Page 41 of Pregnant By the Playboy

It’s late March, and I’m a little cold in my suit jacket, though the whiskey warms me from the inside. The music and sounds of the party reach my ears, but I just stand here, sipping my drink.

“Hey, Vince.” Alexis saunters up to me.

I force a smile for her. “Hey. How are you?”

“I’d prefer to do a little less talking,” she says, sliding her hand up my arm.

I immediately stiffen.

She pulls back.

“Sorry,” I say. “Just not in the mood today.”

She looks at me like I said the earth is flat or something equally absurd, but she doesn’t push it.

I don’t blame her for her reaction. I’m acting pretty out of character.

But I made a promise to Marissa, and to be honest, it’s not a difficult promise to keep. When I think of her wearing those frayed purple pajamas and stuffing cheesecake into her mouth—and then kissing me—it’s hard to want anyone else.

“What are you drinking?” I ask Alexis.

“I have no idea, but it’s delicious! That bartender is amazing. You tell her a few cocktails or ingredients you like, and she makes something up on the spot. Want to try?” She holds out her glass.

Sharing drinks has never bothered me, but now, all I can imagine is getting sick and passing it along to Marissa and harming the baby and...

I shake my head. “No, I’m fine.”

We talk for a few more minutes about the party before Alexis heads back inside. I return to staring out at the yard and drinking in silence.

The silence doesn’t last long, however.

“Vince! I didn’t believe it when I heard you were brooding on the balcony, but it’s true.”

I turn and see Holden Khoo, and my face splits into a grin.

“Holden.” I slap him on the back. “Good to see you.”

He turns to Brian. “He doesn’t seem unhappy.”

“But he hasn’t been himself lately,” Brian says.

I don’t claim I’m just the same as always, because that’s not true. My regular life doesn’t hold my interest.

Although it’s still good to see my friends.

I met Holden through Brian, and we’ve been friends for a while. He lives in Vancouver, but he comes to Toronto on a regular basis.

“I didn’t know you were visiting this weekend,” I say to him.

“I did tell you,” Brian says. “When you arrived tonight. But you were spaced out again, and totally ignoring the girl who was hitting on you. Speaking of that, Gabriella and I were going to...” He waggles his eyebrows. “You want to join? Like last time?”

Yes, Brian and I have fucked the same girl before. A bunch of times, in fact.

“Not tonight,” I say.

I imagine what I’d tell Marissa. Sorry, honey, I had to break my promise to you. My friends were getting too suspicious, and I didn’t want to say anything before twelve weeks. So I had a threesome at a party, no big deal.

No, I’m not tempted.