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‘Good.’ Yvette snuggled against him, appeased, and he wondered what the hell he’d just committed to. ‘Shall we go to bed? Celebrate?’

He guessed what they said about pregnancy hormones must be true, because her change in mood was so abrupt he felt like he had whiplash. She stroked her fingers down his chest in a way that — a few months ago — would have produced the result she wanted, but now it just made his skin crawl.

‘I think you need your sleep. I’ll make you up the bed in the spare room.’

‘I don’t want to sleep in the spare room. I want to sleep in your bed.’

‘Fine, I’ll change my sheets for you and I’ll sleep in the spare room.’

‘But I don’t want to sleep by myself. And I’m not that tired anyway.’

This time the pout wasn’t going to get her what she wanted. ‘Yvette,’ he said gently but firmly, pushing her away. ‘I’m not sleeping with you or sharing a bed with you.’

‘Are you sure? We always were pretty good together,’ she purred.

‘I’m sure.’

‘Is it the belly? Do you think I’m not sexy enough?’ Again with the pouting.

‘No, Yvette, you’re still beautiful,’ he told her honestly. ‘And you hardly have a belly.’

‘So why don’t you want to fuck?’

‘Because I just don’t feel that way about you anymore, that’s what I’ve been trying to tell you.’

‘Is it that Anneka?’

‘Angela,’ he corrected automatically. ‘But yeah, I’m involved with Angela.’

‘Were.’

‘What?’ He looked at her, not sure what she meant.

‘You were involved with Anna. You had a little thing, but I’m back now, and we’re having a baby together. It’s OK, I can forgive your little hook-up.’

‘Right.’ He wasn’t sure he had anything that he needed to be forgiven for, and he was damned sure Angela was a lot more than a “little hook-up”.

‘Besides, you’re having a baby with me, and you left that smelly little farm with me.’

‘Animal sanctuary.’

‘Whatever. The point is you left with me. She told you to leave, and you did. I think she made it pretty clear that she doesn’t want to be with you now anyway.’ With that she stood and sashayed out of the room, leaving him with ugly, unpleasant thoughts.

* * *

‘Don’t you dare answer that!’ Liv grabbed the phone from Angela’s hand as soon as she saw his picture flash up on screen, then stuffed it under the cushion on Angela’s couch where they were all sitting. ‘He’s had two days to call or text or message, and you’ve not heard a thing from him since he walked out with that woman.’

‘But he obviously wants to talk now . . .’

‘Too little, too late, and Evelyn agrees with me. Don’t you?’

‘I agree that nearly midnight, when we’ve been drinking for the last three hours, might not be the best time to have whatever conversation you and he need to have.’ Evelyn shrugged. ‘But, I think you and Rick probably do need to talk.’

‘About what?’ Liv demanded. ‘What could he possibly have to say after walking out of here with his ex, then not bothering to call Ange for two days, after telling her he was falling for her. He obviously can’t be trusted.’

‘You’re being a bit harsh, Liv.’

‘I just don’t want to see Ange hurt anymore. She deserves a lot better than that.’ Liv slipped her arm around Angela’s shoulders and squeezed her tightly, making her feel loved and supported. She was so, so grateful for her two friends who had dropped everything to be with her, to listen to her complain and offer equal amounts of comfort, bitching, alcohol and chocolate. Liv’s fierce protectiveness offset with Evelyn’s pragmatic, sympathetic calm was exactly the balm she needed.