Chapter 694
Gwen's POV
It was just a Tuesday.
I had a folder with my test results, a bottle of water in my bag, and the practical certainty that if I kept everything organized, the rest would fall into place.
Nick appeared in the bedroom doorway with the car keys in his hand and the look of a man who'd already rehearsed the route three times in his head.
"Thirty minutes," he said, checking his watch.
"If we leave now, we'll get there early." I nodded like that made us invincible.I was ready.
Black knit dress that didn't press against my stomach and didn't scream pregnant.Comfortable sneakers.Hair pulled back.
Minimal makeup so no one would ask if I was okay.
The garage was exactly the same.Apparently, I wasn't.Because I saw the car and...stopped.
It wasn't a decision.It wasn't even a thought.It was like someone pulled a handbrake inside me.
"Gwen?" Nick said my name carefully.
I blinked.The feeling was ridiculous.I just...couldn't move forward.
"Sorry," I said automatically.
I got into the passenger seat first and was suddenly overtaken by something urgent and practical.
Seatbelt.
Click.
Unclick.
Click again.
Adjust.
Adjust more.
The strap felt too rough against my shoulder.
The diagonal didn't sit right, even though it was exactly where it had always been.
Nick got in on the driver's side.
He saw me, but he didn't comment.
He started the car, pulled out slowly, and before turning the first comer, he touched my hand once.
Light.
A quiet. I'm here.
normal.Normal traffic.Normal people heading to
Bikes.
Motorcycles.
Tourists wandering.
wanted normal to
honk - an impatient motorcycle behind us - I jumped.Not gracefully.My whole
eyes flicking to
startled." I tried to laugh, but it came
We kept going.
traffic light turned red and I saw it like a shouted command.My chest tightened "STOP!" I
car was already slowing.Nick was already
was preventing disaster.He eased the
said, no judgment in his
stopping." I
my body didn't
blocks later, a car sped past
the rush of air and grabbed the seatbelt handle, my grip
like the world had collapsed into
I tried.
Inhale for four.
Hold for two.
Exhale for six.
articles
protocol didn't
nothing to do with the road, My mouth went
climbed up my
at me," Nick asked, and I
opened my mouth to give
I didn't have one.
started, and the word
braked in front of us.Not abruptly.Not
of the brakes lit up every emergency signal inside my
said, no attempt at charm
glanced to the side, scanning for
OVER NOW!" I
own voice
Nick didn't snap back.
hazard lights and, with almost surgical precision, eased into a side
said, turning
opened the door before
hit my
running, to a trash can across the
metal, shaking, my throat burning, eyes
in seconds, like his body had been trained
hair back with
my waist, steadying me without trapping
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