“I miss you so much,” I tell Natalie, standing in front of my phone so she can see how big my belly is getting. I’ve been trying to FaceTime with her as much as possible, so she can be involved, too. When we chat like this, it’s almost as if she’s here with me, which helps comfort the anxiety that creeps up every once in a while.

“You’re the cutest pregnant woman I’ve ever seen! Nothing but belly. I’m not even kidding. I hope to look half as good as you when I start popping out Adam’s spawns.” Natalie’s been gushing about how great I look during the entire call, and I find it quite comforting considering I feel like a blimp these days.

“You’re just saying that because you’re my best friend,” I quip with a big smile, turning to the side. “Tell me about the wedding details. Did you set a date yet?” I lower my shirt over my belly and walk closer to the phone.

Her face lights up, and her tone goes up in pitch. “We’re planning something for the fall, but no exact date yet. As soon as we set it in stone, you’ll be the first to know. I can’t walk down that aisle without you up there next to me.”

“You know I wouldn’t miss it for the world. When do you plan to go dress shopping? Anytime soon?”

“Nope, not yet. You know how I am though.” Natalie chuckles.

“Procrastination station.”

We continue our conversation until I hear a horn honking outside.

“Shit. I gotta go, Nat. Benita is here to pick me up for lunch.”

She waves her hand. “Already replacing me, huh?”

“Trust me when I say no one could ever replace your obnoxious loud mouth.”

Placing her hand over her heart, she lets out an aww. We say our goodbyes, and I grab my purse, lock the door, and walk to the car. Benita is singing at the top of her lungs to Taylor Swift, and she’s so into her vocal performance, she doesn’t hear me knocking on the window to unlock the door.

“Shit,” she says when she realizes and turns down the music.

“There’s something about T. Swift that gets me all pumped up,” she admits.

“Really? I’d think you’d be into that old-time country music,” I say as I reach for my seat belt and buckle.

Benita playfully rolls her eyes with a smile. “I’m not a Southern cliché, River!”

I arch a brow, challenging her statement.

“Okay, maybe a little.” She shrugs, and I chuckle.

On the way over to the diner, my stomach starts growling, and that’s when I realize how hungry I am. By the time we park, I’m ready to eat a damn horse—the whole thing, by myself.

As soon as we walk in, Betty gives us a big wave from across the small dining area and walks over to us with menus.

“Hey, Mama,” she says to me, patting my back. “You’ve been doing okay?”

“Yes, ma’am. I’ve been really great,” I tell her.

She takes our drink order, and as soon as she comes back with them, we order our food. As Betty walks off, Benita excuses herself to call Aaron about the boys. I pull out my phone and take a photo of the diner and shoot it over to Natalie, so she can see how country it is with the western décor randomly placed on the wall.

Just as I get a text from her, Benita returns.

“Took you long enough,” I joke, but she doesn’t say anything.

I’m so into my phone, that when I look up, I don’t see Benita sitting across from me. My smile instantly fades as the blonde woman glares at me with her fingers interlocked together on the table. She’s staring, studying, and judging me. Her dark eyes scrutinize me as she narrows them.

“Can I help you?” I ask, returning the daggers she’s shooting at me.

A fake smile touches her lips, but it never meets her cold eyes. “You must be the girl who snagged him.”

My heart races, and I arch a thin brow at her. “What are you talking about?”

“Oh, let me formally introduce myself. I’m Carly.” She holds her hand out, but I just look at it as if it’s covered in mold, then back at her. I refuse to pretend to be polite, especially when I’m hormonal and hungry. After she realizes I don’t have anything to say to her, she lowers her hand and continues.

“Pity you haven’t heard about me. By our intense sexual relationship, I really thought I meant more to him. Who knew snagging Alex was as easy as getting knocked up? I might’ve purposely forgotten to take my birth control and actually had a chance. Nothing like an accident to help you rope someone for life. Amiright?” Her smile is more like a sneer, and the shade she’s throwing at me isn’t lost.

