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“Yes, I get to meet the elusive marketing guru.” I’d been in London for every meeting they’d had together.

“I kind of love her,” Alex said wistfully.

“Hey, Ian. Glad you’re back.” Hanna came over to sit on the couch next to me and bumped my shoulder before turning to the overly happy couple. “How was your first day, Alex?”

“Good. I think Astronomy will be my favorite class.” Alexandra waggled her brows and Hanna laughed.

“Ah, yes. Dr. Pierce.”

“Who the fuck is Dr. Pierce?” Erik growled.

“The hottest professor of all time.” Hanna sighed like she was recalling a fond memory.

“Don’t worry, babe. You’re all I need,” Alex reassured Erik.

“Better be,” he grumbled. “And how was your sister?”

Alex’s smile dimmed. “She’s good. Therapy was okay today.”

Alex’s sister had taken a plea deal for a shorter sentence and going to rehab. It was more than she deserved. After taking part in trying to sell her sister and trap Erik, I’d have let her rot in jail. But Alex was a better person than me, and Erik gave her what she wanted.

“Mr. Brandt?” Laura called over the line. “Miss Russo is here.”

Alex hopped off Erik’s lap, moving toward the seating area with me and Hanna.

“Send her in, please.”

I was flipping through the files for the new London office when the door opened.

“Hey, Carina,” Erik greeted her. “Can we get you anything to drink?”

Every muscle in my body froze.

I was going to look up and I wouldn’t recognize the woman. She would be an old, spinster who didn’t give me the best sex of my life. There was more than one Carina in Cincinnati.

Maybe if I said it enough it would be true. It had to be true.

I slowly looked up and the air was knocked out of me.

“Carina?” Her name escaped on a broken breath, cracking like a boy going through puberty. Not like the man who’d fucked her against a wall and whispered filthy things to her while doing it.

Her eyes snapped to mine and widened. The color drained from her face and I was worried that she was about to collapse. “Ian?”

“You two know each other?” Hanna asked hesitantly beside me.

But I didn’t answer. I took in the tall brunette standing in the middle of the office, looking as shocked as I felt. She looked almost exactly the same as she had that day, except now she had a round belly stretching her fitted dress.

I pointed an accusing finger like she had an alien growing inside her. If I had to guess an eight-month along alien.

“What the hell is that?”

The End

Playlist

Naked – James Arthur

Leave a Light On – Tom Walker

Howl – Florence + The Machine

Best of You – Foo Fighters

Come Out and Play – Billie Eilish

Saviour – George Ezra (ft. First Aid Kit)

I Won’t Back Down – Dawn Landes

There’s No Way – Lauv (ft. Julia Michaels)

Rise – Katy Perry

Let You Love Me – Rita Ora

Hurt You – The Weeknd & Gesaffelstein

What Kind of Man – Florence + The Machine

Is That Alright – Lady Gaga

Walk Me Home – P!nk

This Year’s Love – David Gray