by J. S. Cooper
***
“So you think Luke might be the father of the baby?” Alice’s jaw dropped as we sat in a booth at our local diner and ate mozzarella sticks.
“Yes, it’s the only thing that makes any sort of sense.” I nodded. “Every time I bring Luke’s name up, he acts funny.” I sat back. “Crazy right?”
“I can’t believe it.” She shook her head. “I knew he was a dog, but damn.”
“I know, but we know he’s shady because he cheated on you with Joanna.”
“I wonder if he hooked up with Gabby while he was dating me as well?” She shuddered. “He’s fucking gross.”
“Tell me about it.” I sipped on my coke. “She’s such a slut.”
“And now she’s marrying my man.” I made a face.
“Why is Xander marrying her again?” Alice made a face. “It’s not like it’s his baby.”
“I guess he and Luke are good friends. And well it helps him out as well.”
“They can’t be that good friends.” Alice said. “I never even heard his name before.”
“I know, I was thinking about that as well.” I said with a sigh. “So many things don’t make sense.”
“Oh my God.” Alice leaned forward. “Don’t look now, but Gabby just came into the diner.”
“Oh no.” I groaned.
“And she’s with Henry.”
“Henry?” My voice rose and I couldn’t stop myself from looking over towards the entrance. My jaw dropped as I watched Gabby and Henry walking to a booth, with his arm on her back, tenderly stroking her. “What the fuck is going on?” I turned back to Alice. “Are we in the Twilight Zone?”
“Maybe?” She shook her head and I could see she looked dazed as well. “I’m seriously confused here.”
“Me too.” And then suddenly it hit me. “What if Henry is the dad?”
“What?” She frowned.
“What if Henry is the baby daddy.” I nodded as the idea started to make sense. “Maybe Xander is marrying her because Henry doesn’t want to, but they figure Xander can because of the inheritance and stuff and this way they make sure the baby is taken better care of.”
“I guess that could make sense.” She nodded. “I did wonder why Henry was there last weekend.”
“It was odd right? And he kept talking about babies.” I nodded. “Shit, I should become a detective.” I said excitedly. “Frigging Henry is the dad.”
“But what about Luke?” Alice frowned.
“Who knows?” I shrugged and we both looked at Gabby and Henry smiling and flirting on the other side of the restaurant. “Wait a second, I’m getting a call.” I grabbed my phone from my bag and pulled it out. “Hello.”
“Hey you.” Xander’s voice sounded smooth and sexy.
“Hey you back.” I smiled into the phone. “It’s Xander.” I mouthed towards Alice and she grinned.
“What are you doing?”
“Alice and I are eating.”
“Will you be done soon?” He asked softly. “I want to see you.”
“Well, I’m with Alice...” My voice trailed off as I looked at my friend.
“It’s fine.” She mouthed to me. “I’m going to go home and do my nails.”
“You sure?” I asked with a frown.
“Positive.” She nodded. “Go and get the dirt from Xander.”
“Okay.” I grinned. “You still there, Xander.”
“Yes.”
“Okay, I’m downtown. Come and meet me at the bookstore on Steamer Avenue in an hour.”
“Okay. I’ll see you there in an hour.” He said and hung up.
“We’re meeting in an hour.”
“Sounds good.” Alice grinned. “I can’t wait to find out what’s going on.”
“I already told you.” I grinned back at her.
“Okay Sherlock.” She laughed and I winked at her, excited to see Xander and find out what decision he had made.
***
“I missed you today.” Xander kissed me and twirled me around.
“I missed you too.” I said giddily, happy to see him. “So before we go any further, I have a question to ask you.”
“Okay...?” He looked at me with a curious expression.
“Is Henry, Gabby’s baby daddy?” I rushed out and Xander’s expression looked shocked.
“How did you know?”
“I knew it!” I fist pumped. “Scotland Yard here I come.”
“You’re moving to England” He teased me.
