It's been two weeks since Will kissed me that day. He didn't come back home that night until after I had already gone to bed. The next morning, I woke up to him cooking breakfast. He kissed me on my forehead, and when I asked how he'd relieved his "stress", he'd laughed and told me I didn't want to know.

At first, I worried that if I couldn't fulfill his sexual needs that he'd go back to Jackie or some other random fling. But he's been loyal to a fault, and even though we haven't officially made any commitments to one another, I trust him not to stray.

Some of the strongest commitments are those never spoken but acted upon. After all, actions speak louder than words. And if Will were to be judged on his actions, we're definitely exclusive.

It physically hurts not being able to be with him the way my body craves to. I go to bed wet and aching, and I wake up sore and throbbing with desire.

Hence, why I find myself in Abbi's office today. I'm hoping she'll clear me for sexual activity. After all, I'm twelve weeks pregnant now. At twelve weeks, I should be past the danger zone for a miscarriage. At least, that's what Abbi says. Surely, this is far enough that we can have sex again.

I hope I'm strong enough to weather this storm.

"Are you ready?"

Abbi's question pulls me from my thoughts, and I look up to her in question.

"Earth to Kara." She smiles. "The sonogram. Are you ready?"

"Oh, yeah. Sorry about that."

She tsks. "Quit apologizing. Pregnancy causes us to get a little unfocused. It's perfectly normal, and a direct result of the hormone imbalance your body is experiencing." She grabs the gel and I lift my shirt to bare my belly as I lay back on the examination table.

"Shouldn't a nurse be doing this?"

"Normally, yes. But these are my nieces or nephews you're carrying, so I'm personally vested." She smiles at me and then proceeds with the sonogram.

"Isn't Will coming?" I ask, only just now noticing that he hadn't mentioned the appointment this morning before he left.

"I didn't tell him I was coming to get you for a visit today." She sets the sonogram wand down and eyes me. "I know this has all happened really fast, and I understand that my brother can be a bit rough around the edges. I love him dearly, but he can be difficult to handle sometimes. I figured you needed a break, and it would be nice to have a woman to talk to without prying ears listening to our every word."

I nod but don't say anything.

"Let’s begin."

She squeezes the gel over my belly and smooths it out with the probe before she begins selecting segments and taking measurements.

I watch, fascinated by the heart rhythms and the babies’ movements. They're already moving around, and it only further cements my affection for them. How can I not look at the sonogram and feel affection for them? They're as much a part of me as if I were their biological mother. I breathe life into these babies every day. My body creating the building blocks to life as my womb fosters their growth.

No matter how much I've told myself that these aren't my babies, a part of me realizes that my essence is as ingrained in these babies as the DNA that binds them to Will and Sophia.

Abbi wraps up the procedure and gives me a couple of photos to take home for Will.

"Just remember, I'm only a phone call away if you need someone to talk to. Will can be closed off, but don't let him get to you. Okay?"

I nod. "Thank you for everything, Abbi. I really appreciate how kind you've been to me."

She waves my comment off as if it's no big deal. "My husband will have the kids on Saturday. How about we take the day to ourselves and visit the spa? They have pregnancy massages that specialize in circulation and stimulating blood flow to keep the swelling down. It'll be good for you."

I contemplate that for minute. I've never been to a spa, much less had a massage. I wouldn't mind spending the day out of the house, though. Will hasn't really invited me along for any of his trips to the city, and I can only paint so much before even that gets boring. A day out on the town would be a nice change of pace.

"Yeah. That does sound nice. It's a date. What time?"

She pulls out her phone and goes through her calendar. "Looks like I'm free all day. How about I pick you up at noon and we'll go from there?"

"Sounds like a plan. Thank you so much, Abbi." I lean in and give her a quick hug.

"It's my pleasure." She pats me on the back as we hug and then we say our goodbyes.

* * *

I’m just stepping onto the elevator when my cell beeps with an incoming text message from Mr. Price, my attorney.

I glance down, and when I finish reading it, I feel the blood slowly drain from my face.

By the time I make it downstairs and to the sidewalk to hail a cab, my legs are trembling and my heart is racing. The thought of going back home is terrifying. I can't imagine what Jay would do if he saw me in my current condition.

I glance down at the slight bulge of my pregnancy belly. A surge of motherly protection flows through my veins, and I find myself cradling my belly. I can't let anything happen to the babies, but I have to put this awful mess with Jay behind me once and for all.

I raise my hand and flag a cab over. When I'm situated in the back seat and have given him the address to my attorney’s office, I sit back and contemplate how I'm going to handle this situation. I can't fathom Will letting me leave without wanting to accompany me. And that's definitely not going to happen. The last thing I need is for him to get sucked into the dark vortex that is my ugly past.

Before I know it, I'm exiting the elevators and Mr. Prices' secretary is escorting me back to his office.

"Ms. Murphy," he calls out, walking over to greet me with a handshake.

My brow raises. "Is it official?" I ask, wondering why he's calling me by the name I've requested to make official.

He nods. "Yes, it is. He even signed the divorce papers."

I stand there with a dumbstruck expression on my face.

He laughs and gestures for me to take a seat and then he takes his on the other side of his desk. "He signed the papers, but you have to go to North Carolina to have them filed with the courts. That requires your physical presence. He's already been told to stay clear of you. He'll go in and see the judge on a separate date from yours. Everything is all set."

Hope flutters like a thousand butterflies in my stomach. "Are you serious? It's over?" I ask, my breaths short and choppy from excitement.

He grins. "Yes. It's over. The only thing left now is the formalities. Your name has officially been changed to Kara Murphy and as soon as you file your divorce papers with the courts, you'll officially be divorced as well."

