OLDER MAN: The Secretary's Secret Baby (Best Friend Brother Pregnancy Romance) (New Adult Sport Comedy Romance)

by Alexandra Stone

  I put on my best dress and curled my long brown hair. My sister Jessica had just arrived to babysit Jared while I went for coffee to meet Melissa and her fiancé. I was so anxious that my stomach was hurting.

  "How do I look?" I asked my sister.

  "You look exceptionally beautiful," she said standing up and helping me zip up the back of the dress. "You have nothing to worry about. Just calm down, and it's just coffee," she continued.

  "I know, I know. I should not be this nervous. It is just coffee, and it is just an old friend from high school. But you and I know that it is so much more than that. What I have to hide," I said as I turned and looked at Jared as he played on the floor with a basketball.

  "Yes, I guess that is a very stressful situation, but try not to think about it and keep the conversation light. They know that you have a son so that is a good excuse to say that you have to get home early and keep the coffee short. Just have one cup and then you can be on your way," Jessica said to me as she straightened out the hem of my dress and then gave me a hug.

  "Yes, that is a good idea. I will say that. The babysitter can only be around for an hour and a half or so that way I can leave in a timely manner," I said as a grab my purse and my keys. I went to Jared and gave him a big kiss and a hug and then I was on my way.

  I took a deep breath as I entered the coffee shop. I looked around and immediately saw Melissa standing next to a gorgeous man in a gray suit. She looked just as stunning as ever with long legs and long blonde hair. She had not changed much other then to look a little more sophisticated and grown-up. The man standing next to her had dark black hair and a mysterious New Yorker look to him. I stepped towards them as she caught sight of me.

  "Gina! I am so glad to see you," Melissa said as she practically ran to me and gave me a big hug. "This is my fiancé Danny," she said as he held out his hand and I shook it.

  "It is nice to meet you Danny. Melissa it is good to see you again," I said.

  "Come sit we already ordered three coffees," Melissa said as she grabbed my hand and led me over to a table.

  "Thank you," I said in regards to the coffee. Then as though to keep the spotlight off of me I started in with the questions. "What made you decide to get married in our small town? Where did you meet Danny? How did he propose? How is living in New York?" I went on and on with the questions. Melissa enthusiastically answered each question with a very long story about how her and Danny met. How he proposed, and why she insisted that she get married in the church that she grew up in. I smiled through all of the stories and asked follow up questions. It was just like high school all over again with Melissa talking a lot and me listening. This worked well for us in high school and it was working well now. Then she brought up the bridesmaid situation.

  "I have the dresses all picked out and you just need to stop by the tailor shop sometime in the next two to three days so that they can alter the dress for you. I am so happy that you were going to be one of my bridesmaids, I know we have grown apart these last few years but you are one of my best friends and I miss you," Melissa said in a very heartfelt and genuine manner.

  I held back tears as I did not want to start crying in the coffee shop but I felt the same way about her. I had always enjoyed her friendship, and it was my secret that had forced me to distance myself from her and I had always regretted it. Now talking to her it was like no time had passed at all and we still had that connection that we had for so long.

  "I feel the same way Melissa, and I will go get the dress altered I promise," I said as she grabbed my hand and squeezed it. Then the worst thing that I was dreading happened. She started to ask me questions.

  "So when do I get to meet your son, I am so excited to meet him. I can't believe you have a family already. You are way ahead of me, "she said enthusiastically. I was surprised at her demeanor and seeing my single motherhood as a family and a blessing. It was how I saw it also, except for the secret part.

  "Oh you are so busy with the wedding and everything I don't think he will have time to meet him. But hopefully at some point during the next two weeks you can," I said with a very vague way of answering her question. I feared that if she saw Jared she would know who the father was because the resemblance was unmistakable. However, I did not want to be rude.

  "You are right, we are very jam packed with the schedule and getting things done, but I'm sure I will get to see him at some point in the next two weeks," she said.

