Divided (Unguarded #2) - Ivy Stone Page 0,68

Small pieces of ripped up wrapping paper from Charlotte’s presents are still scattered throughout the kitchen and living room. Everyone is chatting, enjoying too much cake and the Labrador who now has the name Rocky is sitting in Cassidy’s lap on the floor. The dog has no sense of personal space but damn he’s adorable.

My stomach churns as Mason puts food under my nose. “You hungry?”

Gripping pains twist inside of me. I put my hand on my belly and feign indifference. “No, but thanks.”

Without waiting for him to reply I head down the hall to the bathroom where I expel the little amount of food I’ve eaten not to raise any questions, because if Lindsey were to notice my lack of appetite she’d be on me straight away with questions. The woman can smell a lie before I’ve even thought one up.

I wash my hands in the sink in the bathroom when Charlotte’s loud voice ricochets through the walls.

“Rocky, no!”

Glass shatters and I head out to see what’s happened despite still feeling ill. I hold my stomach the whole way out, worried I might be sick again. I stop before stepping on broken glass and find Cassidy on the floor in the kitchen cleaning up the glass and water spilled everywhere. I look up and my legs tremble when I notice Sarah across the room whispering something in Roamyn’s ear. Something that makes Roamyn respond with his signature grin. I force my eyes away and Lindsey catches me, sad, shoulders curled over my chest and hand resting on top of my traitorous stomach.

Shit.

She walks over and puts both hands on my shoulders.

“Hey, are you okay? I didn’t realize you were still sick.”

Voices soften as everyone hears Lindsey.

She grows more concerned with each second I don’t answer. “Ali, what’s going on?”

I glance over her shoulder and Roamyn’s face ticks as he stares at me with his brows knotted together. My bravado shatters.

I clear my throat and turn back to Lindsey, already feeling lighter. “I’m not sick. I’m pregnant.”

Her mouth drops open and her eyebrows rise all the way up her forehead. Someone murmurs, “Shit,” and a squeal from Cassidy nearly bursts an eardrum. She knew I was going tell Roam today, but I guess she wasn’t expecting this.

Lindsey breaks into a smile, her perfect white teeth shining through. “Seriously? You’re pregnant?”

I nod, brightening with excitement. I lay both hands protectively over my flat stomach and there’s not a damn thing in this world capable of wiping the smile from my face.

“Yep, I’m going to be a mother.”

Her delicate skin feels like silk beneath my hands, so soft and familiar. A contrast to the steel-blue hues ripping into my soul with the pain pouring from them. It’s torture in its purest form.

My heart smacks against my ribs, thump after thump. It’s so loud I can hear it in my ears but it’s not loud enough to block out Alison’s words echoing in my mind.

I’m having our baby.

Excitement, nervousness, the fear of the unknown—of something I never saw coming, spikes an unfamiliar feeling in me I don’t know what to do with. Will I be a good father? The questions surface hard and fast, it’s overwhelming, panicking. I try to shake them off.

My chest caves in and I lean my forehead to hers, my hands still cupping her face. I squeeze my eyes closed to try and erase the ache. Erase the past and get rid of all hurt. How many cracks can our hearts take before they break completely? We should be happy, overjoyed. We’ve been given a blessing. Yet we’re standing here on her rooftop, both as confused as each other because we’re back here again. In the place of blurred lines and feelings, neither of us know how to acknowledge. Except this time, it’s life altering. This time, one of us can’t screw everything up because we’re too afraid to admit the truth, to face reality, because this moment is the beginning of many, the start of our lives taking a different path. One we never expected to walk but one we can’t change. The only thing we can change is if we walk it together, hand in hand, or miles apart.

I breathe in deep and vanilla invades my senses and all reasonable thought. My cock stirs. No matter the circumstance, I always want her. I run my nose the length of hers. Her full lips part and her tongue slips out to lick them. Desire courses through, all the