Page 171 of Ugly Beautiful Scars

Sean laughs. "Merlin is a perfectly acceptable name. It commands respect."

"It commands teasing in elementary school."

"Kids are cool nowadays, aren't they?"

"You sound old."

He laughs again and is about to say something else when the doorbell chimes. My body instinctively tenses—that old, familiar surge of adrenaline whenever an unexpected sound breaks the quiet. But Sean's already moving toward the front door.

I pull in a deep breath, forcing my shoulders to relax. This is my home. I'm safe here and thousands of miles from the U.S. The dangers from my past life no longer lurk around every corner.

Sean opens the door and then hugs Raven. She lets out an "oof" because Sean likes firm hugs.

He steps back, "Come on in."

Raven nods and hands him a bottle of sparkling cider. Her Australian accent lifts the final syllables of every word like she's perpetually asking a question. "Hey, mate. Where's my Lonny?" Then she spots me and hurries over for an embrace.

Raven bursts into the kitchen like a tornado of wild auburn curls and freckles and colors so bright they make my eyes water.

"There she is!" Raven engulfs me in a hug that smells like coconut sunscreen and salt water. "Look at that belly! He's a chunky one, isn't he?"

I laugh, all of my worries forgotten. Raven always has that effect. She pulls joy to the surface like she has a magnetic field that only attracts happiness. "He's growing. Doctor says he's right on track."

"Course he is." Raven drops into a chair at the kitchen island, already reaching for a cracker. "Strong genes. Gonna be as intimidating as his father."

Sean sets the cider on the counter and says, "I'll start his combat training at two. He'll be Special Ops by five." The three of us laugh and then Sean kisses my cheek, waving today's book at me. "I'll be on the beach if you need me."

"Running away from girl talk," Raven teases. "Typical bloke. Too scared to sit around while we discuss the miracle of childbirth in detail."

"Terrified," he agrees solemnly, though the glint in his eye gives him away. "Have fun."

"You too, hottie," Raven says to his retreating back.

He shakes his head as I watch him go, slipping out the patio doors and down the wooden steps that lead directly to the beach. This house is our little slice of paradise, perched on the edge of the world, where the land surrenders to the Southern Ocean of Australia. Where I've finally learned to let go of the past.

Mostly.

I laugh and give Raven a pointed but playful look. "Will you stop flirting with my future husband?"

"Not flirting. Just stating facts. And it's funny that he blushes every time."

I smile because she's right. It is a fact that he's a hottie and he does blush from compliments. It's very cute.

"How'd the theater thing go?"

I grab some grapes from the fridge and then set them next to the cheese on my board. "Oh, well, I did the audition but they don't want a pregnant woman for the role. I knew that. I only did it so they'd have my headshot on file. We'll see. I'm a little rusty."

"I'd love to see you on stage someday. I'll be first row, cheering you on and making too much noise. They'll probably kick me out. And I'll tell 'em, 'Don't you know my best friend is a super famous Hollywood actress? Get your hands off me.'"

I laugh. "Yes, you would totally do that. But I've never been super famous, so please don't. I actually can't remember the last time someone recognized me."

She sneaks another cracker. "I'll still cheer you on."

"Let's go sit," I tell her. She grabs the attempted charcuterie board and I grab the cider and some glasses.

She settles down on the fuzzy rug in the living room while I have to perch myself on the couch. If I sat on the floor with this belly I'd never get back up. We use the coffee table for food and drinks and dive into some gossip. Well, she's the only one who ever has gossip.

She pours our drinks while simultaneously launching into a story about her neighbor-turned-boyfriend. "Mark decided we should go surfing at dawn. Yeah nah, as if I'm the type of person who functions before coffee."

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