Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 101101 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 404(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101101 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 404(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
34
Kane
The flight home was spent with Brielle hiding away in the bedroom while I got some work done. One of the hotel expansions in northern Florida is dealing with some red tape that’s halting the renovation. I should’ve gone up there myself to deal with it, but I wasn’t about to leave Harbor Point until I found Brielle, and now that I have, I’m not letting her out of my sight.
Since Giani and Kiril went to Russia with her, they insist on driving us home, and since I’m just thankful she’s agreed to come home, I’m not about to argue.
When we step inside the house, Brielle lets Molly out of her travel crate, and she prances straight to the guest bathroom that Brielle has turned into what she calls her “princess pad.”
“I’m tired,” Brielle says with a sigh.
I heard her throwing up several times during the flight, but she locked the door, so I couldn’t do anything to comfort her.
“You should take a nap. Do you need anything? I can run out and get you whatever you need …”
“As good as a nap sounds, I need to deal with my studio.”
I debate on telling her it’s already been dealt with, but now that she’s made it clear she isn’t sure she wants a future with me, I’m worried I overstepped.
“I’ll go with you.”
Her gaze lands on me. “You don’t have to. I’m sure you have other things to do.”
“The only thing I need to do is go with you.”
After she showers and changes into a gorgeous dress that shows off her perky tits and toned thighs, we head out.
“I have a doctor’s appointment scheduled for next week,” she says once we’re in the back of the town car with Giani driving and Kiril riding passenger.
“For the baby?”
“Yeah. I scheduled it on the flight back. I’m using the same OB-GYN practice Peyton and Dani used since my gynecologist isn’t accepting new obstetrical patients.” She stares out the window for a few moments and then says, “I’m nervous. I don’t know if the abortion did any damage, and I’ve been too embarrassed to ask my doctors over the years.”
I reach across the seat and thread my fingers through hers, forgetting that I don’t have the right to do that anymore. But before I can pull my hand back and apologize, she tightens her grip on my hand.
“Whatever happens, we’ll deal with it together,” I tell her.
She nods and then goes back to looking out the window.
“Do you want to stop to get a coffee and a muffin?” I ask, imagining she’s missed her friend Nicole.
“Sure.”
Giani turns onto the street where the coffee shop is located—which is only one street over from Brielle’s Pilates studio—and parks.
“We can walk from here,” I tell them, hoping they’ll give us a bit of space.
They nod in understanding and disappear, giving the illusion that they’re gone.
“Oh my God!” Nicole screeches. “My main bitch is back!”
Nicole flies around the counter and bear-hugs Brielle, who laughs boisterously.
When they almost topple over, I jump in, worried about Brielle hitting the hard ground, and steady her.
“Protective much?” Nicole smirks, telling me she knows about the pregnancy.
We order two coffees—Brielle opts for one espresso shot instead of her usual three—and two muffins and have a seat at the table.
Of course, Nicole joins us, shooting questions at Brielle in rapid-fire succession.
But since Brielle has barely spoken a handful of words to me since we left Russia, I’m not going to complain. I not only get to hear Brielle talk, but Nicole is also asking a lot of the questions I want to ask.
“Have you seen the studio yet?” Nicole asks.
“No.” Brielle pops a piece of her muffin into her mouth and frowns. “Kane and I are going over there after we leave here. I can’t even imagine how bad it looks. Dominick refused to send me pictures, not wanting to stress me out since he overheard me tell Peyton I think I’m pregnant.”
“Theo is a dick,” Nicole says, making Brielle’s back go straight.
“What does Theo have to do with anything?” Brielle asks.
Nicole glances at me, which has Brielle doing the same.
“Theo is the one who vandalized your studio,” I tell her.
“Ugh, seriously?” Brielle groans. “He’s such a man-child.”
“Yep,” Nicole agrees. “But he got his. From what I heard, someone”—Nicole side-eyes me—“beat the shit out of him and then dropped him off at the hospital. Normally, I don’t condone violence, but in this case, he totally deserved it.”
“Yeah, but it doesn’t change the fact that he destroyed my studio, and now I’m going to have to spend weeks, possibly months, cleaning up the destruction.” She takes her last bite of her muffin and stands. “Guess it’s time to face the music.”
Nicole frowns. “If you need anything, I’m here.” She pulls Brielle into a hug. “I’m so glad you’re home.”