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

Bikes.

Motorcycles.

Tourists wandering.

wanted normal to

- an impatient motorcycle behind us - I jumped.Not

eyes flicking to

I tried to laugh, but it

We kept going.

and I saw it like a

already slowing.Nick was

I was preventing disaster.He eased the car to a halt, calm as if it were just another

he said, no judgment in his

stopping." I

know." But my

sped past

of air and grabbed the seatbelt handle, my grip

world had collapsed into

I tried.

Inhale for four.

Hold for two.

Exhale for six.

articles

didn't fit what was

that had nothing to do with the road, My

climbed up my

me," Nick asked, and I managed to turn my

I opened my mouth to give him a

I didn't have one.

and the

front of us.Not

the sound of the brakes lit up

I said, no attempt at charm

to the side,

OVER NOW!" I

own voice

Nick didn't snap back.

the hazard lights and, with almost surgical precision, eased into a side street and

turning off

opened the door before he'd

my face, but it wasn't

can across the sidewalk and threw up

I braced myself against the metal, shaking, my

was beside me in seconds, like his body

hair back with

at my

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