  "Yes, and actually now that you mention my son I think I have to get going as the babysitter will need to leave soon. I'm so sorry that I can't stay around much longer, but that's part of being a mother," I said as I stood up and gave her and her fiancé hugs.

  "That is fine we can catch up more at the luncheon," she said.

  "Luncheon?" I said.

  "Yes it is in two days, it was in the email I sent you with the wedding event schedule. Take a look at it when you can because I want you out all the events. My entire family will be there and I want you there too," she said.

  As soon as she said whole family, a flash of Matthew's face came to my mind. I tried not to show it on my face and I was not sure if I flinched or not.

  "Of course, I will be there," I said with a smile and then I made my way out of the coffee shop. I sat in my car taking a deep breath's and was excited that I had got through the first round of talking about myself and catching up with someone from my past. It was not easy and I knew that it was only going to get harder. I drove back home and I was relieved that my sister Jessica was able to hang around for a while and talk about the coffee meeting. I needed to get it off my chest.

  MATTHEW

  I sat at a long table brimming with my relatives and Melissa's fiance's family feeling extremely on edge and apprehensive. In spite of the fact that I couldn't demonstrate it since everyone's eyes were on me, being the celebrity and what not. Individuals were gradually arriving and filling seats and I couldn't quit looking toward the front door thinking about whether she would stroll in, then I saw her.

  "Gina! I am so happy you came!" My sister said as she stood up and gave her a big embrace. I was flabbergasted that Gina's great looks had not transformed one piece. She looked pretty much the same as she did in school. Her long brown hair was sparkling and her brown eyes were almond and lovely. She wore a fitted maroon dress that embraced her tall curvy figure. I couldn't quit looking at her and afterward her eyes met mine. She was by all accounts in shock and afterward she grinned. I grinned back as my sister walked her over to me.

  "Matthew, it’s good to see you," she said as she embraced me. I embraced her back wrapping my arms around her little waist and feeling recognizable emotions surge back to me. I was not envisioning feeling along these lines so quickly.

  "It’s good to see you too Gina," was everything that I could say.

  "If it's not too much trouble come sit by me Gina. We have such a great amount to get up to speed with," my sister said to her and pulled her away. I couldn't believe just how anxious I was feeling.

  The whole lunch I stole away looks at her, and got caught a couple times by her. She would simply grin and lower her lashes and I felt myself reignited in the sentiments that I used to have for her. Since I had left for Los Angeles I had not had a genuine relationship, and Gina was my last genuine passion.

  After the lunch everybody stood up and mingled and I at long last had an opportunity to corner Gina without anyone else.

  "You look very good Gina," I said is I took a look at her all over.

  "You do too Matthew. Congrats on your career you are doing so well. I am extremely proud of you," she said holding a glass of champagne as she took a small sip. She was generally as apprehensive as I was and I kind of loved that.

  "Much obliged to you. How have you been? I heard you had a child," I said.

  Crash! Was the sound of the champagne glass that dropped from her hand and blasted into little pieces on the floor.

  "Whoa! Are you okay? Get back don't walk on the g
lass," I said moving her far from it.

  "Yes, sorry it slipped from my hand," she said as she ventured far from it.

  "It happens," I said with a grin. In any case it didn't get away from my notice that she dropped it when I got some information about her youngster. Maybe she would not like to discuss it. I wanted to know whether she was with somebody, in the event that she had a beau or partner. I could tell by her hand that she was not wearing a wedding band but rather that did not mean anything in this day and age.

  "So tell me about your child. What is his name?" I solicited not giving up from the subject.

  "Yes, I’m sorry. His name is Jared," she said squirming.

  "I would love to meet him. Will he be at the wedding?" I inquired.

  "No he is excessively too young for such things," she said attempting to step far from me.

  "Well then I will simply need to drop by your place to meet him," I said.

  She didn't reply. She just remained there, dazed.

