Page 110 of Royal Beast
And at Kellan and Darcy’s vow renewal, when we danced together, I thought maybe, just maybe, I’d been wrong about him. That there was more to Rory than meets the eye and I was finally starting to see beyond his cold shell.
But since that night, he’s been colder than ever.
I groan, letting my head fall onto my desk. “Why do I even care?”
Because for better or worse, I still do. And that might be the most dangerous thing of all.
I lean back in my chair, tapping my pen against my notepad. I should focus on the baby shower. Darcy deserves something special, but coming up with ideas that fit her low-key personality is harder than I expected.
An idea strikes me, and I pick up my phone to call her boss, Miranda Voss. We met at Darcy’s book launch party forHenry and Emma.
“Clary!” Miranda’s cheerful voice comes through the line. “What a pleasant surprise. What can I do for you?”
“Hi, Miranda,” I say, forcing a smile she can’t see. “I’m calling about Darcy’s baby shower. Rory asked me to plan it, and I thought you might want to come. I know you’re close to her.”
“Of course, I’d love to,” she says instantly. There’s a pause before she adds, “Actually, how would you feel about me helping you plan it?”
“Oh, you don’t have to do that,” I say quickly, but Miranda cuts me off.
“Nonsense! Darcy is like a daughter to me, and this sounds like fun. Besides, two heads are better than one, right?”
I hesitate for a moment before giving in. “All right. I could use the help.”
“Perfect! It’s all set, then.”
The next few days are an absolute whirlwind of planning, shopping, and endless lists. Miranda proves to be a lifesaver, her enthusiasm contagious and her ideas solid as we work together.
One afternoon, we’re at a small event planning boutique downtown, searching for decorations. Miranda holds up a string of pastel-colored bunting. “What do you think? Too much?”
“It’s cute,” I say, holding up a matching tablecloth. “Maybe these together?”
She grins. “Now you’re getting the hang of it.”
I smile back, bending down to reach for a sign, but the motion makes my head swim. My stomach twists uncomfortably, and I reach out to steady myself against a nearby shelf.
“Oh, dear, are you alright?” Miranda asks, her smile fading.
“I’m fine,” I say quickly, straightening up. “Just dizzy for a second.”
Her sharp gaze studies me, and she sets the bunting down. “You’ve been looking a little off all day. Are you sure you’re all right?”
“I’m fine,” I insist, brushing it off. “I’ve just been busy with work and everything else on my plate. It’s nothing.”
Miranda doesn’t look convinced, but she lets it slide. “Don’t push yourself too hard, dear. Darcy’s shower will be lovely, but not if you keel over before the big day.”
I let out a laugh that comes out weaker than I’d like. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”
But as we head to the checkout counter, the dizziness lingers, and I catch Miranda shooting me a concerned glance.
The day of the baby shower arrives, pastel decorations and floral arrangements decorating the rented ballroom. Everything looks perfect, exactly how Darcy deserves it to be.
I’m making my way toward the catering setup to check on the appetizers when a wave of nausea hits me like a Ford F-550. My stomach lurches violently, and before I can stop myself, I clap a hand over my mouth and bolt for the nearest trash can.
“Oh, my goodness, Clary!” Miranda’s voice calls out behind me. She rushes over, her hand patting gently on my back as I try to regain some of my composure. “Are you okay?”
I straighten up, wiping my mouth with a napkin I grab from a nearby table. “Yeah,” I say, smiling weakly. “Just something I ate, I think.”
Miranda gives me a look that says she doesn’t buy it for a second. “Mmhmm,” she says, crossing her arms. “You’ve been feeling off for days, and now you’re throwing up. Call me crazy, but are you sure you’re not… pregnant?”
