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.

was normal.Normal traffic.Normal people heading

Bikes.

Motorcycles.

Tourists wandering.

normal to

the first honk - an impatient motorcycle behind us - I

asked, eyes flicking to

just...got startled." I tried to laugh, but it

We kept going.

saw it like a shouted command.My chest tightened "STOP!" I

was already slowing.Nick was already

of me like I was preventing disaster.He eased the car to a halt, calm

"We're stopping," he said, no judgment in his

already stopping."

But my body didn't

later, a car sped past us, engine roaring, cutting too

felt the rush of air and

collapsed into a tunnel

I tried.

Inhale for four.

Hold for two.

Exhale for six.

from articles and

the protocol didn't fit what

pounding at a rhythm that had nothing to

climbed up my

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

my mouth to give him

I didn't have one.

started, and

front of us.Not abruptly.Not

the brakes lit up every emergency signal inside my

I said, no

the side, scanning for somewhere

OVER NOW!"

voice

Nick didn't snap back.

didn't get irritated.He turned on the hazard lights and, with almost surgical precision, eased into a side street and parked

turning

door before

cold air hit my face, but it

trash can across

metal, shaking, my throat burning, eyes

in seconds, like his body had been trained to

my hair back

stayed firm at my waist, steadying me without

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