Page 119 of A King’s Obsession

She nodded, tears already gathering in her eyes.

I stared at her, afraid that if I blinked, she'd disappear again.

"OH MY GOD!"

She barely made it two steps before I started crying.

"BITCH, WHERE THE FUCK HAVE YOU BEEN?!"

Her face crumpled as she approached the bed. "Ashlynn, I'm so sorry."

"SORRY?" I pushed myself upright, ignoring the ache in my back. "DO YOU KNOW HOW WORRIED I'VE BEEN ABOUT YOUR ASS? I BEEN CALLING YOU FOR SIX FUCKING MONTHS!"

"I know." She wiped her cheeks, her voice trembling. "I know, and I'm sorry."

"I THOUGHT SOMETHING HAPPENED TO YOU!"

"I didn't mean to scare you."

I wanted to keep yelling. I had six months' worth of questions, hurt feelings, and cuss words saved up for her.

But looking at her standing there, alive and safe, all that anger fell apart.

"Oh my God," I sobbed, reaching for her. "Come here, bitch."

She leaned over the bed, and I wrapped my arms around her neck, holding her as tightly as my stomach would allow.

"I missed you so much," I cried against her shoulder. "You don't ever do that shit to me again. You hear me?"

"I missed you too," she whispered, holding me just as tightly.

Her body shook against mine, and I knew she was crying just as hard as I was. I didn't care who was watching. My best friend was finally standing in front of me, and for the first time in months, I knew she was safe.

When we pulled apart, I held her face between my hands, studying her like I needed proof she was real.

"You okay?"

She nodded. "I'm okay."

I wiped her tears with my thumbs, then glanced down as she straightened.

And that's when I saw it.

Her stomach.

I blinked, my eyes traveling over the unmistakable curve beneath her shirt before slowly returning to her face.

"Wait a motherfucking minute."

Jru bit her bottom lip, a nervous smile appearing through her tears.

I pointed at her belly.

"JRU."

She glanced down.

"Oh my God." My hands flew to my mouth. "YOU'RE PREGNANT?!"