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“Yeah, but what about before this morning’s deal? You just have had some extra pep in your step or something. Don’t tell me it’s because of Kiera?”
“I haven’t seen her in weeks,” I said, irritated.
I wanted to continue telling him there was nothing going on. But I hesitated before going further. I thought I had already told him there was nothing going on there, but if believing I had something going on with Kiera would get him off my back then I could let him think that. I could let the world think that.
It would give me more time to figure out things with Heart. Having a cover like being involved with Kiera would get the press of my back and maybe we could continue living in our private bubble a little longer. At least until we figured out what we are going to do, which should probably be soon. I didn’t know when women started showing, but it could be soon. If paparazzi somehow got a picture of us and she had a bump, it would only mess up our situation.
“Okaaay…” said Brody, clearly annoyed with my conspicuousness.
I looked at him for a moment, wondering if I should tell him. He was family after all. He could be a total douche, but I also knew he would have my back. Eventually. At least, I hoped he would.
I let out a small, disappointed sigh before taking another sip of my latte. I just wasn’t ready to tell him yet. I didn’t need a lecture from my little brother about how I needed to be more careful and how he couldn’t believe I knocked up a one-night stand. Even though she was so much more than that now.
Also, I knew if Brody came to me telling me he was in a similar situation, I would rip him a new one. No, it was best to keep the fact that I was going to be a father a secret. At least for a little while longer.
I checked my watch and feigned surprise.
“Wow. Is it almost nine already? I gotta go,” I said. “I have a phone meeting.”
“Thanks for the coffee,” said Brody, a suspicious undertone to his voice.
I stepped in my office and closed the door behind me. I was safe. For now.
Chapter 25
Addison
I checked my phone for what felt like the hundredth time, but didn’t see anything from Daniel. This was hardly unusual, as we had never texted or talked on the phone before. We had always communicated through email for business or through mysterious notes in Bloomingdale’s boxes. Still, after our weekend together, I was hoping there would be a text waiting in my messages.
I sighed as I placed my phone on my desk. Then I reminded myself that it had only been two days since I watched him drive away from my apartment after another passionate kiss. I closed my eyes, remembering his hand on my neck and his tongue in my mouth. You couldn’t fake that.
Still, he wasn’t on the curb waiting for me this morning. I had grown used to seeing his sleek, black town car in front of my apartment with him waiting for me. I had to swallow down my disappointment as I walked to the subway, feeling like a peasant again. It was as if after our date, the bell had struck midnight and I was back to my regular life again.
I’d had to hold back tears as the subway screeched to life on the tracks, making its way through the tunnel to Manhattan. I felt stupid sitting there blinking back the tears that were threatening to fall down my cheeks in front of strangers. Because what? I didn’t get a ride to work. God, these pregnancy hormones were wrecking me.
My eyes snapped open and I shook my head, trying to rid the doubts from my mind. He was probably just busy. He was a freaking CEO of a billion-dollar corporation. I began sifting through the emails that had found their way into my inbox on my lunch break. They were just another reminder that it was Monday.
My phone buzzed then, and I quickly snatched it up. I hated feeling disappointment when I saw it was a text from Monica, and not Daniel.
Monica:What time is the class tonight?
Me:6 PM. Do you want to meet there?
Monica:Sure. Dinner after?
Me:Definitely. I can’t stop eating.
Monica:Haha. I love pregnant Heart.
I smiled weakly at my phone. Tonight was my first birthing class. It felt way too early to even be thinking about how to breathe and push a baby into the world, but I wanted to feel prepared. Everything else I had such little control over, but at least I could feel in control of some things, like taking classes and buying various baby books.
The class suggested I bring a partner. For a millisecond, I thought about inviting Daniel along, but quickly changed my mind. I could only imagine the looks we would get in that classroom. A well-known billionaire helping me breathe through a pretend labor. The thought was almost laughable, if it also didn’t make me want to cry.
Not wanting to show up alone, I invited Monica instead. She was so excited. She had even been reading baby books herself. I really didn’t know what I would do without her.
My phone buzzed and I picked it up, expecting it to be Monica again. Instead, it was a call from a number I didn’t recognize. My heart beat a little faster in my chest as I pressed the green button.
“Hello?” I asked, feeling hopeful.