Chapter 127

Professor Shields’ eyes sharpened, the polite mask she wore in class long gone. She stepped close enough that Abigail could feel the heat of her breath over the thump of bass from the club.

“I can do a lot for you if you just let me,” Shields murmured, her perfume cloying, her fingers daring to press lightly against Abigail’s chest. “All you have to do is stand there… just say yes.”

Abigail’s chest tightened, her voice cutting through the fog with iron steadiness. “No, thank you. And I think you should stop.”

Shields tilted her head, her smirk curling like a challenge. “Or what?”

Abigail’s hand slid into her pocket and came back up with her phone, the screen glowing as Emma’s name lit across the display. She held it between them like a shield. “Or Emma—my fiancée, the mother of my child—is already on the phone. She’s on her way here. I suggest you leave before she gets here.”

For a fraction of a second, something wavered in Shields’ expression, but it snapped back into place almost instantly. With a quick, sharp motion, she snatched the phone from Abigail’s hand. Her fingers danced over the screen, ending the call and pulling up her own number. She dialed it through, waited for the buzz, then slid the phone back into Abigail’s palm.

“Got your number,” Shields said coolly, her voice laced with something darker.

Abigail’s jaw flexed as she tucked the phone away again. “Well, you’ll be blocked,” she snapped, pushing past her toward the door. “Now I’m leaving.”

But Shields’ hand shot out, fingers curling tightly around Abigail’s arm. Her voice lowered to a near-whisper, coaxing, venomous. “Come on, Abigail. Just one kiss. That’s all I’m asking.”

The bathroom door slammed open.

“One what?”

Emma stood in the doorway, her chest heaving, her eyes blazing with fury. Her hair was still slightly mussed from rushing, her cheeks flushed with adrenaline. The sight of Abigail cornered, Shields’ hand still gripping her arm, ignited something primal in her.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Emma growled, storming forward.

Shields flinched, ducking instinctively behind Abigail like a guilty child caught red-handed. “This isn’t what it looks like—”

“Don’t you dare,” Emma snapped, her voice sharp enough to cut glass. She tried to push forward, but Abigail caught her mid-stride, scooping her up into her arms as if she weighed nothing.

“Baby, no,” Abigail said firmly, her voice laced with urgency. She pressed her forehead to Emma’s, trying to ground her. “You are pregnant. You can’t fight.”

Emma writhed against her chest, her voice shaking with rage and hurt. “She touched you. She cornered you. She—”

“And I told her no,” Abigail cut in quickly, her grip tightening protectively around Emma. Her voice dropped low, steady, unshakable. “I told her no, and I meant it. You’re the only one I want. The only one I love. That’s all that matters.”

Emma’s chest rose and fell rapidly, her eyes searching Abigail’s, the fury slowly cracking under the weight of her reassurance. She kissed Abigail hard, fierce, like claiming her right there in that space.

Then—

“Well, well,” a new voice cut in. Footsteps echoed against the hallway tile, slow and deliberate. Ashley appeared around the corner, her posture sharp, her eyes narrowing the second they landed on Shields cowering behind Abigail.

Ashley’s gaze slid over to Emma, then to Abigail, then back to Shields. Her lips curved into something dangerous. “See, I’m not pregnant,” she said evenly, her voice carrying the weight of a challenge. “So what’s up?”

She stepped further into the room, her presence alone shifting the air. Shields’ eyes darted between her and Abigail, calculation flashing across her features, but Ashley didn’t falter. 

Ashley’s steps echoed against the tile as she approached, her eyes locked on Shields like a predator closing in. She stopped just a foot away, her voice sharp and cutting.

“So, you don’t know the answer no?” Ashley’s tone dripped with venom. “And you disrespect my girl Emma because you know she’s pregnant and can’t do anything about it?”

Shields’ composure faltered for a moment, her mouth opening and closing without a word.

Ashley’s jaw tightened. “See, I, however, can do something.”

In one swift motion, she reached out and grabbed a fistful of Shields’ top, yanking her forward. Her other hand rose, ready to strike. The bathroom air crackled with the raw energy of it—the moment teetering on the edge of explosion.

Before her hand could fall, Megan burst through the doorway, her sneakers squeaking against the tile. “Baby, no!” she shouted, wrapping both arms around Ashley’s waist and hauling her back against her. “We don’t need you going to jail over this.”

Ashley fought against her hold, her voice breaking with rage. “I don’t give a fuck!” Her hand still twitched in the air, the urge to strike Shields almost impossible to fight.

“Baby…” Megan leaned close, her voice low, steady, firm in a way only Ashley would listen to. “You are way too pretty to fight.”

Ashley turned her head sharply, her eyes still locked on Shields, but Megan was already kissing her—fast, soft pecks against her lips, one after the other, relentless and grounding. Ashley’s breathing hitched, her fists trembling before her arm finally dropped. Her anger still simmered, but her body melted into Megan’s hold, her lips parting just enough to accept Megan’s calm in place of her fury.

