“I take it, you haven’t shared the news with him?”
“Nope.”
Her gaze lands on me in expectation. “But you’re going to before you leave, right?”
“Not exactly. I was, uh … thinking about, say, never?”
“What?” she screeches. “Have you lost your mind?”
“It’s for the best.”
“You can’t do that.” She leans forward to take my hand in hers. “Don’t see this as me being unsupportive, but that’s fucked up. And that’s coming from a girl who faked a relationship with a douche bag for months.”
“It’s for the best. I’m going to raise this baby on my own.”
“Why?” She shakes her head, rolls her eyes, and sighs at the same time. “And I suppose you want me to keep quiet?”
My voice cracks. “Yes. Please.”
“If I do what you’re asking, I’ll be hurting Dallas. I’ll be hurting the man I love. It’ll ruin my relationship with everyone in their family if they ever find out.” Her eyes start to water.
This is the first time I’ve ever doubted my trust in her.
“What they don’t know won’t hurt them. If the truth does come out, I’ll tell them you had no idea.”
Stella turns around at the same time my attention goes to the door when it opens. Hudson is staring at us with a bloodthirsty expression on his face.
“Excuse me for interrupting,” he huffs out. “I was searching for my bride-to-be.”
Did he hear our conversation? The look on his face confirms he heard something, but how much?
“I wasn’t eavesdropping … at least, not at first,” he goes on. “Some words of advice: when you have a conversation about fucking someone’s life up, you might want to lower your voices.”
My heart thuds in my chest. “Hudson, please,” I beg. “Please don’t tell him.”
He moves into the room, closing the door behind himself, and thrusts his finger my way. “Don’t you fucking dare ask me to keep this from my brother.” His piercing stare goes to Stella. “And please tell me you weren’t going to agree to it.”
Stella’s eyes swell as she throws her arms out toward me. “She’s my best friend!”
“And he’s your soon-to-be brother-in-law who deserves to know!” he yells. “That’ll be my niece or nephew. Did you even wonder how keeping this to yourself would hurt me and my family?”
Talk about a fucking loud mouth.
“Keep your voice down,” I hiss in warning.
His face hardens, almost appearing sinister, and sweat builds along his forehead. “I swear on everything that I will hate you if you do this. You don’t pull shit like this on a man, especially one who is as good of a father as Dallas. He’s not some piece-of-shit, deadbeat dad.”
I squeeze my eyes shut in an attempt to not only stop the tears, but to also block out the view of Hudson’s disgust. “It has nothing to do with him. It’s what’s best for me.”
“Bullshit. It’s you being selfish.”
“Hudson,” Stella snaps. “Enough!” She pulls herself up from the floor and helps me to my feet. She doesn’t release my hand until I’m stable. “What are you so afraid of, Willow? What’s the worst that could happen?”
Fear does the Macarena in my stomach. I can’t tell them the truth. “Everything,” I release. “He’s a grieving widower who regrets touching me.”
Stella’s face softens. “This secret will add to his hurt when he finds out later.”
“That’s if he finds out.” I peek over at Hudson, the anger still manifested everywhere on his body.
He locks eyes with me and shakes his head. “Un-fucking-believable. You fucking do this to him, Willow, and I will never speak to you again.” His glare goes to Stella. “Good memories of our engagement night, huh?” He turns his back on us and slams his hand against the wall before opening the door and storming out.
“He’s going to tell him, isn’t he?” I ask.
“I’m sorry,” Stella replies. “I shouldn’t have pushed you, but you have to tell Dallas before Hudson does. Maybe this baby will bring some joy into his darkness.”
“I’ll tell him. Just give me a few days, okay?”
She nods. “As much time as you need. I can’t say the same for Hudson though. You know how close they are.”
“Fuck!” I scream, grabbing the ends of my hair and pulling it.
“That’s what put you in this situation.” She smiles when I flip her off.
“I need another fucking cupcake.”
