“Love,” he said as he took her by the arm, “I need you to get behind me. Now.”
He tugged her behind him just before the bigger dude punched the lanky guy at the bar. Glass flew all over the place. He needed to get a handle on this situation and separate those stupid fucks.
“Ro!” Declan shouted. “Take care of Bree!”
But Ro had an entirely other idea. He flew right at the bigger guy who threw the punch. “Oh, no ye don’t! Here’s someone of yer own size. Think ye can handle me, fuckface?”
Declan tried to hold Ronan off, but he didn’t want to leave Bree vulnerable behind his back. Being a professional MMA fighter, Ro could handle himself. So Dec brought Bree to safety.
“I’m all right, go help Ro,” she said.
He didn’t respond to her protests as he dragged her outside. Fianna was standing on the sidewalk and called out to them.
“I can’t believe he’s at it again. Some things never change,” Fianna muttered before she put her arms around Bree. The sisters hugged. Fianna looked over Bree’s shoulder and mouthed ‘thank you’ to Declan.
He nodded and turned around to go help his twin. Again.
“You can’t blame everything on hormones, sis. That’s ridiculous.” Gwenn chastised Bree while they searched the aisle for cranberry sauce.
“These hormones are the ones being ridiculous!” Bree walked around with her hands flying above her head.
“One look in his ocean gray eyes and I was putty in his hands. I couldn’t even remember my name, let alone tell Declan he’s about to become a Daddy!”
A gasp from behind Bree’s back made both sisters jump. Bree whirled around and stood face to face with her best friend, Kate.
These past months without Dec in her life, Kate had been her rock. But lately, Bree dodged Kate because she didn’t know how to tell her she’d been sneaking around with Dec. She wasn’t sure how Kate would take it, that she’d kept this from her.
“Uhm, hi,” Bree said.
Kate dropped her fire red shopping basket and stepped closer to Bree. Her eyes dropped to Bree’s stomach.
“I can’t believe it, is it really true?” Kate said as she looked up with misty blue eyes. Her long chocolate hair was curled for the occasion and fell over her shoulders.
“I… I…” Bree couldn’t believe her best friend found out she was pregnant in the middle of Trader Joe’s.
Kate held up one hand and blurted, “I didn’t mean to overhear you. I swear. But I missed you at work. I wanted to check up on you, since you said you had the flu and all. When Emmy said you’d stop by here to pick up some last-minute things for today, I figured to come and help you.”
When Kate looked over from Bree to Gwenn, she added, “When I walked up to you, I heard you about hormones. I’m sorry. I should have walked away. I know you probably don’t want me here right now and—”
Bree stopped her best friend’s apologies by stepping up to her and hugging her close.
“Shh, I wanted to tell you so bad. I’m still reeling from the fact that I’m going to be a mom. And I even haven’t had the chance to tell Dec.”
Gwenn snorted and said, “Pffft. Believe me, you’ve had your chances.”
Kate stepped out of Bree’s hug and placed her hand on Bree’s shoulder. “How are you holding up? Is there anything I can do for you?”
It was so great to have Kate as a best friend. She’d been there for Bree in the past months when she was lovesick. Although they only met last June, Kate felt as close to Bree as her own sisters.
“I love you, Kate,” Bree blurted out before she stabbed at a tear rolling down her puffy cheeks.
“I love you too, Bree,” Kate said.
A woman with a fire red shopping cart walked by and said, “Aaaah.”
Bree opened her mouth to say something and then thought better of it. Kate looked over her shoulder to make sure the woman was out of earshot and whispered, “If you don’t mind me asking… but how—I mean, when…” Kate said while a blush crept over her cheeks.
“Remember the night we had the welcome home party for Gwenn and Kera? I went home with Dec that night.”