Chaos (Phoenix Undercover #2) by C.A. Harms Page B

telling her to walk head-on into traffic and do us all a favor. It was hard, but I managed. Now as I walked out of the elevator on the eighth floor of my building, I wanted nothing more than to take a long shower and climb into my PJs.
    As I placed my key into the lock, a deep voice from behind me caused me to jump. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”
    I turned around to find Lance approaching from the other end of the hall. “What are you doing here?”
    “I, uh.” He cleared his throat. “I was hoping we could talk. I followed Brook earlier and have been waiting around for you to show up. She yelled at me, threatened to kick me so hard in the nuts I’d choke on my balls, and then she slammed the door in my face. She is a whole lot scarier than I remember her being, but I wasn’t sure how else to reach you.”
    “What is there to talk about, Lance? You said all I needed to hear the other day.” I held my keys tightly in my hand and hoped this situation would quickly end.
    “I know I was wrong, Gabby. I hurt you, and I will never forgive myself for that. I just want a chance to explain better. A chance to maybe be friends.”
    I struggled with how to respond. I didn’t want to come across as a bitch, but I honestly didn’t need anything more from Lance. And as for being friends, I didn’t think that would ever be a possibility.
    “Now is not a good time. I’ve had a really long day, and I’m starving.” I tried to let him down easily.
    “I could take you to dinner.” He looked back at me hopefully.
    My stomach growled loudly, and I placed my hand over my belly. This action only made the small bump more noticeable, and I saw the moment Lance saw it.
    “Oh wow,” he said. “You’re, uh…” His eyes widened just a bit before he recovered. “You’re having a baby.”
    “Yes, I am,” I said.
    “So you’re married?” he asked, and sadness washed over me.
    But before I could answer, Audrey spoke from behind me. “Well, look who showed up. You do know that you’re a few years too late? The idea of a wedding is to show up when all the guests are waiting.”
    Lance offered a nod. “Hello, Audrey.”
    “Oh, please stop with the pleasantries. I don’t plan on being nice.” I cringed because he had already suffered Brooklyn’s wrath, and Audrey’s would be just as bad. “You’re an asshole, Lance, and the last thing I’m going to do is let Gabby be sucked back into your world of fucked-up craziness.”
    She reached around me and unlocked the door. I saw the two bags of Chinese food in her hand, and my stomach begged for it. I think I even sniffed the air. Of course she laughed when she noticed and looked back over at Lance. “I brought dinner, and unfortunately for you, food trumps your bullshit. So I’m going to take her inside and feed my little niece or nephew, and you can leave the way you came in.”
    She nudged me forward, and I offered Lance a sympathetic look. But honestly I wasn’t that sorry that Audrey had a go at him too.
    Once the door was closed and she placed the food on the counter, Audrey turned to face me. “What the hell was that tool doing here?”
    I shrugged and went straight for the bag of food. “I don’t know and I don’t care. I’m just glad you came along when you did, because I was running out of patience.”
    “When the hell did he get back to New York? Wasn’t he living in Miami or something?” she asked as she began to pull out the cartons and place them on the counter before us.
    I shrugged and mumbled around the eggroll I was currently devouring. “Not sure,” I said, placing a hand over my mouth to keep from spitting my food out. “Brook and I ran into him yesterday, and apparently he thinks he has more to say. I personally don’t care, but I was trying to be nice.”
    “Hell with being nice, Gabby. He left you the night before you were supposed to be married. He doesn’t deserve a chance to explain. Lance is an asshole.” She dared me to