  GINA

  When the wedding lunch arrived I was so apprehensive. My sister Jessica was in my loft to keep an eye on Jared and to help me pick an outfit. The wedding lunch was kind of easygoing formal and it was the first of numerous occasions to happen before the genuine wedding.

  "What do you think of this one?" I said as I exited displaying a maroon fitted dress with my long blonde hair down.

  "It's ideal," she said. "Try not to be anxious. It is simply lunch. You look incredible."

  "Much thanks to you." I looked over at my child playing with toys.

  Jessica, detecting my tension said, "Don't stress. It is just one more week.

  "OK yes, you're correct. I simply need to stay calm. Do the bridesmaid stuff and leave with a neighborly hello to Matthew and I will be fine," I said as I gave Jared a kiss and Jessica an embrace and left to the luncheon.

  When I arrived some individuals were at that point sitting while other's mingled with mimosas sitting tight for it to begin. When I strolled in I saw Matthew. He looked more appealing than on television. I began to sweat.

  "Gina! I am so happy you came!" Melissa said as she stood up and gave me a major embrace. I embraced her back and grinned glad that she came to me with the goal that I would not need to gracelessly enter. At that point I turned upward from her and my eyes bolted with Matthew's. I solidified for a brief moment as I became mixed up in his blue eyes. I broke out of my frozen state and grinned. Melissa saw the exchange and pulled me over to him.

  "Matthew, its good to see you," I said as I embraced him. When I touched him my entire body woke up.

  "It’s good to see you too Gina," he said.

  "Kindly come sit by me Gina. We have such a great amount to make up for lost time with," Melissa said making the meeting amongst Matthew and I brief. I was appreciative for it. Since the first meeting was over now, I could breath a bit. I sat with Melissa and each time I looked toward Matthew I discovered him gazing at me. It made me feel energized and anxious.

  After the lunch everybody stood up and mingled and I got another glass of champagne. I think it was my third glass as I required something to quiet my nerves. I found an edge of the room far from the gathering so I would not be compelled to talk with Matthew. In any case, I didn't think he would discover me and single me out alone.

  "You look good Sara," he said, as he strikingly took a gander at me here and there.

  "You do too Matthew. Congrats on your career you are doing so well. I am extremely proud of you," as I took a sip.

  "Much obliged to you. How have you been? I heard you had a child," he said.

  Crash! The glass slipped out of my hand as I was so stunned by his inquiry. His eyes extended at my reaction and I kind of remained there solidified. Did he think about Jared? What amount did he know? Did he think Jared was his?

  "Whoa! Are you okay? Get back don't walk on the glass," he said moving me far from it.

  "Yes, sorry it slipped from my hand," I said as I moved away.

  "It happens," he said with a grin.

  "So tell me about your child. What is his name?" he said again.

  "Yes, I’m sorry. His name is Jared," I said squirming.

  "I would love to meet him. Will he be at the wedding?" he inquired.

  "No he is excessively too young for such things," I said attempting to step far from him as I looked around the room for another conversation to join.

  "Well then I will simply need to drop by your place to meet him,"

  I didn't reply. I just remained there, staggered. He knew. He had to know. He was acting peculiar and direct about it. Why was he doing this? I didn't realize what to do when all of a sudden…

  "Gina there you are! Come the bridesmaids are getting together to discuss the bridesmaid dresses. Sorry brother" Melissa said as she pulled me far from Matthew without a moment to spare. I was appreciative for the obstruction yet something let me know that wasn't the end of Matthew prying about my child… our child.

  Now that I had made it through the luncheon and meeting and seeing Matthew again for the first time in years I felt a sense of relief. I finally felt a bit of a weight lifted off my shoulder after having to go through all of that. I sat at my desk at work and thought about everything that had happened when I saw him. I thought about how he had stared at me from across the table. Then I thought about how he had asked me about my son. I knew that I had got really nervous and that it made me look suspicious but I didn't know what else to do.

