Unrequited (Chosen #3) by Alisa Mullen Read Free Book Online

nerves.
    “It’s okay. I did this when I was alone with him. You don’t need to be bothered. Go to work. I already called Lily and Mac,” she answered in a rush. Lily, our nanny and Mac, her boss already knew about Niall but she didn’t think to wake me up? I shook my head.
    “No, I can stay home. I don’t have any big meetings today,” I took Niall from her and she crumbled on to the leather couch and started sobbing. Now I had two O’Malley’s in full on tears and I didn’t know what to do. I soothed Niall with my kisses as I rubbed Lizzie’s back again.
    “It’s just… you shouldn’t stay home because my kid is sick.” Lizzie still wasn’t clear that we were partners when it came to Niall. She was confused and as much as I tried to reassure her, I don’t think I was the first to come to her mind when Niall’s welfare was in question.
    “Niall is my son, Lizzie. Don’t ever question what my role is. I love him and I am just as worried. Go to work. No one will miss me at the office. Besides, there is something to be said about being the boss,” I smirked.
    She blankly nodded at me as I spoke to her. I still don’t think she understood that she was in a parental partnership with someone else.
    “No, Nick. I already talked to Mac. I can make some calls from here and look after him. He is probably just teething,” she stated firmly.
    Lizzie got up and headed for the kitchen. “However, I am having coffee and it will be caffeinated.” Then she gave me the “ don’t fuck with me” look.
    I smiled at her and she smiled back. That’s right. Everything will be okay, Lizzie. You have me now. You aren’t alone anymore. I wanted to say all of this to her but I had realized a few weeks ago that you don’t say anything that could be misconstrued as mushy around a pregnant woman. They will cry themselves to death.
    I jumped when the phone rang. Lizzie answered, “The Sawyer Residence”. It was something her family always did. When she answers her parent’s phone, she does the same thing. I sometimes do it now and she never points out that I got it from her. It’s just the “proper” way to answer the phone, I once heard her say to someone.
    Her smile fell as she mixed the sugar into the coffee.
    “Hey, Dad. What’s wrong?” I heard her father’s deep gravelly voice on the other line and she continued to listen with vigilance. Long moments passed without her saying anything and looking nowhere. Her father never called the house this early.
    “Yes, of course.” she nodded. I waited to hear something, anything from the other end of the line. “Okay, I can be there within two hours. I appreciate you calling, Dad,” she said and pushed the off button on the phone.
    I looked at her and she stared at me. Then she focused her attention to Niall. It was like she was formulating a plan in her head all by herself and I wanted to yell “What the fuck is going on?” Instead, I prompted her.
    “Liz?”
    She looked back at me and blinked a few times.
    “Nick. My mother is not doing well at all. Dad is beyond worried and he has a big meeting in town and doesn’t want to leave her alone,” she said numbly. “He thinks she may need some help, like a grief counselor or something and my dad asked to me to help him out. He doesn’t know what to do with her.”
    Holy mother of hell. Of all the things to put on my fiancé’s shoulders. Would this be the day that she cracks? I crossed to her and wrap my arms around her body. She was trembling a little and I rubbed her back with reassurance.
    “Do you think telling her about the pregnancy might help?” I asked softly. “It might take her mind off of Conner, if only for a little while.”
    She nodded and then her whole face crumbled up. “I think it would be okay but what if I lose the baby? She would be even more upset. I can’t. I just can’t.”
    Her wails were long and they were hard. She could hardly take a breath. Niall joined in and I just stood