Chapter Twenty-Eight
The elevator door slid open, and Rhonda stepped into the foyer of Ethan’s penthouse, her eyes huge in her face. “I’ll have you know that I was molested by two burly-looking characters in the lobby.” Her mouth dropped open. “Oh my God, Piper, this is breathtaking.”
Piper hurried forward and wrapped Rhonda in a hug. “I have missed you so much.”
“I know. The longest three weeks of my life. How much longer will you be staying here? And who’s the muscle hovering in the lobby?”
Releasing her friend, Piper took a step back. “I honestly don’t know. We haven’t talked about me going home yet. I think Ethan likes me being here. And the two giants in the lobby are my protection.”
“Wow. You weren’t kidding about the dangers, were you?”
“Unfortunately not. It may be nothing, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. Besides, Ethan has assured me that’s it’s only for a short time.”
“But do you like being here?” Rhonda pressed, her gaze scanning her surroundings.
Piper sighed wistfully. “I really do, Rhonda. Ethan is larger than life. I can’t stand being away from him even for a day, and yet that scares the shit out of me.”
“It would me too,” Rhonda admitted. “The heart is a danger all on its own. Speaking of danger. Any more black car sightings?”
Waving Rhonda toward the giant living room, Piper shook her head. “No, but I’ve only been outside these walls one time, and that was to sign the contract with Calibri’s. Even Mr. Whiskers is getting cabin fever.”
“Then let’s go have lunch. You can take your bodyguards along if you want. I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
Piper considered Rhonda’s words. “Okay, but let me text Ethan and let him know where we’ll be. He’ll worry otherwise.”
“Piper Hollister,” Rhonda scolded, an exasperated look on her face. “I never thought I’d see the day when you would have to get permission to do anything.”
That stung. “I’m not getting permission. I’m merely letting him know where I’ll be so he won’t worry. There are reasons behind his concerns, you realize.”
Rhonda sighed. “I’m sorry. You’re right. Well, text him and let’s get going.”
Piper snagged her cell from the coffee table and sent Ethan a message. Going to Sally’s Diner to have lunch with Rhonda. Taking guards with me. Text you on my way home. xoxo
Depositing the cell into her skirt pocket, Piper picked up her purse and waved Rhonda toward the foyer.
Once on the elevator, Piper pressed the button for the ground floor and met Rhonda’s gaze in the tinted mirror. “Damn, it’s good to see you.”
Rhonda grinned. “It’s good to see you too. This relationship stuff really suits you. Your face is positively glowing.”
The elevator came to a stop, the doors sliding open with a ding. Piper made a beeline for the two burly figures standing along the lobby wall.
They both straightened upon her approach.
“Miss Hollister,” the one on the right greeted as she stopped in front of them.
Piper sent them both a warm smile. “Rhonda and I are going to Sally’s for lunch.”
“Is Mr. Seaborn aware of this?” the same guy questioned.
That got Piper’s ire up. She quickly swallowed it back and gave him another patient smile. “I sent him a text. Now, I am going to have lunch. Are you coming or not?”
He nodded stiffly.
“Great. We’ll take my car.” Piper spun on her heel and marched toward the exit doors before he had time to argue.
* * * *
The two sullen-looking guards sat at a table in the diner behind Piper and Rhonda. Neither of the men spoke, nor did they eat.
Piper ordered the roast beef special with a side salad, while Rhonda stuck with her usual burger and fries.
The waitress returned ten minutes later with their food, setting it on the table in front of them. “Enjoy.”
Picking up her fork, Piper speared a piece of roast beef and popped it in her mouth. Her stomach turned over.
Piper dropped her fork and moved as quickly as possible to the ladies’ room. She rushed into a stall, dropped onto her knees, and heaved up her breakfast.
“Jesus, Piper, are you all right?” Rhonda stepped into the stall behind her and lifted her hair out of her face.
Piper could only shake her head as another round of violent spasms rocked her stomach.
Rhonda began to rub Piper’s back in soothing motions, murmuring inconsequential words that made little sense.
