Reality Check by Evie Mitchell

Author:Evie Mitchell [Mitchell, Evie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780648968726
Publisher: Thunder Thighs Publishing

Chapter 7

Liv

I'd had an afternoon nap, my first since leaving the age of toddler-hood behind. I felt strangely refreshed and ready to take on the world.

Perhaps I should have napped more often in my life.

I'd rallied the troops, group texting the family to assemble for dinner at Erik's house. Gunnar and Ella would be video calling in as they were in Capricorn Cove spending the holidays with her family this year.

Good luck to them, they're gonna need it.

Having met Ella’s brothers, I could categorically say that the Bronze's made my family look practically angelic.

I tugged at my dress, sighing at the noticeable bump that stretched the material.

No hiding it. I'm definitely pregnant.

"Worried?" Ian asked from beside me in the cab of his truck.

"No. Just wanting to get it over with."

"And you’re a hundred percent sure ye want to go through with this charade?" Ian asked as he turned into my parent's street.

I nodded, pressing damp palms to the material across my thighs. "It's the only option that doesn't leave my mother in tears of worry."

Ian parked the truck smoothly, twisting to look at me. "Ye forget, I know your mother. The woman will worry no matter what."

My mother was both a warrior and a worrier, the combination making her a fierce protector of her family. I vowed to be just like her.

"Let's just get this over with."

We exited the truck, my arms full of pie, Ian carrying pizzas. It wasn't the most glamorous dinner, but considering I'd thrust myself upon Erik and Laura, it was the least I could do.

We let ourselves in, Ian's big voice booming a welcome.

“Anyone home?" he called, leading the way.

Laura's head poked from around the hall door, a welcoming smile on her lips. "Hey, Ian. Oh, and Liv! Hi. Come on in, we're just in the kitchen."

My brother owned a large house on one of the canals. It suited him. A jetty out the back for whichever boat he'd designed for himself that month, a big house he and Laura would no doubt fill with children.

Perhaps one of the best decisions I'd ever made had been to sign Laura Sweep as my reality TV Queen of Clean. She'd not only helped me create a show with heart and soul, scoring us both an Emmy and a GLAAD, but through the show, she'd also met my brother. Their romance had played out like a choreographed love story, the reality TV show host falling for the adorably clueless single dad of adopted twin boys.

Truly, I couldn't have written it any better.

"Liv! All this fuss for your homecoming.” My mother approached, wrapping me in her arms, her familiar perfume reducing me to a five-year-old, clinging to her for reassurance.

"Mom," I greeted, closing my eyes and holding her just a little tighter, a little longer.

She let go, stepping back to cup my cheeks, searching my face. "What's wrong?"

"Is everyone here?"

"No, but Rune and Gabby are on their way, and Dad and Nan are picking up Astrid from the store,” Erik replied, gently shifting Mom out of his way to give me a one-armed hug.

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