Ties That Bond

Adelaide

The rest of the week passed in a blur. Between planning and organizing, home became a distant memory. Lush Haven had me on lock, and I didn't fight it.

Hiding my pregnancy was on the top of the list. I'm a drinker-whether it's wine, champagne, or anything, I will drink it. But now, I had to play it off, make excuses, keep up appearances.

I also had to hide my appointments with the doctor. I've been having cramps and pain in my lower stomach, and I've kind of lost the feeling of nausea and the tenderness in my breasts.

Which was weird because I'm almost four months pregnant. My belly hasn't shown yet, like at all, which was also out of the ordinary.

Fuck my life.

I don't remember the last time I felt...lighthearted. I don't remember the last time I didn't have a hard decision to make almost every day.

I miss high school, even though it was shit.

I'm surprised no one has noticed yet.

This week, I won't even talk about the tension between me and Keiron. I could see it in his eyes every moment he wanted to bend me over and show me the consequences for talking back.

He checked in almost too often, which was hard to believe.

Because five months ago? If we were drowning in the middle of the ocean, he'd save himself without a second thought.

But I need this to be perfect. It wasn't just another event-it was the event. My biggest one yet.

Well... apart from the one Ryan hosted. He's been MIA for two months now. The thought unsettles me, and I hate that it does.

I wasn't a fan of the guy. But he brought in the right crowd, kept my clients happy, and put Lush Haven on the radar. I owed him for that.

I've tried contacting him. Nothing. Radio silence.

Maybe Keiron knows something. He was there the night of Ryan's event-though I doubt he gives a damn who Ryan is. Still, it might be worth asking.

"Babe, you've got to stop zoning out like that."

Blakely's voice cuts through my thoughts, her hand waving in front of my face. I blink, the room snapping back into focus-glittering décor, towering displays, and Gabrielle hauling in another drop-off.

"Right," I chuckle softly, brushing it off. "Got lost in thought. My bad."

Gabrielle sets the last box down with a light thump, wiping her hands on her jeans. "That's the last of it."

She'd shown up a few days ago, offering to help after swinging by to check on the setup. Not that I'd asked, but I was grateful.

A car accident near Lush Haven had the area swarming with cops that same night. She called me-five times-before I finally picked up, dead asleep and disoriented.

I almost didn't. I wish I hadn't. Because it reminded me of something else.

Keiron still doesn't know about the accident I almost got into. And something tells me... he won't take it lightly when he finds out.

So, I won't be telling him. There is nothing wrong with that, right?

Gabrielle glances at her phone and sighs. "Actually, I need to head out. Family thing. Can I take the rest of the day off?"

"Yeah, of course," I say, grateful she even helped this much. She nods, says her goodbyes, and heads out, leaving just me, Zara, and Blakely.

We barely get five minutes into setting up the décor before Blakely turns to me, arms crossed, eyes locked in like she's about to interrogate me. "So... you still haven't told us about Keiron."