Chapter 2
Dallas
I open the fridge with more force than necessary and snag a beer. My brain pounds when I pop the cap off, take a long yet unsatisfying drink, and set it aside for something stronger.
Nothing will be potent enough for me tonight.
But that won’t stop me from trying.
Maven is at my parents’, so I have no responsibilities tonight.
To say surviving the party was a challenge is an understatement. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to make it through and good thing I didn’t have to do it sober. I should be glad my brother found happiness, but I’m an asshole living in a dark hole, avoiding the sunlight. I’m only happy I managed not to stand up and object to him asking Stella to marry him.
Marriage isn’t the answer, I wanted to scream out. Don’t let yourself get wrapped up in someone so much, you don’t know who you are when they’re gone.
I pat myself on the back for keeping my mouth shut. The glass bottle feels chilly when it grazes the bare skin of my neck.
Then, I saw Willow. Hudson gave me a heads-up that she was coming, and even if I had tried to argue about it, nothing would’ve changed. She’s Stella’s best friend … and the only other woman I’ve slept with since Lucy died. Hell, the only woman I’ve slept with other than Lucy.
I decided I was going to talk to Willow and make things right between us. The problem was, I wasn’t expecting my chest to ache at the sight of her walking in … or my hands to grow sweaty as I wondered how her skin felt underneath that black dress.
Is it still as soft as it was that night?
Does she still smell like strawberries?
Taste as sweet?
My plan to make shit right went out the window. All I thought about was asking her to come home with me and let me make up for my asshole behavior. I haven’t touched anyone in months, haven’t had the desire to, but seeing Willow made my heart race and my dick stir. Hell, it was a full-time job stopping myself from staring at her every three seconds.
I asked her to breakfast, and she looked at me like I was scum beneath her shoes. I had done a shitty thing, but I’ve tried to man up to it on more than one occasion, and she keeps shooting me down. So, I’m still a lonely asshole who only gets turned on at the thought of his dead wife and a woman who hates him.
I reach up to the tallest cabinet above the fridge and pull out the bottle of Jameson, my good friend who doesn’t judge me when we hang out too much. I owe this motherfucker thousands of dollars in therapy. The liquid burns but feels almost euphoric, seeping down my throat.
Lately, all I’ve done is pretend—pretend that I’m okay in front of my family. I put on a brave face and make it through the day for my daughter … and then I go to bed, wanting nothing more than to rip myself out of my skin.
I flinch when I hear my front door slam and take the bottle with me to investigate. I stumble back at the sight of the last person I expected to show up at my door tonight.
“Yikes, what the hell are you doing here?” I ask. “Stella decide to leave your ass already?”
Hudson snatches the bottle from my hand with a snarl. “We need to talk.”
I put my hands in the air. “If it’s about me cornering Willow, I only did it, so we’d be civil during your wedding festivities.”
He lifts the bottle to his lips and takes a sip. “I, uh …” He takes another. “I have a feeling the two of you are going to have to learn to be civil long af
ter my wedding.”
His response doesn’t make sense, but I’m blaming it on the alcohol. “I won’t be an asshole again, okay? I tried to apologize, but the chick wasn’t having it.” Not that I blame her. I pulled the biggest dick move out of all dick moves … because all I was thinking with was my dick.
“Willow is pregnant.” He grinds the words out, the air in the living room shifting to something I don’t recognize.
I blankly stare at him. “Okay?” My heart sinks that she’s found someone else. No wonder she wanted nothing to do with me. She’s found a man who isn’t a broken asshole. Good for her. I would’ve only ruined her.
“Willow. Is. Pregnant,” he stresses.
I’m not catching his drift. What does he want me to do? Throw her a baby shower? “I’ll be sure to buy her a gift.”
The coffee table shakes when he pounds his fist against it. “Willow is pregnant with your goddamn baby, you fucking dumbass. I thought you’d be smart enough to put two and two together.”
