Page 177 of Reaper's Rival

“What’s wrong, Dad? Do you agree that Abby isn’t fat enough?” Kim snuck a smug look my way as she said.

“Abby’s nine months pregnant and you have her clearing dishes. My girls don’t do the dishes. Now put them back!”

I rolled my eyes. “I can clear a few plates.” Why was everyone treating me like I was about to break? Sure, this time I had been more careful, but everyone else was taking it just as seriously as I was. But clearing a few plates? I could do that.

“You aren’t hired help.” Dad took the plates off me and dumped them on the table, breaking a few in the process. “Go to bed.”

“At seven!” Kim and I both said.

“Better in bed away from this lot. Abby, you should be sleeping more. You won’t be getting a lot of it once the baby is here.”

This again. “Yes, Dad.”

“Kids keep you up and on your feet every hour of every day.”

“Yes, Dad.”

“You and Reaper have no idea what you are getting into.”

“Yes, Dad.”

“Stopping yessing me and go to bed,” he growled.

Did I fight it? What was the point? “Fine, I will.” Maybe Reaper would call later tonight. But as soon as I thought it, I knew what the answer was. No. No, he wouldn’t call. Because he was busy. Unlike me.

***

Days passed slowly, and Reaper hadn’t called.

I was lying on the bed staring up the cracked white ceiling. The music from the bar pumped through the bones of the old house. The laughter was loud and I could smell the cooking meat, cigarette smoke, and alcohol drifting through the open bedroom window.

My hands were on my stomach, and I could feel the baby moving inside me. Was it weird that I still didn’t know what I was having? With my first pregnancy, I wanted to know everything. This one I was treating myself by wrapping myself up in cotton wool.

Protecting myself from everything.

It didn’t help that I didn’t have my protector here. My strength. My other half. My man. I took a steady breath in. Right now, I wanted Reaper. I wanted him to have his hands on my stomach, watching and feeling the miracle we created.

Instead, I was by myself. In my childhood bedroom.

Alone.

I had never felt more alone.

Sure I had Kim. Brad. Dad. But I didn’t have the person I wanted.

My phone vibrated next to me. I reached for it and slid it open.

“Hello?”

“How’s my wife?”

I closed my eyes. Just hearing his voice was comforting.

“Missing you.” I was honest but kept the need and want out of my voice. He didn’t need to know how badly I needed him. No point making him feel guilty.

***

“Brad, you aren’t coming inside the delivery suite.” I gave him a hardened expression and crossed my arms. “Never. Ever.”

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