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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