by Krista Lakes
“He did that to a lot of girls,” I said slowly.
“Yeah, but I didn't think it was going to happen to me. I thought I was in love,” she scoffed. “I thought he'd at least give me the time of day, but he refused to even acknowledge my presence for the rest of the year. It was humiliating.”
“I'm sorry, Tessa.” The antagonism between her and James suddenly made so much more sense now. I had often wondered why James ignored her whenever he walked into a room and she was there. Now I knew. It also explained why she would say he was hot one minute, but then hate on him the next second. It even made sense as to why she was so hung up on the idea of James being the father of Audrey's baby. After her experience, she must think that he was a real love 'em and leave 'em kind of guy.
All the pieces came together perfectly. James had been a real jerk in high school. He was an ass and a player, and I had no doubt that Tessa's story was true. I'd heard similar stories from plenty of other girls throughout the years. There was a good reason why all his ex's hated him.
“I just don't want that to happen to you,” Tessa said after a moment. “You're my friend, and I just don't want you to get hurt.”
“I really appreciate that, Tessa.” I looked over at James. He was smiling down at the beautiful baby on his chest with such softness and sweetness in his eyes that my heart ached. I touched my own belly, knowing that soon he would be looking that way at our child. “He won't hurt me, though.”
“I hope you're right.” I heard her take a deep breath. “Anyway, when I saw that in the paper this morning, I thought you should know. I feel like we've been keeping a lot of secrets from one another.”
I nodded, even though she couldn't see me. I had been keeping what James and I were doing a secret. I was keeping the baby a secret. I thought about telling her about the pregnancy, but decided not to. At least not right now, not today.
“Tessa, I'd love to meet up with you tomorrow,” I said instead of telling her everything. “I'm in town, but James is making a statement tonight and I have to get ready for it. Can I see you tomorrow? I'll tell you everything then.”
I held my breath waiting for her answer. Tomorrow, I could tell her that James and I were a couple because it would be out in the public. Today, until the statement went out, that information was still covered under the non-disclosure agreement I had signed. I didn't think that James would really hold me to it, but I didn't want to jeopardize his trust in me either.
“Okay,” she said after a moment. “I just wanted to get his off my chest. Thank you for not being mad.”
I laughed. It would be pretty petty of me to be angry at her for sleeping with my brother four years ago. I could even understand why she hadn't told me. She, more than anyone, knew that I had the hots for James. How awkward must it have been for her to keep that secret for that long?
“I'm glad we're friends, Tessa.” I meant it too. “I have a feeling that I'm going to need friends soon.”
“We'll always be friends, Allie,” Tessa assured me. “I'll see you tomorrow, okay?”
“Okay. See you later.”
I slowly brought the phone down from my ear and stared at Tessa's picture. I certainly hadn't seen that coming. I looked over at James and shook my head. He was making silly faces at the baby. I loved him with all my heart, even if he had slept with my best friend years ago.
I looked down at my watch and groaned. It was time to get ready. It was time for James to make a statement for the press.
We were about to go public.
Chapter Forty-Six
“You look great,” James said, kissing my cheek.
“I don't feel great,” I replied, glancing down at myself one last time. I wore a black, high-waisted pencil skirt and a flowing, light blue chiffon blouse. I looked professional, even if I felt like I was going to be sick. I wasn't entirely sure it was all just nerves. Being pregnant didn't exactly sit well with my stomach.
“Fake it then,” James advised me. He did a once over my body, his eyes dilating slightly and he licked his lips. “Because you look sexy as hell.”
“Maybe you just like that I'm carrying your baby,” I teased. I definitely liked when he looked at me like that. Hungry. Powerful. Possessive.
He moved over to me, looming over me and looking down at me like he might gobble me up in one bite. “Fuck yes, I do.” I shivered and he grinned before stepping back.
“Hold on. Your tie is crooked.” I reached up and straightened it. The motion felt familiar and right. Like this was how we were supposed to be.
I smoothed the silk tie down his chest, making sure it hung straight. He put his hands over mine and brought them to his lips.
“This is going to be fine,” he promised. “I'll take care of you.”
I looked up into his green eyes and knew he meant it. He would never let me down. He would never let our baby down. I nodded, feeling a little more confident. He took my hand in his and we walked out of the hotel room and downstairs to where the reporters were waiting.
***
I'd never seen so many people in my life wanting to get a picture of me. As soon as James and I stepped into the conference room, flashbulbs went off in a strobe like pattern. The world moved in bits and pieces, jumping from one flash of light to the next. James walked through it like it was nothing.
I followed, holding onto his hand like a life line to the podium. As we approached, he gave me one last squeeze before stepping up to the microphone. I stood behind him, folding my hands together in front of me and doing my best to smile and not look like I was about to puke.
“Thank you all for coming,” James started. “I'm sure you all have some questions, which I will answer after my statement.”
More flashes went off and every reporter in the room held up their recording device. James smiled as if this were nothing more than a room full of friends. I envied his easy confidence as he grinned at the cameras pointed right at him and charmed who ever was on the other side.
