Free Hand of Thorns by Ashley Beale

us... and he is paying to have a child with her. I need to stop this nonsense, pull myself together, and realize that he is only concerned and asking questions, because he knows it's possible I'm pregnant with his child.
    "Good," he says. Looking at Penelope for the first time, he starts to lift his lips into a smile, and in that moment I realize that smile isn't meant for me at all, like I had yearned for the first time I met him. "I'm Leon Owens, and you are?" He puts his hand out to shake hers.
    She gladly accepts the gesture, even though within an instant William is standing next to her with his alpha stance, trying to mark his territory. I want to tell him he has nothing to worry about, but I understand his need to. There is no denying who the more attractive one is. "Penelope. One of Monica's best friends. And how is it that you know Monica?"
    When she quirks a brow I instantly want to give her a dead leg. She knows who he is, we literally talked about this right before coming into Mythos’s. She simply wants him to say it out loud, but I don't want him to. Not in front of Sumner and Rochelle.
    His smile lifts further into a breath taking full grin. "Let's just say we're acquainted." He looks back to me, giving me perfect eye contact again. I'm not used to the feeling it gives me. I shouldn't feel this way, but my palms instantly start to sweat and I swear my body is shaking, except I'm not cold. No, if anything I'm overheating.
    He starts to say something to me, but in that exact moment Ellie makes herself present, holding onto Leon's arm predatorily. "Oh, hey Monica. Didn't except to see you here. Having a good fourth?" She says it with grace, so much so you wouldn't have a clue that she normally says snarky remarks to me.
    "Yeah, it's been nice," I answer. I can speak with her just fine, it's Leon I have trouble forming words with. "How about you?"
    "Oh, wonderful. Leon and I always have such a great time on the fourth of July. We help with a parade in the morning, we serve lunch to veterans in the afternoon, then we spend the evening with friends. It's such a wonderful tradition we cannot wait to share with someone even more special next year." She eyes my stomach for all of two seconds, spreading her lips into a cocky smile. It almost irritates me that they did something so admirable such as serving lunch to veteran's, because I want to hate her even more than I already do, but with something like that, I can't. I have to accept what is, and merely smile.
    "Good. I'm glad to hear. I hope you both enjoy the rest of the evening."
    She eyes me all over for a second, her smile breaking, and a look of uncertainty taking over. "You look... sick. Are you feeling alright? You should probably head home and rest your head."
    "I think she looks fine," Penelope jumps in. "I think she's over exhausted is all. I'm the pregnant one of the bunch, and she's been taking care of me. Pretty soon the two of us are going to head back and relax, while everyone else stays out and parties."
    Penelope once again takes me by surprise, and I'm beyond grateful for it. Ellie on the other hand doesn't seem impressed at all. She gives Penny the same look I'm always receiving when Ellie doesn't think anyone is noticing, before quickly cutting her eyes back to me. "Oh. Well. Good. Enjoy your night." Looking up to Leon, who is eyeing the guys we're with- all of whom has stopped doing what they're doing to pay attention to what is happening in front of me. "Babe, we should get back to our company. We're being rude."
    "Yeah." He glances over at Ellie. "Sorry. Let's go." They start to step away as Leon takes one more look at me, this time he is racking my entire body over.
    It isn't until they're seated back at their booth, paying no mind of me at all, that I can breathe again. That is, until I look over to see absolutely every one of my friends staring at me. Sumner steps up in front of me, her eyes widened. "Bathroom. Now." And to say she sounds