Indefinite (Salvation #6)(64)

I don’t know how to process this.

Quinn is serious about all his marriage talk. He has a freaking ring. I try to rack my brain to figure out if he mentioned anything special coming soon. I don’t think there are plans. All he’s been doing is following around Jackson’s possible suspect, which Catherine doesn’t know about. At least I can keep that secret.

We don’t usually keep secrets from her, and this is one I really hate. She should know about his company issues. Hell, once upon a time, she was hired to actually handle the issues he was facing. Catherine is a damn publicist and crisis management something or other. She’s smart with this stuff, but nooo, these idiots want to make sure she thinks things are good.

“Ashton,” Catherine calls my name.

“Huh?”

“What the hell is going on in your mind?”

I can’t tell her that. “Scary things, my friend.”

“Well, that wouldn’t be unusual.”

“Sad, but true. How do I get him to propose tonight?”

Catherine’s eyes close, and she is clearly gathering her wits. I tend to get this reaction from her often. “You can’t push him on this. I know you think it’s fine, but it’s not. He needs to give it to you when he’s ready.”

I let out a loud groan. “I hate you.”

“I’m used to it.”

I collapse onto the couch and a wave of nausea hits me. I don’t know if it’s nerves or something else, but I feel like shit. My hand sits on my stomach, and my face scrunches up.

“You okay?” Cat asks.

“Yeah, I just don’t feel . . . right.”

“That’s called having a conscience. The feeling will pass once you get used to it.”

“You know, I don’t like you all that much right now.”

She ignores that because it’s not like she hasn’t heard it before. Another roil goes through me, and I sit up in case I’m going to hurl. It doesn’t seem like that’s the issue, though. It’s a slight cramp.

“Did you eat something bad?”

I shake my head. “No, I don’t think so, and aren’t I a bit late for morning sickness? But it’s almost like a little cramp in my side.”

Catherine nods with a worried look on her face. “I had a bit of cramping when Erin was growing. My doctor said it was normal.”

“It is? I don’t know. Maybe I need to lie down. Between Quinn being out all day, the ring, and everything else, I’m . . . I’m just out of it.”

“Sounds good, go put the ring away first and then get some rest. Call me when you wake up so I don’t worry, okay?”

I agree, and we hang up. I do as she says, then throw yesterday’s outfit back onto the floor the way he had it—or, at least the best I can remember, and curl back into bed. Another cramping feeling comes on, and I take a few deep breaths.

I try not to let my mind go too far over the deep end of doom. I’m fifteen weeks along which is more than I was when I lost the first baby. We’ve done everything right with doctor’s appointments, and there’s been nothing to indicate anything is wrong.

This could be nothing. Dinner last night could be sitting wrong. I could be getting sick like Quinn thought.

Yes, that’s what it probably is.

A virus.

I close my eyes and put my meditation app on because I need some Zen and peace. When I wake up, it’ll be fine.





32


Quinn





What should’ve been no more than an hour has turned into three. Madelyn’s father is a strange guy. Thanks to Charlie’s “friend,” we were able to hack into his calendar. Today, he is meeting with someone.

Normally, an appointment wouldn’t stand out. Hell, everyone meets someone, but it was the way it was labeled that caught our attention.

Now, I’m waiting at a coffee shop, trying to blend in as I watch him stare out through the windows.

His demeanor is what has my senses sharpened. He’s fidgeting—a lot.

My phone rings in my pocket, and I see Ashton’s face.

I debate answering, but then I remember how she was before I left. “Hey,” I say turning my head so no one will be able to see me.

“Hey, where are you? Are you on your way yet?”

She sounds fine, and I breathe a sigh of relief. “I’ll be home soon.”

I wish I were heading back to her now. I have a big plan for us for after I scope out this meeting. We are going to walk through Central Park again, enjoy the nicer weather since it’ll be getting colder soon. Then I’m going to take her to dinner, which is where I’m going to ask her to marry me.

“Okay, but I’d like you to come home.”

“I can’t right now, but I promise, I’d much rather be with you.”

She sighs. “How long do you think?”

I smile because, a few months ago, she wouldn’t have asked when I was coming home, she’d be trying to knee me in the balls. Everything has changed, and all because of one moment in time. It’s sad to think about how, if that hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t be here—not in this shop, I’d rather not be here, but in my life—right now. I have the love of a woman I don’t deserve, a job that doesn’t suck, and a baby on the way.