“I'm sure you've all seen the news today, or you wouldn't be here. I'm dating my stepsister.” James paused, waiting for the room to start breathing again. “Now, I'm sure to some of you, that statement is a bit crazy, but I'd like to take this chance to explain.”
Every reporter held their recorders up a little higher.
“Allie and I didn't grow up together. We don't have the same parents. The only thing that links us is that my mother and her father fell in love while we were in high school.” He smiled around the room. I didn't know how he did it. I was shaking in my shoes. “Now, I'm sure you can imagine how two hormonal, non-related teenagers felt about being under the same roof and being asked not to act on those hormones.”
A chuckle of laughter went through the room.
“We did our best to stay apart. We tried for four years to tell ourselves that these feelings were just hormones. That we weren't feeling something real.” He looked around the room, making eye contact with each and every reporter. “Now, after four years, we've realized that that isn't going to work. We're not teenagers anymore. We're adults. And those feelings only got stronger.”
He turned and held out his hand for me. I took it without hesitation. His green eyes pulled me into him, stronger than any magnet.
“There are those who might say this is wrong,” he said, turning back to the podium. “What's wrong about it? We're in love. We plan on getting married. How are we any different than any other couple our age?”
My heart stalled and warmth spread out behind my breast bone. We plan on getting married. In my heart, I wanted that, but I had never had the guts to even think it. It was always something too far away and impossible to even dream of. My imaginary futures with James had never gotten that far. But now that I heard him say it, I wanted it. I wanted it more than anything.
“As adults, our parents no longer define us. I run a billion-dollar corporation. My mother has no say in it. Allie is earning her degree, yet her father isn't the one dictating her cla
sses. So, I ask you, why should their marriage define us? Their marriage is for them, not for us. I can honestly say that if we had been given the choice five years ago on who they should marry, we both would have chosen someone different.”
I smiled. I liked Nancy, but there was no way I would have ever set her up on a date with my dad. There was no way I would have chosen to make James my stepbrother.
“But we didn't get that choice. We respected it, because we love our parents and want them to be happy, but it was not our choice. We don't get to chose who we love. We just love them.” James turned and looked at me, his eyes sincere and bright. “And I love Allie.”
I beamed at him. More flashes went off as we gazed lovingly into one another's eyes. They were eating the presentation of reluctant lovers up with a spoon. This was going as planned. All that was left now was the question and answer part, which unfortunately the part that made me nervous.
James turned back to the crowd, my hand tightly wrapped up in his. “Now, I'll be happy to answer a couple of questions.”
Every reporter in the room's hand shot up.
Audrey stepped out from the side of the room. I hadn't even noticed her there, but she was dressed professionally. She pointed to a man in a dark suit.
“Do you have any idea who leaked the photos and why they would do such a thing?”
“That's an excellent question,” James said. “I am having it looked into. Right now, we believe it was a disgruntled employee. As to the why, I don't wish to speculate, but these kinds of photos and stories are very lucrative. Next question.”
More hands. Again, Audrey picked one out.
“How long has this relationship been going on?”
James squeezed my hand. “Over a month. We wanted to continue to keep it quiet, as I'm sure you can appreciate. Unfortunately, this employee betrayed not only my trust but all common decency. We hadn't even told our parents yet when the news broke. Next question.”
Audrey stepped out, carefully searching the crowd before selecting a reporter. I had a sneaking suspicion that she had pre-screened many of these questions, yet for all intents and purposes, it looked like a real question and answer session. I was impressed with her abilities so far.
“How are your parents taking the news?”
James looked sadly down at the podium. “I don't know yet. We had wanted to tell them ourselves. I'm sure they've always suspected we had feelings for one another, but they didn't know that we had started dating. Unfortunately, they found out this morning reading the news paper just like everybody else. With all the publicity surrounding us, we haven't had a chance to sit down with them and have a discussion like every other couple would. That chance was stolen from us.”
More cameras flashed and I leaned into James as if offering him support.
“Last question,” Audrey announced. “You, in the gray skirt.”
“What do you want people to know about this? About you two?”
It was such a softball question, I knew that they had pre-selected these questions. That was James though, controlling everything so he came out on top.
“Thank you for that question,” he started. I tried not to roll my eyes. He'd make a great politician if he ever decided to change careers. “I want people to know that we're no different than any other young couple in love. We're nervous to tell our parents, we're excited for the future, and we have dreams for what will happen next in our lives. Our parents' late-in-life marriage has nothing to do with us. Feel free to report that billionaire James Coleman is off the market, but that's really the only news story here.”
The camera flashes were blinding. It was like being caught in a strobe light convention. I just held onto James and smiled, hoping that I didn't look too much like a deer in the headlights.
“Thank you all for coming,” Audrey called out. “That's it for tonight. If you have any other questions, you can direct them to Mr. Coleman's press secretary. Thank you.”