“Carly, is it?” I throw attitude right back at her. “You’re probably too dense to understand this, but I’ll talk slowly for you. Your words have no impact on my life, and the fact you have to spew hate to a pregnant woman you don’t even know shows the type of person you actually are—not me. So if you’re done, you can help yourself out.” I shouldn’t have fed her the attention she’s obviously seeking, but she severely underestimated my tolerance for catty bullshit. The rage is building in her eyes, but before she can respond, Betty walks over and places extra napkins on the table. She looks over at Carly and then at me, feeling the tension in the air. “Is everything okay over here?”

“Perfectly fine,” I tell Betty, and she searches my face, trying to read me. Unfortunately for Carly, I’m not easily intimidated because of all the shit I’ve dealt with over the years, and the longer she sits here in front of me, the more pissed off I become. Betty walks away, but I see the skepticism on her face.

“Well, sweetie. You see, I was on my way out when I saw you sittin’ here and just had to meet the talk of the town. The Northerner who’s been able to tame the untamable guy who’s broken more hearts than even he can count. But let me fill you in on a little secret,” she hisses, leaning across the table and her voice drops even lower. “It’s not just me who doesn’t like you, honey. And trust me when I say there’s a line of women ready to rip Alex’s balls straight off for what he did to them. So the next time you’re in the grocery store and a woman’s giving you the side-eye, more than likely her heart was destroyed by Alex Bishop, too. It’s how he is—the Bishop curse. He’ll treat you real good, make you feel like you actually mean something to him, then when he’s bored of you, he’ll drop you like a bad habit. I’m sure it’s just a matter of time until your time is up, too. Bet you’ll find out soon enough since his commitment issues run deep. But maybe not, considering your situation. It’s a small town, and he got around, just like the news of you, if you know what I mean.” She gives me a fake ass smile just as Benita walks up fuming. I’ve never seen her this mad, ever.

“What the fuck is this?” Benita asks between gritted teeth.

“Benita,” Carly says as she slides out of the booth and walks out of the diner.

I don’t realize my hands were balled into fists until I feel my nails digging into my palm. It’s been years since I’ve been this mad. I shake my head, not wanting to believe everything I just heard, but it’s hard not to because he’s told me from the beginning he doesn’t do relationships.

“What the hell did she say?” Benita is so mad her hand is trembling.

I shake my head, but Benita encourages me to tell her.

“She basically said Alex is known for sleeping around, and he’ll probably get sick of me, just like all of them. The line of them.” My voice sounds weak.

Betty sets our food in front of us, and unfortunately, my appetite vanished the moment Carly sat down and opened her big mouth. Benita doesn’t touch her food either.

“Is it true? Am I the town joke right now because I’m with Alex?”

Letting out a long sigh, Benita gives me a soft smile. “You are not the town joke. If she said that, she’s a liar. They’re all just jealous, River. And yeah, maybe Alex is known for his history with women, but that’s because no one was ever good enough to steal his heart the way you did, and they resent you for that.”

I take a bite of mashed potatoes, and they taste so damn good I can’t ignore my food regardless of not feeling like eating.

“Do you think he’s with me just because I’m pregnant, and he’s the perfect gentleman, so he’s forcing himself to do the right thing?” I know it’s crazy to even think that considering how close we’ve grown these past few months, but I can’t help thinking that maybe it’s been too good to be true.

Benita gives me a look that tells me I’m crazy. “Hell no. Before you came here, you’re all he talked about. He stopped dating. He stopped going out. He worked, slept, and refused to move on. It was River this, and River that. Key West this, and Key West that. It was sickening how obsessed he was with you and really annoying because it was all the time. He’s not the man Carly knows. Alex has changed for the better, and it’s all because of you. I know my cousin, and I know what love looks like. Trust me when I say there’s a happy ending to all this that starts with a beautiful couple who is starting a beautiful family together.” Benita grabs my hand and squeezes. I give her a small smile in return.

“Thank you. I really hope you’re right.” I let out a breath.

