Bishop Security Headquarters
February 25
Twitch sat at her work desk and typed into the search bar: pregnancy and paranoia. She didn’t know if she was relieved or disconcerted to find nothing that pinpointed what she was feeling. Ever since the night at the bar with Calliope, Sofria, Emily, and Very, Twitch had the unshakable feeling she was being followed. Sometimes it was a car, a blue Dodge sedan that she’d spot in her rearview mirror or parked across the street from the yoga studio where Calliope taught a class. Once, it was a man sitting on a park bench reading Infinite Jest while Twitch played fetch with Emily and Nathan’s dog, Reggie. Another time, a different man with the same build stood behind her in line at the smoothie place. Nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing that should have raised her internal alert, and yet…
“What’s up?”
Twitch jumped an inch in her seat and slammed her laptop shut. Andrew “Chat” Dunlop leaned against the doorframe, hands in his pockets, white teeth bright against his ebony skin. Wearing faded jeans and a black T-shirt, he was far too handsome to be working in a basement.
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to startle you,” Chat said.
“You didn’t,” Twitch replied, sounding a little too defensive. “I mean, you did, but it’s no big deal.”
“I brought you something.” Chat set the travel mug on her desk.
“Oh, no coffee, thanks. I’m already pretty wired.” Twitch pushed the mug away.
“It’s not coffee. Taste it.”
Twitch took a wary sip. “Oh my god. What is it?” She gulped half the mug down.
“Like it?” Chat’s white smile broke across his dark skin.
“Like it? I want to take a bath in it.”
Chat grinned. “Secret family recipe. Seven different fruits. It’s full of vitamins, folic acid; it even has calcium.”
Twitch set the mug down with a sigh. “How do you do it?”
“It doesn’t take a psychic, Twitch. Your face is broken out. Your breasts are larger.” He leaned down and placed a hand on her shoulder. “You ordered What to Expect When You’re Expecting.”
She narrowed her gaze.
Chat lifted his hand to her laptop. “You left the order confirmation up on your screen the other day. That’s another symptom: absentmindedness.”
“Please don’t tell,” Twitch pleaded.
“Mum’s the word, but you have to promise me you’ll tell the father.” Chat’s serious eyes brooked no argument.
“I will.”
“It’s important, Twitch.”
Chat not only had a Sixth Sense, he was also a master of understatement. When he said something was important, Twitch took it to heart. She also assumed he knew the father was Finn and was simply being polite in not blurting it out.
“As soon as I can. Promise.”
“Hear your words, Twitch.”
She sighed. Of course, Chat would know she could locate Finn. She looked up to confirm she understood, but Chat had disappeared down the hall.