to stop him as he approaches Trevor’s door. I grab his arm, but it’s not enough to silence the four loud knocks as his fist comes down.

“What the fuck!” I hear Trevor’s startled shout.

“Trev, I need to talk to you, man.”

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