“No.” I rolled my eyes and laughed. “But seriously, he’s the baby daddy?”
“We’re not sure. We think so.” He sighed. “Do not tell anyone this, but it’s either Henry or Luke.”
“What?” My jaw dropped. “They had a gangbang?”
“Liv.” He laughed and shook his head. “No, they didn’t.”
“Then how?” I asked quickly.
“She slept with them both.” He sighed. “But based on the dates, we’re pretty confident that Henry is the father.”
“Oh wow.” I chewed on my lower lip. “That’s crazy.”
“I take it Gabby didn’t tell you all this.”
“No she didn’t.” I said with a laugh. “I didn’t know she was such a slut.”
“Liv.” He admonished me.
“What? I’m just saying.” I giggled as we walked through the bookstore.
“Well now you understand why this is all so complicated.” He sighed as we stopped in the self-help section.
“No why?” I frowned.
“Henry slept with her, but he doesn’t want a relationship with her. He doesn’t want to be tied to her, but he does want a life with his kid. This seemed to be a perfect solution. I get to marry someone and gain control of the company and Henry gets to have a relationship with his child.”
“Okay.” My breathing slowed at his words.
“So this marriage really solves two problems.”
“So what are you saying, Xander? You don’t want to end the engagement?”
“We would only be married for a year. That’s the amount of time I need to be married before I can gain control of the company.”
“So you want to marry my sister and sleep with me on the side?”
“You wouldn’t be on the side.” He exclaimed angrily. “There is nothing between me and Gabby, you know that. This is just a business transaction.”
“I don’t believe this.” I shook my head and sighed. “I can’t believe you.”
“What?”
“Nothing. I’m done.” I took a step back. “I’m just so done.”
“What? Look if you want me to end it then I will. I was just saying that—”
“Forget it, Xander. I don’t want you to do anything you don’t want to do. I want you to end the engagement with Gabby because you can’t go on one more second living a farce. I don’t want you to do it because I made you.”
“Don’t be mad Liv.” He reached out to grab my arm and I pushed him away.
“Of course I’m mad.” I shouted at him. “Just go home to Gabby and play happy families and leave me out of it.” I ran out of the store and turned my phone off. Was it too much to ask for him to want to make the right decision by himself? Was it really too much to expect? Was I being unreasonable not wanting to share his bed while he was married to my sister? I mean really? Did he really think that was an acceptable solution? Who in their right mind would ever think that was a good plan?
Chapter Twelve
Alice and I both sighed as we walked up to the front door of my parents’ house.
“Thanks for coming.” I offered her a weak smile. “You really didn’t have to.”
“It’s fine. I wanted to be able to support you today.” She took a deep breath. “Plus who cares what Aiden or Xander have to say. We’re here because your parents requested you. You’re not here for them or even stupid Gabby.”
“Let’s do this.” I opened the front door and we walked into the house. Everyone was there, incl
uding Henry and Xander. And I just stood there with a fake smile on my face. I wasn’t going to act like I cared that he hadn’t called me in the last two weeks. I didn’t care that I hadn’t heard from him since the bookstore. He could do what he wanted to do. He meant nothing to me. If he could forget me that easily, I could do the same. “Hey everyone.”
“Hey sis.” Scott jumped up and gave me a hug and then he turned to Alice and gave her a kiss on the cheek. I noticed Aiden glaring at them and wondered exactly what had gone down between him and Alice as she still hadn’t told me.
“So what’s so important that we had to come this weekend?” I looked at Gabby and she gave me an evil smile.
“I’m home.” She smiled. “That’s what’s so important.”
“What?” My jaw dropped. “I had to come home just because you’re here.”
“Yes.” She grinned. “Isn’t life grand, but just in case anyone wanted to hang out with me later today, I’m going out with a few girlfriends.”
“Okay.” I rolled my eyes.
“We’re celebrating my upcoming wedding.”
