Page 43 of Hell On Heels
Sway laughed nervously, glancing down toward the untouched glass of water sitting in front of her. “That’s one word for it.”
Lottie leaned back in her chair, eyes wide with excitement. “Does anyone else know?”
Sway shook her head immediately. “Just you…and Vicious.”
“Well?” Lottie pressed carefully. “How’s he doing with the news?”
Sway let out a breath that sounded half-exhausted, half-emotional. “He’s happy. Like…really happy. But scared like I am.”
Lottie saw a flicker of sadness in Sway’s eyes. “I can’t imagine what you’ve been through.”
Sway gave a small shrug. “I have to believe everything will be fine. If I don’t, I’ll fall apart, and that won’t do Vicious or me any good.” She and Vicious had thought they were being careful. After two miscarriages, they wanted to wait a year before trying again. But life had a different plan for them she guessed.
Lottie’s expression softened further. “Then let’s have some lunch and then go shopping for baby things.”
Sway nodded. “I think that sounds like a great day with my best friend.”
A waitress stopped by long enough to take their drink orders before disappearing again, leaving them alone in their little corner in the bistro.
Lottie studied her best friend sitting across from her. Beneath the nervousness, Sway looked different somehow. Softer. Fragile in a way Lottie wasn’t used to seeing.
“Everything will be fine,” Lottie said softly.
Sway blinked hard, emotion flickering across her face. “I’m so happy you’re here.”
“I got you,” Lottie said with a wink.
“You say that now. Wait until I’m crying because somebody looks at me wrong.”
Lottie snorted. “Please, you’ll be crying at cat commercials.”
Sway laughed. “That would be tragic.”
“It could happen.” Lottie chuckled.
“Probably will,” Sway admitted.
That pulled a genuine laugh out of Lottie for the first time in days. A real one. Warm and easy.
Sway noticed immediately. “There she is.”
“What?”
“I know you’ve been stuck in your head as much as I’ve been stuck in my own.” Sway pointed at Lottie with narrowed eyes. “Don’t think I can’t tell.”
Lottie slid her hands into her lap. “I’m fine.”
“Liar. You’re as bad at lying as I am.” Sway smiled as she picked up her drink glass and took a sip.
“Aren’t we a pair,” Lottie said, with a sigh.
It was Sway’s turn to laugh. “It’s Razor, isn’t it?” she asked softly.
Lottie didn’t mean for their lunch to turn into a therapy session for her non-relationship with Razor. “Right after the dinner, I ruined it.”
“What? Why?” Sway’s expression shifted.
“I screwed it up,” Lottie said. “I flirted at dinner, then shut him down at the house,” she added, picking at the edge of her napkin. “I did apologize.”
