If Only

C H A P T E R 32

CONNECTED

MIRANDA

Not expecting to see Raven again after weeks of staying away, I quenched the urge to run to her. Especially after Ruen punched her like that, my friend would throw a fit if I acted like a lovesick hormonal chick.

Well, I'm pregnant. I should get a free pass.

My jaw dropped when I saw her signaled for Raven to share a table with her. A smiling Ruen on a morning like this was not possible. She only happily smiled when Amelia was around. She's not a morning person.

Scratch that, she's not a person before ten in the morning.

Unless she's planning to take someone down. Her smiling like that at Raven would only mean the latter.

I wanted to break them up but I ignored the impulse. Work! I had to work her out of my system. Stepping out changed, I went on to prepare Ruen's favorite.

I adore bears. She loves chocolates. It's one of our quirks.

"You should stop telling her what to do and let her decide for herself. You're not her master!" Raven shouted at my friend.

Putting the hot cup beside Rue, I angrily poked Raven in the chest, "Who died and made you king? You don't have the right to talk to her like that."

"I'm sorry." Like a kid thoroughly chastised, she mumbled an apology.

"Go do your thing, Mim. Let me talk to my half-baked 'sister in-law'."

Sister in-law?

This isn't good. I'm steering clear from both of them. I left them. But even as I wiped a few tables and folded some napkins, I did not take my eyes off the pair.

What were they talking about?

Raven was in defense mode then later shifted to the offense. Her posture was tensed. The sound of the falling chair made me jump. Raven was up.

What is it now?

Her head hung low while Ruen collected her stuff and stood up. My friend approached me as she left a catatonic Raven behind.

"Mim, I had to go but Tessa will be coming by to watch over you so that you don't work yourself too much."

Great, I left a warden and landed on two new different jailers.

"I specifically asked you not to do anything to her. What was that about?" I tilted my head in Raven's direction.

She shrugged, "Nothing but an awkward chat between strangers." Arms crossed, she regarded me warily. "Why are you protecting her? Do you like her?"

My heart constricted and I'm gasping for words.

"I will do what I think is best for you, Mim. Even if that means cutting down Raven Deschanel," Rue just hugged me then stood on tipped toes to kiss my cheeks. "Otherwise, you have to think of what you want and take it for yourself."

What do I want?

"Where are you going?" I pushed the thoughts away.

"Sparring," she had that same look she had during that park incident.

She's doing something else.

"Be careful," I told her.

"Live a happy life with your baby." She laid a hand on my belly. "I know that this baby will have a better childhood than us because I, for one, will be sure to spoil little Mim rotten."