Page 57

ONE PLUS ONE

XANDER

April

Eyes still closed, I reach for Bella, but all I find are cold sheets.

When her absence sinks in, I jolt up in bed, panic washing over me.

The room is still dark. Not even a sliver of light comes through drawn curtains.

I throw the covers off and swing my legs over the bed as I reach for my phone.

According to the display, it’s five a.m.

Why is she awake? It’s Sunday morning, for God’s sake.

Milo is still in his bed on the floor, lying on his back with his eyes closed.

I shake my head as I pass him. Bella jokes he’s a Manhattan dog, since he got used to the busy streets of New York so quickly.

I don’t want to argue with her, but I’m positive it has more to do with her presence than the city.

She’s his guiding light. He’ll follow her anywhere.

Except he’s still here, and she isn’t.

Concern swirls in my gut as I step out into the hall and listen to the sounds of the apartment.

When a faint clicking registers, I follow the sound and find her in the living room.

She’s sitting on the couch, her laptop on her lap, typing furiously, as if the keyboard has offended her.

Her bottom lip is sandwiched between her teeth, and her eyebrows are knitted together.

“How long have you been up?” I ask quietly.

She startles, and when the laptop slides off her lap, she clutches it and holds it to her chest.

Chuckling, I drop to the couch beside her, and she instantly hauls off and whacks me with her tiny fist.

“What?” I tease. “Did I scare you?”

“Of course you did!” She gives me a narrow-eyed look that’s far more adorable than she means for it to be. “Why are you up so early?”

“I wanted to cuddle my girl, but when I reached for her, all I found was cold and empty sheets—the worst way to wake up.”

She rolls her eyes, but a smile tugs at her lips.

“Couldn’t wrapping up paperwork for Ben wait?”

She closes her laptop and sets it on the coffee table. “How do you know what I’m doing?”

“We’re leaving for Santa Clara in two weeks, and you told me yourself you have a huge list of things to get done for Ben before we go.”

“You’re awfully chill for someone whose agent has been on his back nonstop.”

“I decided to stop worrying about things I can’t control.”

“Aw, love that attitude.”

I wink at her. “Finish your work and come back to bed. I’ll wait for you here.” I position myself so I’m stretched out on the couch, propped up against one arm, and guide her to sit between my legs. Once she’s settled with her back pressed to my chest, she gets back to work.

I close my eyes, slowly drifting off to the sounds of her typing. That’s always the case with me—once I have her in my arms, all my worries disappear.

“Xander.” She caresses my cheek.

I slowly open my eyes, meeting her gaze. She’s on her feet, hovering over me and smiling from ear to ear.

“Let’s go back to bed.”

“Man, I was out.” With a groan, I stand and massage the back of my neck.

“You were, but this couch really isn’t good for sleeping.” She laces her fingers with mine. “It’s Sunday. We can do anything we want, including sleep.”

“What if I don’t want to sleep anymore?” I arch an eyebrow.

“You were snoring just a minute ago.”

“But now I’m wide awake, and I don’t have any intention of going back to sleep.” I pull her against me and slip my hands under her tee.

One week later

“Fuck, it was brutal.” I slump down onto the couch in the living room and pull a pillow over my face.

Two weeks ago, I was sure the day the prosecutor called Bella to talk about a plea deal was the worst day of my life.

Our fears became a reality when Miller’s lawyers tried to turn the tables and pin the blame on Bella, painting her as a cheater who ruined their client’s life.

Like we expected, their hope was that the court would agree that Miller was mentally unstable and should receive treatment rather than serve time.

But they didn’t know about the ace up the prosecutor’s sleeve: Stacey.

Once Miller discovered she planned to take the stand, he admitted defeat.

In the end, he changed his plea to guilty and admitted to the crime, which gave him a little leniency. He’ll serve eleven years, though I’d much prefer it if he rotted in hell.

I thought I was done with bad news; I was wrong.

“What happened?” Bella asks, straddling my hips.

Here I was, sure that things were falling into place. The Mustangs are interested. Coach and Warriors management know I’m leaving for Santa Clara, and they haven’t tried to make me stay. They respect my decision. The guys, on the other hand…

“I never thought telling the team I’m quitting would be so fucking hard. When I was leaving Kansas, it was nothing like that.”

