The Gate to Everything (Once Upon a Dare Book 1) by Ava Miles

back if you manage it.”
    After handing him the keys, she left him standing there with the reporters waiting for him outside.
    He had no idea what he was supposed to do now.

Chapter 8

    Grace spent a sleepless night lying in bed cupping her belly. Whenever the tabloid journalists surrounded her and Jordan, she felt caged in. Exposed. Now she realized their baby was going to be exposed as well. The worst part was that she had no idea how she was going to protect their child.
    She reaffirmed her resolve not to get back together with him. She’d slipped up yesterday. It wasn’t going to happen again.
    Jordan texted her early that morning, saying her car was back in her parking lot. He asked to come up and talk, but she couldn’t face him yet. She was too raw.
    When she finally got out of bed, she received another text from Jordan.
    Can you call me? The media is all over what happened yesterday. I bet reporters are outside your place and at the restaurant. I don’t want you going out alone.
    A sharp spasm shot across her belly, and she took a moment to breathe through the fear. Heavens, she’d prayed it was over, but Jordan had lost his cool—and so had she. Of course the sharks would come, Farley in particular. Heading over to the windows that faced the street, she cautiously looked through the blinds and gasped. There were at least five TV vans out there with a host of twenty or so reporters camped out.
    She texted Tony.
    I know you’re not at the restaurant, but expect some reporters. There was a thing yesterday.
    He immediately texted back.
    I saw it on the news this morning. I was just about to text you. Are you okay?
    She responded.  
    Working on it. Do you want me to stay home? I don’t want to make things tough for everyone.
    It wouldn’t be the first time reporters had lingered outside the restaurant. She usually stayed home in these situations—it was easier for everyone that way.
    Probably for the best. Rest. I’ll come over with something special later.  
    Tony always made sure she ate well.
    Her belly gripped again, and she felt something damp between her legs. Alarmed, she headed into the bathroom and froze when she noticed some heavy spotting.
    “No, no, no!” she called out, cupping her belly. “It’s okay. We’re okay. Don’t…”
    Don’t leave me.
    She called her mom in a panic. Though her mother did a good job of hiding the worry in her voice, Grace could sense it. Her advice was to call her doctor without delay, which Grace did. When she reached the nursing assistant, she relayed her symptoms and was told to come to the office immediately.  
    Since the reporters would likely recognize her car, she called for a cab and asked it to pick her up in the underground garage. She didn’t text Tony because she didn’t want to worry him until she knew more.  
    She didn’t text Jordan because they were following him around too, and he would insist on meeting her. Besides, her mom had said it was best to keep calm, and she just couldn’t deal with so many confusing feelings right now.
    No one followed her to the doctor’s office, thank goodness, and she was immediately ushered into an exam room. Dr. Jessica Saunders arrived moments later and examined her thoroughly. The spotting was serious, it turned out. Grace had placenta privia—a tear in the placenta. With full bed rest, Dr. Saunders was hopeful Grace would be able to carry to term.
    Grace hung her head, trying not to cry. It was her fault for reacting to the press like she had—she knew it. Dr. Saunders recommended as little stress as possible until she reached full term, not wanting to risk an early delivery. Right now that stress involved Jordan—and Grace’s heart broke for all of them. She was going to have to tell him she couldn’t see him for a while, especially given the media’s renewed interest in them. There was no way she would risk losing their baby.  
    It finally sunk in that she wasn’t going to be able to work, the