Page 35 of The Best Friend Problem
“Oh God, you’re going to use that excuse for the next nine months, aren’t you?”
She grinned. “Yup.”
“Then I take back my supportive statement.”
She grabbed a couch cushion and flung it at his head. He dodged it, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and tugging her into his side. He ruffled her hair, which she immediately complained about before settling against him.
“Seriously, Pru. I know this is all weird and not how you planned it, but if you’re happy, that’s all that matters.”
“I’m happy, Finn. Really, really happy.”
He flicked on the TV, cueing up their favorite show.
“Then I’m happy.”
He pasted on a bright smile, but inside, his mind was screaming. His palms sweating with the life-changing news that had just been dropped in his lap, heart beating so loudly he was afraid Pru could hear it. Bruiser stared at him with her dark, puppy-dog eyes, head tilted in a question. He reached out to pat his intuitive dog on her furry head, hiding his fingers in her fur when he noticed them trembling.
He was happy for Pru. She was getting what she wanted, and though he was glad he could help, it meant he was also getting something he never wanted. A child whose world he could possible destroy.
So yeah, he was happy for her, but he was also scared as hell.
Chapter Eight
“Pru.” Lilly pushed her glasses up her nose, staring at the file in her hands. “Did you send the deposit check for the Miranda-Snow wedding?”
“Hey!” Mo snatched the file from Lilly’s hands. “No more work. We’re three feet from home. We agreed to stop taking work home.”
“Home is one flight of stairs up.” Lilly made a grab for the file, but Mo was quick and shoved it behind her back.
Pru laughed softly. About all the energy she had in her at the moment. Who knew this baby-growing thing would be so exhausting? She was only about a month along, but every day her body felt like she’d run a 5k. And without the benefit of multiple cups of coffee, she had to admit, she was struggling.
Worth it.
Yes, it was all worth it. The lack of energy, the nausea, all of it. She’d endure whatever she had to because it meant she would soon hold her sweet baby in her arms. Arms that at the moment literally ached. Partly from tiredness, but mostly from the desire to be filled with a loving soul who needed her, a person whose whole world depended on her.
Lilly held out a firm hand. “Give that back, Moira. Right now!”
Mo bobbed her eyebrows. “Oooh, whaddaya gonna do if I don’t?”
As entertaining as it could be to watch Mo push Lilly’s buttons, Pru didn’t have the energy for it tonight.
“Mo, give her back the file, and Lilly, yes I handled the deposit, but Mo is right. We did agree to leave work downstairs.”
Mo handed back the folder, aiming a bright smile Pru’s way.
“What?”
Her friend shrugged. “Nothing. I was just thinking you should thank us.”
Reaching their front door, Pru dug her keys out of her purse, inserting the metal apartment key into the lock as she spoke over her shoulder. “For what?”
“For all the years of practice we’ve given you. Just think of all the fights you’ve settled between Lil and me.”
“We don’t fight,” Lilly said with a frown. “We disagree.”
Mo rolled her eyes, sharing a smile with Pru. “You’re going to rock motherhood.”
She found the energy for an actual laugh at that true statement, but the moment she opened their apartment door, she heard a noise that caused her laughter to die. Someone was in their apartment. A loud thud and some muffled cursing came from the back of the hallway. One of the bedrooms.