“Okay.” I looked at Xander and he gave me a short smile. I turned away and looked at Scott. “So what plans do you have this weekend?”
“Whatever you want to do.” He grinned and I smiled at him gratefully.
Ding Dong.
“Who’s that?” Aiden jumped up with a frown. “Is anyone expecting anyone?”
“Not me.” I shook my head and noticed that Alice was blushing. “Alice?” I asked her softly.
“Uhm, yes.” She squeaked out.
“Who?” I frowned.
“Don’t kill me.” She mouthed and I scratched my head. What was she talking about?
“Liv.” Aiden’s voice sound stiff and angry as he walked back into the living room.
“Yes?” I snapped at him and frowned at the two burly guys behind him. “What?”
“These guys are here for you and Alice.” He looked at her with a cold mask. “They said they’re here to join you for the weekend.”
“What?” I was confused.
“Brock and Jock, there you are.” Alice ran to one of the big burly guys and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “We’re so glad you made it, aren’t we Liv?” She gave me a look and I nodded slowly.
“Uh yeah, sure.” I walked over to Alice with a questioning look and she turned to everyone. “Brock and Jock are two guys we’ve been dating and we wanted everyone to meet them.”
“Oh yeah, haha.” I laughed and faked a wide smile. “So glad you made it Brock.” I kissed the other guy on the cheek and he stared at me like a robot.
“I’m Jock.” He said stiffly.
“I know that, I was just teasing you honey.” I linked my arm through his and looked over at Xander who was glaring at me.
“Brock and Jock?” Gabby asked with a laugh. “Nice names.”
“We’re brothers.” Jock said and I wished I could tell him to keep his mouth shut. Where had Alice picked these guys up from?
“And we love to double-date, don’t we?” Alice said with a wide smile. “And have sleepovers.” She said and giggled and I could see Aiden looking even angrier as he walked away from us.
“Good for you.” Gabby flipped her hair. “I’m glad you two losers have found guys that can put up with you.”
“Shut up, Gabby.” I shouted at her and she looked at me with a raised eyebrow.
“Or what?” She said sweetly.
“Ugh.” I groaned. “Nothing.”
“That’s what I thought.” She laughed and then leaned down and gave Xander a kiss on the cheek. “I’m going out. See you later, okay baby?”
“See you, Gabby.” He said, but his eyes never left my face. “Liv can we talk?”
“No.” I shook my head. “Let’s go out Jock and Brock. We’ll be back later.”
“You just got here.” Scott said with a frown.
“Well we’re going out now.” I snapped and grabbed Jock’s hand. “Let’s go guys.”
We all hurried out of the front door and I turned to Alice. “What were you thinking?”
“I was thinking we’d have two hot guys here to make us feel better and make those two fools jealous.”
“And the best you could do were Brock and Jock?” I said quietly. “They look like mountain men.”
“They’re strippers.” She giggled. “They were the best I could do.”
“Oh Alice.” I groaned. “What should we do?”
“Tell them to go home and go to the mall and then go and get a drink?”
“That sounds like a good idea to me.” I nodded in agreement. We gave the two brothers $40 and then hopped into my car and drove to the local mall.
***
“I love retail therapy.” I grinned happily as we made our way into the wine bar with our hands full of bags.
“So do I.” She nodded. “Though my credit card doesn’t agree.”
“Neither does mine.” I laughed. “But that’s a worry for next month when the bill arrives.”
“You speak the truth.” She said and we ordered a bottle of Chardonnay. “Until the bill arrives then we are fine.”
“Exactly.”
“Oh my God.” She groaned and I frowned.
“What?”
“You won’t believe who’s here?” She sighed.
“Who?” My face paled. “Please don’t say Gabby and Xander?”
“No, well, you’re half right. Gabby is here with a bunch of girls.”
“Oh great.” I made a face and then watched as Alice frowned.
“Okay, this is weird, but she’s drinking wine, I think.” Her eyes narrowed and she gasped. “She is definitely drinking wine.”