“I’m so sorry. How did it go?”

“Drew and Marco knew, so they were supportive, and that kind of made it easier for some of the other guys to accept it, but…some of them think I’m a traitor.”

“So sorry, baby.”

I sigh. “That’s okay. Coach was there too, and he said to everyone that if he was in my shoes, he would’ve done the same for his wife—even though he also called me a motherfucker who ruined his perfect team.”

She chuckles. “Didn’t expect anything less.”

“Yeah, Coach is something else.” I put my hand on the back of her head and pull her to me for a kiss. It’s deep and slow but still sweet and gentle. Her tongue slips into my mouth, and I taste sweetness. Leaning away, I look her over. “What were you doing when I came home?”

“Baking.” She grinds her ass over my groin, making my dick instantly hard. “I have some news for you.”

“Which is?” I cock an eyebrow, eyeing her suspiciously.

She hops off my legs and looks down at me. “Go change your clothes. I’ll be waiting for you in the kitchen.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I laugh, standing up from the couch and taking a step toward our bedroom. “Maybe I can convince you to take a shower with me?”

“If you want me to burn down the kitchen and ruin my cupcakes, then you can try.” She walks away from the couch, and I lower my gaze, noticing Milo following her. Was he here this whole time? If he continues being so obsessed with her, we’ll definitely have a problem.

Thirty minutes later, when I enter the kitchen, Bella smiles at me as she sets a plate filled with cupcakes on the table.

I sit across from her, inhaling the sweet scent of the desserts.

She swipes at a dollop of icing on the edge of the plate, but before she can wipe her finger on a napkin, I grab her wrist and suck her finger into my mouth.

“Mmm, delicious.”

“You haven’t even tried them yet. Save your compliments till you do.” She tugs out of my hold and suddenly nibbles on her lip, as if she’s nervous.

“You said you have some news for me.” I reach over the plate, but she slaps my hand away. “Bella!”

“Wait,” she commands.

With a roll of my eyes, I lean my back against the chair. “I’m waiting.”

She takes a deep breath and then pushes another plate toward me. I frown at it, noting the five cupcakes, then eye her.

“It’s a riddle, but I’m sure you will figure it out.”

I shake my head and straighten so I can decipher her clues.

The cupcake farthest to the left is decorated with the word “one.” The next is adorned with a plus sign, the third one with the word “one” again.

The fourth is an equal sign, and the last one has the number three.

One plus one equals three. I lick my lips, sweat forming on my forehead.

I figured out the riddle the second “three” registered, but I’m afraid to scare her away with my reaction.

I was a fuckboy, the kind of guy who preferred hookups and meaningless one-night stands, the kind who’d share women with his buddies. But with her? I’m a hopeless romantic, a fucking marshmallow ready to melt at her touch. She’s become my oxygen. And now, she’s going to be the mother of my child.

“Are we expecting?” I ask, voice trembling.

“I know we weren’t planning for this, and I guess we should’ve been more careful after I got off the pill in January, but…” Her brows pinch, like she’s worried I’m upset. “Are you happy?”

“Are you kidding me?” I stand and pull her into my arms. “I’m in a fucking dream where all my wishes have come true. This is the best news ever!”

I twirl her around, making her throw her head back and laugh. The sound, along with Milo’s responding yips, fills my chest with a kind of joy I’ve never experienced. My heart is full of love.

I cradle her even closer to my chest, pressing my forehead to hers.

“You’re the best thing that ever happened to me.

Thank you so much for giving me a second chance.

Thank you for having faith in me, for guiding me, for loving me and letting me love you in return.

You are precious. I still have trouble believing you are mine. I?—”

She presses her finger to my lips, silencing me. “I’m yours. Always.” She inches closer, her hot breath ghosting over my lips. “Can we go to the bedroom? I think these pregnancy hormones are making me extra horny.”

“Extra horny?” I pick her up again and stride to our bedroom. “Any preferences?”

“Uh-huh,” she whispers, moving to my ear. “We’ll start with your cock deep, deep, deep down my throat. As for the rest, I’ll tell you more once I suck you dry.”

By the time the door is shut behind us, precum is leaking from my tip.

Damn.

I’ve got my dream girl back, and now we’re going to have our own family. This reality is better than anything I ever imagined for myself.