Page 43 of Entangled By You
The hinge pops open, revealing a sparking silver charm bracelet. It’s not something I’d ever buy for myself, but when my eyes catch on the charms, I can’t help but love them.
A tiara. A carriage. A heart.
So simple, yet so perfect for our fresh start.
The traitorous tears fall from my eyes, and Pierce gets a worried look on his face.
“If you don’t like it, I can take it back,” he assures me, reaching for the box.
Snatching it away, I send him a withering stare. “You will not. I love it! I just wasn’t expecting it. How did you?—?”
“I bought it when you told me the baby was mine. I was waiting for you to come around, to remember you’re mine too.”
“I’m sorry.” I sniffle, probably looking a hot mess. “It took me so long.”
“Baby, I’d wait forever for you.” His thumb swipes the wetness away from my cheeks, reaching into the box to pull the jewelry from its case.
“But there’s something special about this. I need you not to freak out, remember how much you love it, and me.”
“Okayyyy.”
He clasps the bracelet closed around my wrist and twirls it until the heart is on top. He spins the charm so I can see the back, expecting to see something sweet, like our initials etched in the space, but that’s not it. Instead, it’s just a smaller heart set inside the charm.
His thumb pushes against it and holds. Two seconds later, his phone blares to life on my nightstand. He releases his hold on my wrist and grabs the screaming device, silencing it before he shows me the screen.
There, plain as day, is a red dot on a map.
“You bought me a tracker.” I take a breath, trying to calm the rising anger bubbling in my veins. It doesn’t work. “Like a fucking dog!”
“I said, don’t freak out.”
“Yeah, that was before I knew this was more than just a sweet gift you saw one day and thought would be perfect for me.”
“You’re right.” His voice is stern. “It is more than just a bracelet you can throw on your dresser and forget about. It’s peace of mind that if you’re ever in trouble, I’ll be able to find you. Both of you.” His eyes quirk down and then back at me.
Dammit. I hate this. I don’t want to be tracked like a piece of property, an animal someone owns. But I see his point—Evan’s still MIA. My baby daddy/boyfriend, if we’re even back to that point yet, is in a motorcycle club. One that gets up to God knows what. And I’m not all too certain that I haven’t been followed lately. I didn’t mention it to Pierce because I know I’m probably just being paranoid.
“Please, Lexi. It only transmits if you hold the charm down for three seconds. It’s only if you need it.”
“Fine.” I huff, knowing I’ll wear the damn thing for him.
“Thank you, baby. Now, let’s watch something so I can finally fall asleep with you in my arms.”
Fuck… and that’s why this man’s getting his way.
CONGRATS, IT’S A…
LEXI
We walkhand in hand into the OB’s office. This is our first appointment together since that day at urgent care more than six months ago. I’d kept them to myself, not ready to allow him to come with me. It was too close. Too intimate. But we’re past that now, and I have to admit it feels good having him beside me.
For one, the nurses aren’t giving me thatpoor girllook I got every other time. Like they felt bad for me because I was single and having a baby. It’s the 21st century; I thought we were past that. Women are having babies on their own without a man these days. They don’t know my situation.What judgy fucking bitches.
“Ms. Kane, how are you doing today?” my doctor asks, wheeling the machine next to the exam table.
“Excited.” I look up to Pierce, who hasn’t let go of my hand. “We finally felt them kick.”
“That’s great, an active baby is a healthy baby. How about we see if we can finally get them to cooperate for an anatomy scan this time?”