We continue with the small talk as we finish eating, but the mood is sour, and we both can feel it. Benita tries to make me laugh and smile, and she wins sometimes, but it doesn’t stop the insecurities from bubbling inside me. Mrs. Betty knows something happened, too, and after we pay, she hands me a to-go box with a big slice of her famous chocolate cake because cake makes everything better. She gives me a big hug, rubs my belly, then sends me on my way.

On the drive home, I stare out the window, and Carly’s words play on repeat in my head.

“Don’t let it get to you,” Benita says as she parks in front of my house. “If you do, she wins. She’s a drama queen and attention whore who’s just trying to get a rise out of you. Why do you think they call her Crazy Carly?”

I snort at that.

“Promise me you’ll stop thinking about it,” she pleads.

I give her a smile, not willing to make a promise I can’t keep. “I’ll try,” I tell her because that’s the best I can do in my current state. We exchange a hug goodbye, and I go inside and try to busy myself until Alex comes home.

---

As soon as I walk in, I can tell there’s something wrong. The look in River’s eyes is unsettled, and I don’t like it one bit. I’m exhausted from herding cattle all day, but nothing can stop me from figuring out what’s going on.

“Hey, Darlin’. Everything okay?”

She swallows hard as she sits on the couch and looks up at me. I stalk toward her and wrap my arm around her shoulders, but she doesn’t lean into my touch the way she usually does.

“What is it?” I ask, concerned.

“Well, I met Carly today,” she finally says.

That’s all I need to know to understand the issue.

“Crazy Carly?” I ask.

“Apparently.”

“You know we call her that for a reason, right? Because she’s a psychopath. Ask Dylan if you don’t believe me.”

“Well, she told me things about you that have made me feel uneasy all day. Things that are true. About your past. How you couldn’t settle down with anyone, basically. Everything she said played on all my insecurities, and it makes me afraid that you’re not capable of settling down long-term. That you’re going to get bored of the baby and me and want out because when all of this isn’t new anymore, you’ll realize it was a big mistake. It’s nothing you’ve done, Alex, but I’m terrified you’ll go back to your old ways.”

I hold her cheeks in my hands and force her to look into my eyes. “No fucking way. Never. You’ll be by my side as long as there’s breath in my lungs and a beat in my heart. Do you even understand what you mean to me, River? What our unborn child means to me? I may’ve been like that in the past; I won’t deny it. I have no reason to. I’ve been straightforward with you since day one and will continue to always be. I did some bad shit, I know, but I’m not that man anymore. Before Key West, I couldn’t see a future with anyone—mostly because no one made me feel the way you did—but now I don’t see a future without you in it. You and our baby are everything to me. If anything, you’re gonna have to get rid of me, River, because I’m not going anywhere unless you want me to. Simple as that. Darlin’, you’ve tamed me more than any woman ever could. You’re the stars of my night, the love of my life, and the only person who has ever been able to steal my heart. I’ll spend every day proving that to you. And you know what, sweetheart. It’s yours. You can keep it. Because I love you, River Lancaster. I love you so damn much.”

Her face softens right before my lips crash into hers with so much fervor that I’m blinded by the emotion in our kiss. I can’t get enough of the way she smells and tastes or the soft moans that escape her lips as our tongues intertwine. As I consume her, everything she is, I’m greedy and need more. I want to go to the next level, but somehow, I find the strength to pull away. Our lips are swollen, and bodies are full of want and desire, but it’s best if we don’t go too far off the ledge because together we’ll fall and destroy the boundaries we’ve worked so hard to keep. Just because I said those three words doesn’t mean we fall into bed together. I respect her more than that.

By the time we catch our breath, she leans over and places her hand on my cheek, pulling me back to her greedy lips. “I love you too, Alex. I always have. I’m sorry I ever doubted you.”

Her words rush through me in full force, and I’ve never experienced happiness on this level. To have the woman I love with every fiber of my being love me in return is the greatest high in the world. River leans forward and paints her lips with mine in slow, precise movements. With every breath, she encompasses and captures me, and I hope she never lets me go.