Page 37 of Tangled
“I am,” Scarlett said, her voice soft but clear as she met his gaze. “I’m carrying our baby, that’s a part of you. But even if I weren’t, I still have a part of you that’s mine, don’t I? Just as you have a part of me—in your heart or your soul or whatever you want to call it—that’s yours. If I get hurt, it will hurt you. And if you get hurt, it will hurt me. We’re responsible for and to each other now.”
“And that’s how it should be, darling girl,” William said as he rose. His motion drew Sabina's and Ethan’s attention away from Brad, who was looking at her with an expression she couldn’t quite decipher.
Then he cleared his throat and rose as well. Taking the cue, Sabina and Ethan joined William in donning their coats and hats. Scarlett watched them, a family comfortable with one another, before rising and joining them as well.
“We will see each other again soon,” William said, giving her a hug. Sabina came next, accompanying her hug with a promise to let her know what Ava found as soon as she recovered the files. Then Ethan enveloped her, feeling so similar but so very different from Brad. He promised to bring Kara by after she and Sabina packed up Scarlett’s former studio—a task she’d almost forgotten they were scheduled to do later that morning. She issued a stern warning to Sabina to be careful, then stood beside Brad as they said their final farewells.
As soon as the door closed behind them, Brad turned to her. “How are you feeling?”
A peculiar tone in his voice had her searching his expression. Not seeing anything that gave her any indication of his mood, she answered. “I’m fine. Your pancakes are…” She gave him a sheepish look. “Well, I hope you don’t mind making them a lot, because they might become one of my go-to meals.”
“Good. So no nausea?” he asked.
She shook her head, still curious about his mood.
“Then you won’t mind if I take you to bed and have my with you seven ways to Sunday?”
***
Scarlett rolled over, confused as to what had awoken her. And where she was. Blinking at the soft light bathing the room, she willed the fog to clear from her head. When it did, she remembered exactly where she was. In Brad’s room. In his bed. Where she’d been pretty much all day.
After their late breakfast, he’d made good on his promise, pushing her almost to the point of not being able to take another orgasm—a possibility that had never crossed her mind before. Then he’d left her sleeping so deeply, she hadn’t even woken when Sabina and Kara had dropped her things off. Midafternoon, she’d risen to use the bathroom and eat a bowl of soup, then gone straight back to bed.
As she stared out the sliding doors at the early evening light, she realized she’d never slept so much in her life. Guilt began creeping into her psyche as she considered that. Was she taking advantage of Brad? So many women didn’t have a choice but to push through their morning sickness;wasshe being overindulgent?
Then William’s words came back to her. It wasn’t indulgent, it was smart. A privilege not everyone had, to be sure, but still the smart thing to do. And so, like the fact that she’d moved into Brad’s room, and they were having sex and a baby together, she shoved her guilt into the category of things not to overthink. Maybe she’d regret it when the situation with Gracie’s murder was resolved. If she did, she’d deal with it then.
The doorbell rang, startling her.Thatwas what had woken her. Because Brad wouldn’t ring his own bell and she wasn’t expecting anyone, she grabbed her phone to send him a text. Shehad no intention of opening the door if it wasn’t someone he’d made plans with.
To her surprise, she found three texts from Sabina. The first from ninety minutes earlier, followed by a second, an hour later. The last—a curt message informing Scarlett she was on her way up to the apartment—had arrived not five minutes before she picked up her device.
Knowing full well she looked like a woman fresh out of bed after a good long tumble, Scarlett considered trying to at least fix her hair. Then, deciding it would take too long—and require too much energy—she made her way out of the bedroom. Sabina would get what she’d get. If she were anything like her sister, she’d snigger and tease her.
After looking through the eyehole to confirm it was Sabina, Scarlett threw the door open. Sabina’s eyes widened as she took in her wild hair and rumpled pajamas. There might even have been a love bite or two that caught her attention.
Looking just like Kara, Sabina flashed her a wicked smile. “Looks like you two found a way to combat your morning sickness.”
She considered making an excuse, then decided to treat Sabina as she would Kara. “It’s shockingly effective,” she said, turning away from the door and walking to the living room.
After shutting the door, Sabina trailed behind. “I have to admit, I’m a little jealous. I was a weepy mess and only wanted Chad to hold me while I cried at commercials. I’m not a crier by nature, and it freaked him out. But then the second trimester came along, and I couldn’t get enough of him. He definitely didn’t mindthatphase of my pregnancy.”
Scarlett laughed. “Brad may have to quit his job if I get any more needy in the coming months.”
Sabina snorted. “One of the benefits of living so close to where he works. Assuming you stay here, he’s five minutes away any time you need him.”
Scarlett smiled and sank onto the sofa. “I kind of like that idea.”
Sabina waggled her eyebrows. “I’m betting he does, too. Do you need anything before I sit? Water? Tea?”
Scarlett shook her head against the pillow. “I just woke up and feel like I could go back to sleep again. It’s hard to believe that up until a few days ago I worked full-time. I don’t know how I did that.”
Sabina tipped her head as she took a seat. “We do what we need to. You needed to work then. Now you don’t.”
Scarlett closed her eyes, then realizing how chilly she was, reached for a blanket. “Sorry,” she mumbled. “I’m like the least exciting person on the planet right now. I’m sure you came by to tell me something? Oh, and thank you for packing my stuff and bringing it by earlier.”
“Not a problem. And as to being exciting, there are literally cells dividing in your body right now and growing a human being. I get what you’re saying, but scientifically speaking, it doesn’t get much more exciting than that.”
Scarlett cocked one eye open. “You’re a little weird.”