Long moments later, Piper raised her head. “Grab me a couple of wet paper towels, please.”
Hurrying from the stall, Rhonda yanked down a handful of paper towels, wet them, and brought them back. “Here you go.”
Piper wiped her face and mouth before pushing to her feet. She flushed the toilet and turned to face her friend. “I must have caught a bug.”
“Not that fast,” Rhonda argued, leading Piper over to the sink. “They usually take a day to bring someone to their knees like that.”
Piper took a shuddering breath. “I haven’t been feeling too good for the last couple of days. I thought it had passed, but I guess not.”
Rhonda pressed the back of her hand to Piper’s forehead. “You’re not fevered.” Her hand fell away. “When was your last period?”
The floor moved under Piper’s feet. She gripped the sink to stay upright. “With everything that’s been going on, I haven’t thought about it.”
Piper began to count back in her head to the last time she’d had a menstrual flow and met Rhonda’s worried gaze. “Oh, God, I’m late.”
“Just calm down,” Rhonda soothed, turning on the water so Piper could wash her face and hands. “It may be nothing. We’ll run by the drug store, grab a test, and check. Once we know for sure, then we can figure out what to do from there.”
With a weak nod, Piper set about washing her face. Her hands trembled from nerves or the lack of food in her stomach. She couldn’t be sure.
Taking a deep breath, Piper switched off the water and strode back into the diner.
“We have to go,” Piper informed the guards while dropping a twenty-dollar bill on the table. “I need to pick up some womanly things from the drug store.”
Both men appeared uncomfortable by her announcement. They jumped up and scampered to the car.
No one spoke on the drive to the drug store. The two guards followed her inside, but conveniently hung back near the door. And for that, Piper was grateful.
She picked up two pregnancy tests, Rhonda shadowing her every move.
Piper wasn’t sure who was more nervous, her or her best friend.
“Where are you going to take it?” Rhonda whispered, her eyes the size of golf balls. “If you go back to the penthouse, Ethan might be there.”
Piper considered that for a second. “You’re right. We’ll go to my place. It’s only a couple blocks from here.”
Everyone climbed back into the car before Piper announced, “We’re making a quick stop at my house on the way home. I’m sure you understand the need for urgency.”
Glancing in the mirror at the two men in the back seat, Piper was satisfied they wouldn’t argue. Both men were blushing to the roots of their hair.
A couple minutes later, Piper pulled up along the curb, grabbed her brown paper bag, and got out. She stuck her head back inside. “I’ll leave the car running so you won’t get too hot. We’ll be right back.”
One of the men got out behind her. “Let me check the house before you go inside.”
More than a little impatient, Piper stepped aside and waited until he cleared the house before entering.
Rhonda followed tight on her heels. “Are you scared?”
“A little,” Piper snapped, hurrying up the stairs to her bathroom.
Laying the bag on the sink, she turned to face her oldest and dearest friend. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you. Yes, I’m a little nervous.”
Rhonda grabbed one of the boxes from the bag, ripped it open, and handed Piper the test stick. “Sit down and pee on it.”
Piper accepted the test with a shaky hand, did her business, and laid the stick on the counter to wait the required five minutes.
Time seemed to tick by in slow motion as Piper paced the small bathroom, wringing her hands.
“Would you stop?” Rhonda exclaimed, moving toward the test stick. “It’s time. Do you want to look at it, or should I?”
Piper took a deep breath. “You do it.”
Rhonda carefully picked up the white stick and her face paled. “It’s positive.”
A strange sound suddenly came from outside. Piper jerked her gaze toward the doorway. “What was that?”
“I’ll go see,” Rhonda offered. “Take the second test just to be sure.”
Piper peeled open the second test stick and repeated the process while waiting for Rhonda to return.
What was she going to do? Would Ethan be upset? He had every right to be, she thought, inching over to the second test stick.
She picked it up and held it up to the light. Positive...
A sharp blow to the back of her skull buckled Piper’s knees. She grabbed for the counter, her legs giving out and her forehead smacking against the unforgiving surface of the sink.
The last thought she had before her world turned black, was…Ethan.