Page 44 of Broken By Her Mate
Blinking, Laila shook her head. “I’m fine. May I hold Elise? She’s just so darn precious.”
“Of course.” Elena opened the door, and they both stepped around the counter.
Elena lifted Elise from the playpen and handed her to Laila, who cradled the little girl in her arms. She felt an unexpected surge of warmth spread through her chest. Elise’s tiny fingers grasped at her shirt, and her hazel eyes were wide as she studied Laila with curiosity only a baby could possess.
“Hi, Elise. I’m Laila,” she cooed.
Elise blinked and then said, “Lala!”
That sent Elena and Laila into a fit of giggles.
“From now on, you will be known as Aunt Lala,” Elena stated as she prepared the cash register.
Laila smiled, her heart softening as Elise nestled against her shoulder. She was relieved the baby was comfortable with her. A mix of emotions rushed through her, hitting her all at once. Holding Elise felt almost surreal. It made her feel the reality of her situation in a way she hadn’t fully absorbed this morning. She might as well get used to holding babies since she had a bun baking in the oven.
“So,” Elena began, glancing at Laila. “You seemed a bit panicked when you came in. “Did something happen between you and Tolliver? Is my brother driving you crazy?”
“Something happened between us, all right.” Laila sighed. “Something big…huge. Well, it will be in a few months.”
Elena was about to start wiping down the counter when she froze. Whipping around, she observed Laila through squinted eyes. “That sounds like… wait, I’m not going to say it. You tell me.”
Laila’s teeth sank into her lower lip. She glanced at Elise and then back at Elena. “I’m going to have one ofthesein about eight more months.” She pointed at Elise.
Elena’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as she gasped dramatically. She then let out a squeal that was loud enough to shatter eardrums. Even Elise lifted her head to give her mother a bemused look. “Holy crap! That’s exciting news, Laila. I never expected that grumpster Tolliver to give me a niece or nephew any time soon. I’m so happy for you guys…” Her words trailed off, and her excitement dimmed when she noticed Laila’s horrified expression. “It is good news… right…?”
When Laila just continued to stare without a word, she muttered, “Uh oh.” She took Elise from Laila’s arm and put her back in the playpen. A toy quickly distracted Elise, and Elena led Laila over to a corner.
“Spill,” Elena said softly, her excitement tempered with a touch of concern. “What’s going on? Are you… not happy about this?”
Laila let out a shaky breath. “It’s not that I’m unhappy, exactly,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I just never imagined I’d be in this position with Tolliver. We’re not together.We’ve just been…” Telling Tolliver’s younger sister that her brother had become her sexy buddy was beyond awkward.
“Say no more.” Elena shook her. “I really don’t want to know what my bother gets up to in that department.”
“He doesn’t know I’m pregnant.”
“When are you going to tell him?”
Laila’s eyes lowered to the floor, and her face flushed. “Well…”
“No. Laila, you can’t keep this a secret from him. That’s impossible. Every shifter you encounter will sniff out your pregnancy in a matter of weeks.”
“I know.” Laila covered her face and groaned into her hands. “I was hoping you could help me with that.” She glanced around the shop that had all sorts of potions and herbs.
Elena backed away. “No way. I can’t use magic to help you keep this major secret from Tolliver. He’s my brother. I can’t lie to him.”
“I hate asking you to do this. I know your loyalty is to Tolliver, but I…” Her voice cracked. “I’m terrified.”
Placing a comforting hand on Laila’s arm, Elena said, “There’s no need to. Tolliver will be over the moon. I’m sure of it. Whether you’re together in the romantic sense or not, he’ll step up to the plate and take responsibility. He’s a good man.”
“I know he is. That’s not what I’m afraid of.”
“What’s the problem, then?”
“He left me.” Laila shrugged, an air of sadness enveloping her. “Being rejected by your other half like that is one of the worst experiences a shifter can go through.”
Understanding flickered in Elena’s eyes. “I know,” she replied softly.
“I don’t want to go through that agony again. As much as I still have feelings for Tolliver—I doubt they’ll ever go away—I don’t want to put myself in a place to get hurt again.” A single tear slipped down her cheek. “I’d never keep his child away from him, but right now, I just need to come to terms with my emotions and the situation before I have to deal with having the conversation with him. I hate putting you in a position to hide something from your family, but I need your help. I don’t have any other friend here…”