Abigail, still holding Emma close against her chest, shifted her gaze back to Shields. Her voice was sharp as a blade, low and steady. “I think you should go while you have the opportunity.”

Professor Shields froze in place, her mask finally cracking. Her eyes darted from Abigail—steady and protective with Emma still in her arms—to Megan, who had Ashley pressed tightly against her chest, restraining her with whispered words and soft kisses. Ashley’s glare was fire itself, promising chaos if Megan let go.

Shields swallowed hard. Her usual cool, collected confidence was gone, replaced with a flicker of panic. She opened her mouth, maybe to offer an excuse, maybe to backpedal—but the sight of Megan’s arms still wrapped around Ashley seemed to seal her choice.

Without another word, she spun on her heel, yanked the bathroom door open, and practically fled into the club. Her heels clicked fast against the tile until they disappeared into the muffled thunder of bass and neon.

The silence she left behind was thick, the kind that clung to skin. Abigail let out a slow, heavy breath. Emma’s arms were still locked around her neck, her cheek pressed against her shoulder. She hadn’t let go once, and Abigail could feel the tension thrumming in her body.

“Baby,” Abigail whispered, kissing the side of her head, “it’s over. She’s gone.”

Emma nodded faintly, but her hold only tightened. Abigail adjusted her grip, sliding an arm under her knees to cradle her fully. With Emma safely in her arms, she pushed open the bathroom door and stepped back into the strobing chaos of the club.

People were still laughing, dancing, shouting over the music. None of them knew what had just gone down a few feet away. To Abigail, the place felt suffocating. She pushed through the crowd with single-minded focus, her arms strong and steady beneath Emma’s weight.

Behind them, Megan did the same—Ashley tucked against her chest. Ashley’s head was on Megan’s shoulder, her arms still tense around her neck, muttering curses under her breath every few steps. Megan kept whispering in her ear, “It’s okay, baby. I’ve got you. Not here, not now,” all while planting calming kisses along her temple and cheek.

The four of them burst through the club’s double doors into the night air. The cool breeze rushed over them, sweeping away the heat and strobe of inside. Abigail pulled Emma closer, tucking her into her chest, while Emma nuzzled her face into the curve of Abigail’s neck.

“Thank you,” Emma murmured softly, her voice shaky but full of love.

Abigail pressed her lips to her forehead, holding her for a long moment under the neon glow of the club sign. “Always,” she whispered. “Always, baby.”

Across the lot, Megan shifted Ashley in her arms. Ashley was still fuming, her jaw tight, but her head leaned against Megan’s shoulder all the same. “I should’ve—” she started, but Megan cut her off with another kiss to her hair.

“No, you shouldn’t have,” Megan said softly but firmly. “Not tonight. Not worth it. I love you too much to see you hurt or locked up over her.”

Ashley sighed heavily, the fight still in her, but she melted a little more into Megan’s hold. “Doesn’t mean I wanted to let her walk away.”

“I know, baby,” Megan soothed. “But she’s gone. And we’re together. That’s what matters.”

Their cars were parked side by side. Abigail carefully lowered Emma into the passenger seat, fastening her seatbelt with gentle hands. She kissed her cheek before shutting the door and circling to the driver’s side. Emma’s eyes followed her every step, her hand pressed against the glass until Abigail was inside beside her.

Megan did the same with Ashley, though Ashley refused to let go of her hand until the last second, finally sliding into the seat with a frustrated sigh. Megan leaned down before closing the door, kissing her softly. “We’ll be home soon.”

The two cars pulled out of the lot almost in sync, their headlights slicing through the dark streets. The drive was quiet. In Abigail’s car, Emma rested her hand over Abigail’s on the console, her thumb stroking small circles as if grounding herself. Abigail drove one-handed, her other hand locked with Emma’s, eyes flicking between the road and her.

“You okay?” Abigail asked softly as they waited at a red light.

Emma turned her head, offering a small, tired smile. “I am now. Just… keep holding my hand.”

“You got it.”

In the other car, Megan kept glancing at Ashley, her hand rubbing slow circles on her thigh. Ashley stared out the window, jaw tight, but her fingers still twined with Megan’s. “You’re still mad,” Megan said gently.

Ashley let out a rough laugh. “Mad doesn’t even cover it. But…” She looked over, her eyes softening. “…I’m glad you were there. You stopped me before I did something stupid.”

Megan smirked faintly. “That’s what I’m here for. Keeping my girl out of trouble.”

By the time both cars pulled into the underground garage at the condo, the worst of the night had melted away. The four of them met at the elevators, silent but united. Emma leaned into Abigail’s side, her arm hooked around her waist, while Ashley laced her fingers through Megan’s, her head tilted toward her shoulder.