Five weeks later …

“Am I making the right decision?” Alice sat down. It wasn’t as easy as before. Her belly was curved to the degree that she actually looked pregnant and not fat. It was undeniable. She was expecting. Both nervousness and excitement filled her.

Then again, even though she was just over three months, that put her at over halfway through her pregnancy already. It was nuts. Totally nuts. So was she though, as well as this whole situation.

“Yes, you are making the right decision.” Meredith nodded. “You have to give it a try or you’ll never know. You’ll always regret it. Don’t worry about the salon, I’ll take care of everything.” Alice had made Meredith manager and had found a replacement for herself.

Alice sighed. “Ash is treating me like … I don’t know … I want to say a friend, but that wouldn’t be right. Aside from treating me like I’m breakable, he’s acting like I’m an acquaintance or something.”

“You can’t blame him for being worried about you. He did go through hell before with his late wife … mate. You know what I mean. And with everything that happened. He’s going to be a little over-protective.” She’d confided in Meredith about what had happened. Alice had needed a sounding board. Apparently, she still did.

“Hmmmm. I think if he could carry me around everywhere, he would.” Alice made a face. “Nope. I’m wrong on that one because carrying me would actually entail him touching me, which he doesn’t do.” She shook her head. Ash had been back and forth over the last few weeks. He’d gone with her to her doctor’s visit. He’d been taking her stuff back to his village. Slowly but surely moving her into his place. She’d decided to keep her apartment though, and all of her furniture. You never knew. A girl couldn’t be too careful. Things might not work out between her and Ash. At least she would still have her home and her business if that happened.

Her stomach flipped. A nervous reaction. “I just don’t know.” Alice shook her head. “I think I might be making the wrong decision.”

“You’re not,” Meredith spoke in a reassuring voice. She sounded a touch bored as well. “You’re doing the right thing.” Then again, this was the hundredth time they were having this conversation. Meredith was probably blue in the face from saying the same thing over and over.

“I’m sorry.” Alice huffed out a breath.

“What do you have to be sorry about?” Meredith frowned.

“You must be so sick of hearing me go on and on, by now.” Her eyes stung. They filled with tears. “I wish I could take you with me.”

“I wish I could go too.” Meredith fast blinked. Then she smiled broadly. “I think there are a ton of single, seriously hot shifters out there.”

Alice laughed. “You and your one-tracked mind.”

“Not really.” Meredith shook her head. “I’ve completely given up on Shifter Night. If you ever invited me … actually, you have to invite Aunty Meredith. I will have to visit you guys. I promise I would be on my best behavior.”

“I will definitely invite you. I swear.”

“And,” her friend squeezed her arm, “give Ash a chance. He’s just afraid of falling in love with you and having something happen to you. Of course, that’s not going to happen,” she quickly added.

Alice looked at Meredith like she had lost her ever-loving mind because, quite frankly, she didn’t know how wrong she was. “I’m not so sure about Ash falling in love with me.” It hurt to say it. “Sometimes a couple can have really great sex and not be relationship material, and I think that might be us. It’s probably a good thing he doesn’t want to touch me right now. It’ll give us a chance to figure things out.”

Meredith got this weird look. “I think that’s wise. Don’t do the wild monkey dance with him again unless there is some kind of commitment.” Then Alice realized what the look was. It was pity. Shit! Her friend was giving her that look of pity. “You need to try very hard not to fall in love with him any more than you have already.”

Alice choked out a laugh and clutched her belly. “Oh please!” She laughed. “You’re wrong on that note. Do I feel something for him? Sure. Love though?” She snorted. “I hardly know Ash. I only recently found out he has a son ‒ and he only told me because I’m pregnant. I may have known him for months, but I’ve seen him a handful of times.” She shook her head. “And we didn’t exactly talk much when we were together.” You can shut up now, Alice. She forced herself to clamp her mouth closed.

Meredith widened her eyes and folded her arms. Her friend looked pointedly at her.

“What? I’m not in love with him. He’s the father of my unborn children. I …” No, there was no way. Just no way. “I admit I have feelings for him. I admit that I could fall in love like that,” she snapped her fingers, “being that I’m one big hormone at the moment. I’ll be careful.”

“I don’t want to see you hurt.” Meredith hugged her. Alice hugged her friend right back. Meredith might not be right about her already being in love with Ash, but she was right on the money when she said Alice could get hurt. She could get hurt really easily. Not that Ash seemed the least bit interested, but sex was out. Completely off the table.