I leap from my seat and dash around his desk, hugging him before he has a chance to rise from his chair. "I can't believe this. Thank you so much." He pats me on the back as we part and gives me a fatherly look of adoration.

"It was my pleasure. Hunter will meet you at the airport terminal on Friday. Your flight leaves at two o'clock. Be there at least an hour early for security checks. My receptionist has your ticket and hotel accommodations up front. Swing by and pick them up on your way out."

"You set all this up for me?"

He nods. "It's the least I could do considering everything you've been through. He was a tough bastard to negotiate with. Demanded to see you before he would agree to signing but a little investigate work from Hunter had him cowing to our demands easily enough."

I don't want to know what his investigative work turned up. There's no telling what all Jay has done throughout his time on the force. He's been known to use his position in law enforcement to get his way.

"I can't thank you enough, Mr. Price. This means the world to me. I can finally be rid of him once and for all." I sigh as the realization that my past is finally behind me begins to sink in.

"You just take care of yourself, and that's all the thanks I'll need." He gestures to my protruding belly.

I look down, sliding my hand over my abdomen and looking back up to him with a wide smile. "Yes, sir. I most certainly will." I can't help the grin that spreads wide over my face.

I swing by the receptionist’s desk and get my accommodations. The whole way home I'm practically floating with excitement.

I'm finally going to be rid of him. Finally!

* * *

I'd had a long day and was ready to relieve some stress at the gym, but when Mark called and asked if I'd meet him for drinks, I couldn't pass it up.

Mark is one of my closest friends. He's good company on any day, but even better when I need to get some shit off my chest. Our jobs carry a heavy burden, and sometimes a night at the pub drinking with the guys is exactly what I need to blow off steam.

And that's how I found myself sitting here with Mark and his law firm partner, Blake.

"So tell us, how's the baby situation playing out?" Mark asks with a mischievous twinkle in his eye and a smirk to confirm he knows exactly how it's playing out.

"As if you didn't know."

He throws his hands up in mock defense. "Abbi doesn't tell me everything, you know."

"Liar."

He and Blake laugh out loud. "Okay, maybe she does."

I take a swig of my beer and then set the bottle down before casting a glare in their direction. I decide to call him on his bullshit. "You've seen her."

He smiles at me and gives me a wink that’s accompanied by a soft wolf whistle. “Indeed I have.”

"That ...” I point at his and Blake's knowing expressions. "Is how I'm doing."

"Aww, it can't be that bad. I mean, she's easy enough on the eyes," he teases.

"And therein lies the problem. She's too damn easy on the eyes."

"Oh, no." His eyes go round with mock horror. "Are you attracted to her? Dare I say, lustful even?"

I slam my beer down and shoot him a look that makes him and Blake burst out laughing. "It's not funny, assholes." But the corner of my mouth begins to twitch, and I eventually end up laughing along with them.

Blake points his bottle at me. "You need to get laid, my friend. That's exactly what you need. A bonified grade A piece of ass. No strings. Just a good hard fucking to rid your system of the stick lodged firmly in your ass." He chuckles before taking a long pull from his bottle.

"And just where am I supposed to find the time to scout the market for available one-night stands with a no strings preference? They aren't walking the streets of Chicago with billboards above their heads."

"Why would you need to scout the market when you have a beautiful woman already living with you?" Mark waggles his brows. "And might I add that you don't have to worry about knocking that one up since she's already carrying your babies. It's a win-win as far as I'm concerned." He throws his hands up as if the matter has been settled.

I look at them both with narrowed eyes. "Abbi has her on a no-sex order until further notice."

"That won't last much longer. You're almost past the danger zone."

"That doesn't help the permanent case of blue balls I'm currently suffering from." I pout.

"Get inventive." He smirks.

"But she's pregnant!"

"Pregnant women run hot twenty-four-seven. Their hormones are all over the place, and let me tell you something, the sex is insanely good."

"Gah ... I don't want to hear about pregnant sex with my sister. Boundaries, man. Boundaries." I shake my head and cast him a look.

Mark laughs and shakes his head. "Sorry, but it's true. Their bodies are extra sensitive, and they crave affection and reassurance that you still find them attractive. Every pregnant woman needs to feel beautiful. If you give her the attention she craves, she'll reward you with the best sex of your life. Oral is always an option when actual penetration isn't."

"I cannot believe we're having this conversation." I shake my head.

"He's not lying. My wife was the same when she was pregnant with Ben." Blake smiles from ear to ear. "Best. Sex. Ever." He takes a swig of his beer. "Don't get me wrong, sex is always good with my wife. But when she was pregnant in those first two trimesters ...” He shakes his head, a look of bliss crossing his face. "Never better. And her body was so ripe and responsive. Trust us, don't hold back. If she's willing, give her what she wants."

I take another long pull from my beer and then raise my hand for the waitress to bring me the check. "She's different. Hard to get a read on her sometimes. But I don't see her as the oversexed pregnant type."

"Take her on a date. Show her the city. Give her some attention and see where it goes from there. Couldn't hurt." Mark shrugs and stands so that he can pull his wallet from his back pocket.

We all settle our tabs and then make our way to the sidewalk outside.

"I'll see you at the gym tomorrow," I call out over my shoulder as we part ways.

"Yeah, see you then," Mark answers. Blake gives a nod.

On the entire drive home, the only thing on my mind is Kara. I can't stop thinking about the hot sex we shared all those weeks ago. No matter how much I try to block it from my mind or pretend it never happened. It changed things between us, and the faster I realize there's no going back to the way it was before, the better off we'll both be.