“Just tell me.”
“Well, he went and got himself arrested,” says Eva and I gasp. “Riggs was pissed. He had to pull some strings to get him out and it turns out that his ex is with a cop, so that made Riggs’ strings even shorter. Anyway, he eventually got him out by paying a stupid fine for public disorder or some shit.”
“What did he do exactly?” I ask.
“The cops said he was uncooperative when asked to leave the hospital. Riggs says that he’s pissed off at his ex’s cop-partner, who's now stopping Blu from seeing Molly.”
My heart aches for him. He loves his daughter and he’ll hate not seeing her. “What did he do to piss him off?” I ask.
“Not him,” says Eva, wiggling her eyebrows. “Her. She’s a lesbian.” She grins like she’s the queen of gossip and I laugh. “Not exactly sure what Blu did. Riggs wouldn’t tell Anna everything.”
“Shit, do you think it’s because his ex knows he slept with me?” I ask, panic causing my heart to thump hard in my chest. “Oh god,” I groan.
“Don’t be ridiculous. She’s clearly moved on to a woman. Blu doesn’t do it for her,” says Eva.
“Clearly not the case seeing as she’s pregnant with his kid,” I snap and Eva’s eyes widen.
“You knew that and didn’t tell me?” she accuses.
“You didn’t tell me first,” I counter and she laughs.
“Maybe they’re a threesome. You hear of people like that, sharing and stuff,” says Eva. She gasps. “Oh my god, what if he wanted you to join in and become a quad—” she pauses and thinks. “Is there a word for foursomes?”
“Now you’re being ridiculous.”
“Eva,” comes a deep, growling voice that I recognise instantly as Cree.
She pales slightly and then smiles sweetly and gives a little wave. “Hey, lover.”
“Hey, lover?” he growls. “You go off fuckin’ radar. I get back to the office and you’ve closed up and then you don’t answer the damn phone.” He’s practically spitting with anger.
“Gia needed a pick-me-up drink and you were busy, so I thought I’d call you later,” she explains.
“That’s not how it works and you know it,” he snaps.
“If you’re going to ruin my party mood, you can piss off somewhere else,” she hisses, folding her arms stubbornly. “This is exactly why I don’t want a kid with you, Elijah.”
I avert my eyes, suddenly finding my beer bottle really interesting. “You gonna bring that shit up now?” he growls. “You wanna tell everyone here how you don’t think I can look after a kid because of my mental state?”
“That is not what I said. Why are you putting words into my mouth?” she huffs.
The door opens and Riggs enters. He spots us and relaxes. “You had us all worried, Eva. Answer your damn phone next time.”
“Christ, you sent out a search party?” she asks Cree.
“You went missing,” he yells and a few people turn to look at the commotion. Riggs pats Cree on the back.
“No harm done, brother. She’s safe. Let’s have a drink while we’re here.” They go to the bar.
“You didn’t tell him we were going for drinks?” I whisper hiss.
“No. I’m sick of him following me around. I wanted a break.”
“Um, that worked out so well for Anna and then Leia. Safety, remember!” I snap.
She rolls her eyes. “Yes, boss.”
I wake Saturday morning feeling rough. I glance at the alarm blaring beside me and that’s when I remember that my mum is dragging me to a wedding fayre today. I flop back and groan. I’m a wedding planner and she wants to take me to a wedding fayre. I already know I want a small gathering with little fuss.
I get downstairs, washed and dressed in record time. I’m met with the eager faces of Anna, Leia, Eva, and Raven. My mum smiles. “Surprise.”
“Yes. Surprise that you forgot to tell your friends about your little wedding arrangement,” says Anna. I didn’t tell them because I didn’t want it to get back to Blu. I don’t want him to think I’ve agreed to the wedding to spite him after his pregnancy confession.
“It’s all been a rush,” I say. “Sorry.”
“You’re forgiven,” grins Leia. “I’m so excited to be getting out.”
“Let’s go, the car’s waiting,” says Mum.
A limo is outside and I groan again. Mum’s already causing a fuss and it’s not even the wedding yet. “We have to travel in style,” she says. “Champagne for the non-pregnant amongst us,” she adds, flicking her eyes over Leia.
I hear a bike engine rumbling outside the gates and Eva gives an apologetic smile. “Blu drew the short straw. He’s on biker chick watch today.”
My stomach lurches and last night’s alcohol threatens to make a reappearance. “Vinn will have security follow us,” I say.
“You know what Riggs is like. It’ll be fine. He probably doesn’t even know what a wedding fayre is,” says Eva, getting into the car after everyone else.
BLU
I stay seated on my bike behind the limo. The girls went inside half an hour ago followed closely by Vinn’s men, so I know they’re safe in there. Riggs calls me. “You’d better be tailing their asses,” he growls and I roll my eyes. Trust him to guess I wouldn’t follow Gia around a fuckin’ wedding fayre. When Riggs told me I had to babysit the women today, I didn’t know what a wedding fayre was, so I agreed without question. It was Anna who took great delight in telling me it was a place where companies go to offer services for weddings. Of course, she added in that Gia’s wedding would be spectacular.
“I am,” I snap, getting off my bike and marching into the building.
I underestimated how popular this shit is. I call Anna and she tells me they’re in the third stall from the entrance. Only the third!
I spot Vinn’s men standing back. Anna sees me and waves. “Riggs call you, did he?” she