  "Are you going to sit there and daydream all day or are you going to work?” my boss said as he stood behind me.

  I snapped out of my gaze and then began to work, "I am sorry."

  I worked hard in order to distract myself from thinking about Matthew, but that was not good enough because Matthew ended up showing up.

  "Matthew Jenison! It is so good to see you! Do you think I could get your autograph?” my boss shouted as the front door opened.

  I looked up to see Matthew strolling into the insurance office.

  "What the hell is he doing here?" I whispered to myself.

  "Yes, of course no problem," Matthew said as he shook the hand of my boss and signed a photo for him and then he said, "I am actually here to see Gina. She does work here does she not?" Matthew asked my boss.

  My boss looked stunned for a second and then said, "Gina, of course yes she is right over there. She is one hell of a star worker. We love having her working here," my boss said lying through his teeth. Matthew looked in my direction and I smiled and waved a little like an awkward dork. He waved back with a grand bright grin and his blue eyes lit up. Then he said his goodbyes to my boss and walked straight over to my desk. I was in such shock that I did not even have time to feel embarrassed by my work situation. Because he was a very successful and rich man, and here I was in a dumpy small office in our small town getting low wages.

  "Hey Gina," Matthew said as he sat on the top of my desk in a casual way.

  "Hey Matthew, you came here for me?" I said with a confused look on my face.

  "Yes I asked around a bit and was told that you work here. So I thought I would come see you in action. Maybe we can go grab lunch, or I could take you to dinner later," he said as he looked at me locking his eyes with mine making my heart skip a beat.

  "You asked around about me?" I said arching my eyebrows at him.

  "Yes, of course I did why is that so unusual? We really didn't get to finish talking yesterday at the luncheon and you sort of ran out of there before I could get another word in. If I didn't know any better I would think you are avoiding me," he laughed out the words a little. It made me very nervous and all I could say was, "No, that is not the case at all. I am just a very busy woman."

  As he talked and flirted with me I could not believe that he was seeming interested in me. Considering that he is a famous professional athlete and that I am a small town nobody from his past, I did not measure up with the models that he dated. I was in disbelief about his attentions toward me. Then I realize
d that I knew exactly what he was doing. He was known as a player off and on the court. He had a reputation for being a womanizer, and he must be here in order to make me his small town fling. He must be very bored. In fact I was shocked that he did not bring a date here to his sisters wedding like a famous actress or a model. Now, he must be regretting that choice and he is looking for some hot action. After what we had experienced in the past he must think that I would be OK with such a thing. That I could handle a quick casual encounter and have some fun. If the circumstances weren't what they were perhaps I could, but they weren't. Having a casual encounter with Matthew would only hurt me and make me feel worse than I already did. I would not be able to handle such heartbreak after all these years. It would be too much for me. But now that I knew where he was going with this I felt better about turning him down.

  "So what do you say? Want to grab lunch?" He asked me with a delicious grin.

  "Oh Matthew that is very kind, but I really can't. I have so much work to do that I can't take a break. I am so sorry," I said nervously trying to make sure that he did not see right through me.

  "OK, I can understand that. How about if we grab dinner then, I can come pick you up at your place."

  "No!" I accidentally shouted as I did not want him to show up at my apartment unannounced and see Jared. I suddenly felt silly for yelling and then I laughed a little. He laughed and said, "OK, I didn't realize dinner with me would be so horrific."

  "No, I am sorry I did not mean for it to come out that way. Dinner with you would be great, but I am just so busy and I would have to get a babysitter and that takes time. Maybe some other night before you leave back to Los Angeles," I said trying to make him feel hopeful that dinner would happen eventually, even though I knew that I would not go. But I just needed to get him out of here because he continue to ask questions and would not take no for an answer. If my boss were to overhear that I was turning down lunch with him in order to work, I'm sure he would step in and say that I could take two hours for lunch if I wanted to.