Chapter b174 /b

    E

    I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed spending one–on–one time with Liam until we were sitting across from each other at a divey sports bar downtown, sharing a te of chips and dip while a group of rather rowdy men in ser jerseys cheered around a television at the bar.

    “You look incredible,” he said, gesturing at me with a torti chip topped with chunky salsa. He popped the chip into his mouth and spoke around it. “Seriously, E. There’s something different about you.”

    I touched my face self–consciously. “It’s just the pregnancy glow everyone talks about. Dr. Evelyn says it’s perfectly normal.”

    “No, it’s more than that.” Liam leaned back in his chair, studying me with those perceptive eyes of his.” You’re… I don’t know how to exin it. You seem genuinely happy. Like, actually happy, not just putting on ia /ishow for the cameras.”

    The observation caught me off guard. Was I that transparent? I picked at the appetizer, trying to think of how to respond.

    “Things have been goodtely,” I admitted after a few moments. “The morning sickness is awful, but everything else… Alexander and I have found a rhythm that works.”

    “A rhythm.” Liam raised an eyebrow. “Is that what we’re calling it now?b” /b

    “What’s that supposed to mean?”

    “E, I’ve seen you two together at the campaign events. The way he looks at you, the way byou /blean into him when you think no one’s watching…” He shrugged. “You both seem happy.”

    My cheeks heated up immediately. “We’re just getting along better these days. For the baby’s sake.”

    “Right. For the baby.”

    I took a sip of my virgin daiquiri, trying to cool the flush that was spreading down my neck. The truth was, I had been happytely. Happier than I’d been in… well, maybe ever.

    But acknowledging that felt dangerous, like I might jinx whatever fragile thing Alexander and I had built

    between us.

    “He asked me something the other day,” I found myself saying before I could stop myself.

    “Oh?b” /b

    “He wanted to know what I would do if there was no contract between us.” The words tumbled out of my mouth in a rush. “What I would choose if there was no arrangement, no agreement about the election or anything else.”

    Liam set down his drink very carefully. “And what did you tell him?”

    “I didn’t get the chance to answer. Gabriel interrupted before I could say anything.” I fidgeted with my napkin. “But sometimes I wonder if… if maybe he’s thinking about ending the contract. About us just being together as a real family.”

    “And how would you feel about that?”

    I was quiet for a long moment, staring down at the cracked vinyl tabletop. “I don’t know,” I finally admitted. “I mean, I want to hope, but I don’t want to give myself false hope, you know? What if I’m reading too much into everything? What if he’s just being nice because I’m carrying his child?”

    Liam sighed. “E, can I say something that might be hard to hear?b” /b

    “I know you well enough to know that you’d say it even if I said no,” Iughed wryly.

    “You shouldn’t let your goals change too much just because of a baby.” He folded his arms. “If Alexander is never truly going to love you in a romantic way, you still need to think about yourself and what you

    want.”

    “I don’t understand what you mean.”

    “Did you have a bucket list when you were sick?” Liam asked.

    The question made my chest tighten more than I expected. I’d been so caught up in the excitement of everythingtely that I’d nearly forgotten all about the months I’d spent thinking I would die.

    All at once, a wave of memories washed over me. Thoughts of traveling. Running away to the coast. Drinking in bars. Dancing with handsome men.

    C