James turned and pulled me away from the flashing lights, away from the mess of reporters. I followed him, doing my best not to trip on my own two feet out of a big heavy door with two big guards on either side into an empty hallway.
With the doors firmly closed behind us, James pulled me into a kiss. It reminded me of the passion of our first kiss, our lips meeting so strongly that I was sure they would come out bruised. I pressed my entire body against him, wanting more.
He pulled back, breathless. “Well, there's one good thing that came out of all this.”
“And what's that?”
He grinned, pressing me into the wall and taking another hungry kiss from my lips. “Now I can kiss you whenever I want.”
And kiss me he did.
Epilogue
“Here comes another contraction,” I whined, closing my eyes as the pain in my middle started again. Bands of muscle contracted around my waist as my body attempted to start labor.
“That one was fifty seconds,” Anne announced as I sucked in a breath once the pain stopped.
I had no idea this was going to hurt this much. If I had known the level of pain involved, I might not have been so eager to get pregnant. And this was just the beginning. I knew it was only going to get worse as time went on.
“How far apart are they?” I asked, putting a hand on my stomach. Nine months. Forty weeks. 284 days. My due date was four days ago and I couldn't wait any longer. I wanted my body back and my baby in my arms.
“Five minutes apart on the nose,” Anne said, checking her phone. “You can go to the hospital now if you want.”
I thought of how the searing pain was going to come back as my body squeezed down again in about three more minutes. I had intended on having a drug-free labor, but now that it was actually happening, I was debating how much I wanted drugs. An epidural suddenly didn't sound near as scary as it had.
“Crap- here comes another one.” The pain stole my breath and it took everything I had to breathe through it.
“That one was a whole minute and only three minutes apart, Allie. I think it's time.” Anne looked me up and down. “I can tell you that right now, I am really really glad I'm into girls and don't have to worry about getting knocked up by accident.”
I glared at her. “We have to get James first. I'm not going to the hospital without him.”
She sighed and checked her watch. “He's in a meeting. That's why we're sitting here in the coffee shop waiting for him.”
I pointed to my stomach. “I don't think he knows Daddy's busy right now. Just drive me to his office and I'll go get him.”
Anne opened her mouth to object, but I crumpled as another wave of contracting pain stole every breath and coherent thought from me. It was supposed to get worse than this? I wasn't sure how people survived this.
“Get in the car.” Anne said as she paled a little. “You just keep getting stronger and more close together. At this rate, I'm scared your going to just pop right here in the middle of the shop.”
I took her hand and she walked me out to her car. Luckily, she was parked directly in front of the shop.
I was glad she had agreed to escort me around. Since three days ago, James had been paying Anne to be with me when he couldn't. He also made sure that there was always a car of some sort available within a few feet of wherever I was. At first I had thought it was overkill, but now, I was incredibly grateful.
Anne gunned the engine. “You sure you don't want to just go to the hospital? James can meet us there.”
“HIS OFFICE!” I yelled.
“Yes, ma'am,” Anne replied. “Note to self, never argue with a woman giving birth.”
She floored it and arrived at the entrance to James' office in record time. I suspected she was afraid I would give birth right there in the car if she didn't hurry.
I unbuckled my seat-belt and opened my door.
“How about I just go get him?” she offered. I shot a death glance at her. “Okay, never mind. I'll wait here.” She put her hands up on the
steering wheel and looked straight ahead.
I waddled into the front lobby of James' office building, feeling like I'd never even fit through the doorway.
Audrey was sitting at the main desk, her eyes going wide as soon as she saw me. It was the same desk Lauren used to work at, but Audrey now ruled it like a queen. I remembered seeing Lauren's picture in the paper when she was indicted. Not only had she violated her non-disclosure agreement and sold the pictures of James and I for a mere hundred grand, she had also stolen fifty thousand dollars of advertising money from the company. She was in big, big trouble.
I like Audrey at that desk much better.
“Where is he?” I growled, holding my belly and hoping I didn't dissolve into another contraction in the middle of the lobby.
“In the meeting room.” Audrey pointed across the lobby.
I nodded, already halfway there. I needed James to be there when I had this baby. If it hurt this bad already, there was no way I was going to be able to do this without his encouragement.
I nearly kicked open the door to his meeting room. At first, he turned and glared at the intruder until he saw it was me. Of course, that was when another contraction hit. I crumpled forward, trying to visualize a flower opening or some other nonsense that was supposed to help with the pain.
“Is it time?” he asked, ignoring his meeting and rushing to my side. I hissed with pain and glared at him.
“Nah, I'm just practicing for a play,” I said when I could finally speak again.
His normally calm face blanched slightly and he took my arm. “Meeting's over,” he called back behind him as we left the conference room.
Anne was bouncing in the driver's seat as James practically carried me to the car. It was almost humorous how much more nervous Anne and James were than I was. This was the part that couldn't be stopped. There was nothing left for me to do now but survive the pain and push, though from the nervous flutterings of Anne and James, it seemed a lot more important.