Chapter 67

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Week 31: The baby is very active and growing rapidly. They are the size of a zucchini, weighing 1.75 kilograms and almost 42 centimetres in size.

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Clyde pulled up in front of the hotel Alec had chosen, and the cold evening air hit us as soon as we stepped out. I shivered slightly, grateful for the warmth of my hoodie, while Clyde handed the keys to the valet. The atmosphere felt electric, the kind of quiet anticipation that only nights like these held.

Inside, the lobby was a study in understated luxury-polished marble floors reflecting the golden chandeliers above. A graceful woman at the front desk greeted us with a practiced smile.

"Do you have a reservation?" she asked, her tone polite but efficient.

"Yes. Alec Reed." Clyde said, I watched her fingers dance over the keyboard, then lift her gaze to smile.

"Private lounge is this way, please." She gestured toward a quieter, more secluded wing of the hotel. Thank goodness he picked an excluded table.

"Thank you," we said in unison, following her lead. As we entered the lounge, my eyes immediately found him. Alec. There he was, seated at the table, looking impossibly composed.

"He's alone?" Clyde whispered, his brow furrowed. I glanced beside him-no one.

Alec spotted us and smiled, that familiar warmth tugging at my chest.

"You made it."

"Hey, man." Clyde extended his hand, firm and confident.

"Hey," I said, giving him a quick hug.

"Alec, where's your girlfriend?" I asked, sliding into the seat beside Clyde.

"Oh, she went to the restroom." Relief washed over me. Good, better this way.

"Speak of the angel," Alec murmured, just as a tall, elegant woman with voluminous hair and a model-like presence emerged from the hallway. She walked with effortless grace and slid into the seat beside him.

"I'm sorry I kept everyone waiting," she said politely, her smile easy and warm.

"Actually, they just arrived. Ky, this is Naomi Williams, and babe, this is my high school friend Kyla, and this is Clyde." Alec introduced us with a smooth charm.

"It's so nice to meet you guys. Alec has told me nice things about you," Naomi said.

"Nice to finally meet you too, Naomi," Clyde replied, flashing a charming grin.

"Same here. I just wonder what he actually said about us," I teased.

"Just that you're a nice and humble person," she said with a knowing smile.

"How kind of him," I said, smirking. "Okay, I'm starving. Are we eating or not?"

Everyone laughed, and a waiter appeared to take our orders.

"No wine?" Alec asked.

"I stopped drinking alcohol five months ago," I replied, meeting his surprised gaze.

"Really?"

"Yeah. My wild teenager days are behind me." We all chuckled.

"I can't believe you said 'wild'-I thought you were the perfect daughter," Naomi teased.

"Not everything's as it seems, babe. Kyla, Megan, and I used to be party freaks in high school," I admitted, shaking my head and laughing.

"No, you and Meg were the freaks. I was shy, remember?" Alec bellowed laughter across the table.

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