Page 78 of Dissonance

“Paige.” He nods, stepping inside, clocking the bottles on the coffee table with quiet amusement. “Looks like I’ve interrupted.”

“Oh no, you haven’t,” Olive says, making absolutely no effort to be subtle as she looks him over. “Please, join us.”

“We were just finishing up,” I say, pushing to my feet.

“We were?” Olive pouts as Paige unfolds herself from the floor, helping Mae gather the evidence of their impromptu celebration.

I move to my desk and shut down my laptop, sliding it into my briefcase along with the contracts I haven’t finished, telling myself I’ll look at them later. Sliding back into my heels, I start herding the girls out like half-drunk cattle, clicking the door shut behind me as we spill out into the corridor together.

Lockie’s hand finds the small of my back without hesitation, guiding me toward the elevators. I try not to think about how natural it feels. And I try harder not to think about Mae’s question still floating around in the back of my head that I haven’t dealt with yet.

“Soo, you’re picking her up from work now?” Olive teases, looking between us.

“Most days,” he says as he presses the button for the ground floor. When we reach, he pulls out his keys, nodding toward the car. “You want a lift home, ladies?”

Olive waves him off and links her arm through Mae’s. “Absolutely not. We’re continuing this party. Right, girls?”

Mae hoots, throwing me a wave as the two of them head off down the sidewalk. Paige lingers, pulling me in for another hug that lasts longer than usual. When she steps back, she looks up at Lockie, cheeks pink.

“Congratulations,” she says, smiling. “Both of you.”

Then she squeezes my wrist and jogs off after the others, their laughter loud and trailing behind them as they round the corner and disappear. Lockie takes my briefcase, opening the passenger door, hand held out for me.

The city slides past in streaks of gold and gray as we pull into traffic, my hand resting on my bump.

“Paige and Maddox got engaged.”

“Huh.” The corner of his lips twitches, brief and noncommittal. “Cooper will be excited.”

“You should see the size of her ring, Maddox really didn’t hold—” I stop. A strange sensation flutters low in my stomach. Not pain, not quite movement, really, just…different, like bubbles popping.

My eyebrows pull together as I sit upright.

Lockie catches it immediately, the way he catches everything, concern lacing his tone. “What?”

“I don’t know, I just—” I shake my head, about to dismiss it, when it happens again. Clearer this time, unmistakable. “Oh.”

He’s already slowing the car, pulling over, hazards blinking on before I’ve said another word. When he turns to me, his voice is careful. “Thea? What is it?”

I don’t answer straight away, I can’t. Not when I’m staring down at my hand pressed flat to my stomach, heart hammering in my throat, waiting. Then it comes again, stronger this time.

“I felt the baby.” I look up, shaky and breathless. “A flutter. I thought I felt something a couple of days ago, but it didn’t happen again, so I talked myself out of it. But that— That was definitely real.”

He doesn’t respond, throat working as he swallows, finger flexing against his thigh.

“Can I—?”

My heart does a little flip as I reach across and take his hand, placing it where mine had been. The wide span of his palm covers the whole space beneath my blouse. I hold my breath, waiting, watching his face. A second passes, two, his hand perfectly still.

Nothing.

Disappointment starts to creep in, and I squeeze his hand. “Maybe it’s too early to feel from the outside. Try a different spot.” I move him slightly. “But it was there. I promise.”

He doesn’t pull his hand away. If anything, his fingertips press in deeper, like if he’s still enough, patient enough, something might find him back. His head lowers slightly, eyes fixed on where his palm rests against me.

“Hi, wee one.”

My eyes sting as I watch him. This man, usually so composed about everything, is whispering to my stomach on the side of the road, while traffic flies past us. His thumb moves in slow circles, reverent in a way I don’t think he’s aware of.