“What the fuck?” I turned around. “She can’t drink alcohol! She’s pregnant.”
“What’s she doing?” Alice frowned. “She’s such a selfish bitch.”
“I’m going to go and tell her off.” I jumped up, furious with Gabby. What the fuck was she playing at? “What do you think you’re doing?” I screamed as I approached a giggling Gabby.
“Oh hi, Liv.” She grinned. “I’m showing Shannon my ring.”
“I don’t care what you’re showing her?” I shouted at her again and picked up her glass and sniffed. “This is wine. Why are you drinking?”
“What?” She frowned.
“You can’t drink Gabby.”
“What?” She grabbed her glass and sipped some wine in front of me. “Says who?”
“What about the baby?” I said softly. “How can you do this to the baby?”
“I’m not pregnant.” She laughed and sat back.
“What?” My jaw dropped. “What about Xander and Henry and the baby and the engagement? What do you mean you’re not pregnant?”
“Oh Liv.” She shook her head. “You don’t get it do you?” She sipped some more wine.
“Get what?”
“Luke and I had a relationship. Well, we had sex.” She grinned. “Don’t tell Alice, but it started when they were dating.”
“Oh my God.” My eyes widened. “What?”
“Yeah, he’s pretty good in bed.” She grinned. “Who was I to say no?”
“Oh Gabby.” I shook my head.
“Well then he met that bitch Joanna.” She got angry. “And instead of being with me, he dumped Alice and started dating her.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” She shrugged. “We still fucked. And I had hoped he would come to his senses.”
“But then, what about Henry?” I asked softly.
“Oh, he was Luke’s friend. I met him one night and tried to make Luke jealous.” She shrugged. “He was okay. I didn’t care about him.”
“Why did you lie about the baby?”
“I wanted to make Luke call off the wedding.” Her face grew sad. “I thought he’d call it off to marry me if he thought I was pregnant with his baby.”
“Oh.”
“But stupid Henry told him
we fucked and somehow they ended up thinking it was his. And well, next thing I know Xander is offering me money to marry him as long as he and Henry can be in the baby’s life.”
“And you let them believe there was still a baby.”
“He gave me this huge rock and promised me a lot of cash.” She shrugged. “Who was I to say no?”
“But there’s no baby, Gabby. You can’t just lie and think that’s okay.”
“What do you care?” She drank some more wine.
“I can’t believe you did that. I thought you were pregnant. Everyone thinks you’re having Henry’s baby.”
“I’m not stupid, Liv. I’m on the pill.” She tossed her hair. “Do you really think I’d have unsafe sex and risk having a baby and ruining my perfect figure right now?”
“You’re a selfish bitch.”
“Thank you.” She grinned and drank some more wine. “And salute to you too.”
“Whatever.” I shook my head and walked away from her, my head thudding as I joined Alice again.
“What’s going on?” She asked softly as I sat down with her. “What did she say?”
“She’s not pregnant.” I said in a daze. “She’s not pregnant, Alice.”
“No way.” She looked at me with a shocked expression. “So she lied.”
“Yes, she lied to all of us.” I rubbed my forehead and closed my eyes for a second.
“Are you okay, Liv?” Alice grabbed my hands and I opened my eyes slowly and nodded.
“Yeah, I’m okay.”
“You don’t look fine.”
“It’s just something she said, it got me thinking.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m not on the pill.”
“So?” Alice shrugged. “Does that matter?”
“I had sex with Xander.”
“So? He used condoms right?”
“Not the last couple of times.” I shook my head and buried my face in my hands and groaned. “How could I be such an idiot Alice? He came in me several times.” I whined and then looked up at her. “Gabby’s not pregnant, but what if I am?”
“What do you want to do?”
“Let’s go home.”
“To your parents’ house?”
“No, let’s go to the apartment.”
“Don’t you want to tell Xander what you found out?”
