Free To Want A Billionaire (The Billionaire's Baby Series Book 1) by Ava Claire Page B

that this was a definite first for us. I was pretty sure that me growing a second appendage would have happened long before Alicia Whitmore paid me a compliment.
    Holden sprang into action, bringing over a bottle of water, and a small bowl of lemon and lime in record time. “Here you go, Mrs. Whitmore.” He was on it, turning to my mom, then Alicia. “Anything for you two?”
    Both of them shook their heads in unison, their attention on me.
    “I’m fine, thanks,” Alicia assured him.
    With a smile.
    A smile .
    I picked up the ginger ale, sipping it as I eyeballed my mother-in-law. “I’m fine. Really. How are you , Alicia?”
    She looked equally surprised by my question. “I’m...well?” She glanced at my mother, then back at me, with that same bizarre Twilight Zone smile.
    She didn’t do smiles.  And she certainly didn’t do niceties unless there was a string long enough to hang someone attached.
    Megan re-emerged, her smile so big, so warm, that I couldn’t help but remind myself to let it go a second time. This time, I meant it.
    “Here’s your shower surprise, all the way from London!”
    London? That means-
    I leapt from my chair. “Mia!”
    I kind of forgot everyone else but the smiling, happy, healthy young woman who was waving at me like a maniac on the screen. It was hard to believe she was the same vaguely stoned, entitled, rude woman who’d sauntered into our first meeting: late, on her phone, and clearly crying out for help.
    Mia Kent grew up in the spotlight, starring in family friendly fare, making her a household name. When she hit 18, she went off the deep end.
    When we met, she’d shuffled in with a punk rock edge that was hiding the hurt: a painful, unhealthy relationship with her mother, toxic friends. The epitome of sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Today, her blonde hair was cut to her chin, the curls framing her fair complexion as she pushed her heart-shaped glasses to the crown of her head and gave me an unobstructed view of how well she was doing. Her sky blue eyes were filled with happiness as she let out a squeal, covering her mouth as tears filled her eyes.
    “You look amazing, Leila!” she exclaimed. “Gosh, you’re all glowy, and your tits look amazing-”
    “Mia!” I hissed, laughing and ignoring my mom as she leaned forward and mouthed, ‘I told you so!’.
    We caught up briefly and she promised as soon as she and Liam got back to The States, her first stop was to see me and the baby.
    “And just in case you guys haven’t decided on a name, Mia is kind of awesome,” she suggested with a toothy grin.
    I laughed and told her to be safe, handing the phone back to Megan. We spent the rest of the afternoon playing what I was sure was the Cards Against Humanity equivalent of baby shower games before we packed it up, thanking Holden and security for all their help.
    Megan and Alicia started talking charity work, and my mom looped her arm in mine. She leaned in and said the words that always made me feel like everything was gonna be alright.
    “I love you, Leila.”
    I planted a kiss on her cheek, trying not to cry. God, I was lucky. When I heard what suspiciously sounded like a laugh coming from Alicia’s mouth, I couldn’t resist picking my mom’s brain a bit.
    “So, what’s the deal? You and Alicia are friends now?”
    She looked at me like I’d just hawked a loogie at her. “Absolutely not. But today its about you. And our grandbaby.” She nestled in close and dropped her volume so only I could hear. “And, I pulled her aside earlier and told her if she puts aside the fact that we can’t stand each other for a few hours, I could too. Or we could take it outside and handle it like real women.”
    I doubled over with laughter, the tears I’d been holding back rushing down my cheeks. “‘Best Grandma Ever’, hands down.”
    “Damn straight,” she winked, surprising me with the cuss word. Everyone was full of surprises today, it seemed.
    Her eyes softened and