Good thing he grabbed the bottle from me. This would’ve been the moment it crashed on to my hardwood floor. “You’re fucking with me.”
His straight face answers my question. He can’t give a DNA test with his eyes, but I believe him.
“Why would you assume it’s mine? We slept together once.”
“I overheard her telling Stella.”
I digest his news and swallow a few times before grabbing my keys. A picture cracks when I throw them across the room as I realize I’m in no condition to drive.
“I need a ride.”
“The fuck you do. In case you forgot, I got engaged tonight. I’ve already missed a few good hours because I couldn’t think of pussy when I knew I was keeping this from you.”
“How very noble of you,” I mutter, wincing when he slaps the back of my head. “Stella’s vagina doesn’t have a curfew. Take me to Lauren’s.”
“Hell no. Stella will bite my dick off the next time I ask for a blow job.”
“Take me to Lauren’s, or I’ll walk.”
“Get in my fucking truck.”
Chapter 3
Willow
Bang! Bang! Bang!
I’m having a nightmare where a psychopath is pounding on the door of Lauren’s apartment. I’ll be murdered, and my skin will be worn as a coat. I don’t realize I’m awake until I hear the familiar, masculine voice.
“Willow!” he screams on the other side of the door.
Bang! Bang!
“I know you’re in there! Open up!”
My heart races, and I slap my hand over my mouth, not sure if it’s because I don’t want to make a peep or I’m close to puking.
“Lauren!”
Bang! Bang!
“One of you had better open this door before I break it down!”
Oh, shit.
Shitty-shit-shit!
I should’ve known Hudson couldn’t keep his fat mouth shut. He probably went and tattled as soon as he got the chance.
I rub my eyes when the lights turn on. Lauren comes rushing into the living room, tying a purple robe around her waist in frustration.
“I hope blood doesn’t make you queasy,” she bites out, stomping her feet.
I raise a brow.
“Because I’m about to castrate my brother.”
If only she had done that sooner.
I pull myself into a sitting position, resting my back on the couch, and shrug like the shitshow about to happen isn’t my fault.
Curse words fly out of her mouth with every step she takes while he continues his tantrum on the other side of the door.
“Jesus, fuck, Dallas!” she yells, swinging the door open. “You’d better be getting a bedroom ready at your place for when I get evicted.”
He bursts into the living room without paying her a glance. His sharp eyes cut straight to me, demanding answers, and his pain-stricken face confirms what I was afraid of. He’s as terrified as I am.
“Is it true?” he blurts out.
Lauren slams the door and storms into the living room. “Is what true?”
His attention doesn’t leave my face. “Are you pregnant?”
I have no words. I’m frozen in place—unable to move, unable to talk, unsure of where to go with this.
“I’m confused as to why that’s any of your business and why you felt the need to show up here like someone is about to blow the place up,” Lauren replies for me.
He doesn’t answer her. His attention stays fixed on me, as if Lauren weren’t even in the room.
“Answer me,” he demands.
I clear my throat, about to cave in and tell him but chicken out and nod instead.
The anguish on his face amplifies. “Is it mine?”
This is the moment.
This is where I have to decide not only my future, but also my baby’s.
“Wait … what?” Lauren screeches.
Click here to keep reading Just One Night
Also by Charity Ferrell
BLUE BEECH SERIES
(each book can be read as a standalone)
Just A Fling
Just One Night
Just Exes
Just Neighbors
Just Roommates
Just Friends
STANDALONES
Bad For You
Beneath Our Faults
Pop Rock
Pretty and Reckless
Revive Me
Wild Thoughts
* * *
TWISTED FOX SERIES
Coming soon!
Stirred
* * *
RISKY DUET
Risky
Worth The Risk
Stalk Me
STAY IN TOUCH
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About the Author
Charity Ferrell resides in Indianapolis, Indiana with her boyfriend and two dogs. She grew up riding her bicycle to her small town’s public library and reading everything she could get her hands on.
Just a Fling Page 24