Page 94 of Pretend You Love Me

“He’s a good guy. He cares about you,” he adds.

I can’t speak right now, so I just nod again. I’m relieved to see Zadie and Ethan walk up. I don’t want to continue this conversation right now.

I hug Zadie and then Ethan. “Congratulations. We’re all so excited for these babies.”

“We are too. I can’t believe they will be born within a month of each other.” Zadie is gently rubbing her belly, and Ethan is beaming at her.

“They are going to be best friends.”

“I can’t wait,” Olivia says.

“Me either,” Zadie adds.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Kip

I’m stomping around the restaurant barking orders at everyone when I hear Sadie say under her breath. “He was nicer when his girlfriend was around.”

My whole body tenses. I shoot her a death stare and then storm back toward my office.

“He’s like a different person when he’s getting laid,” McKenzie whispers.

“I fucking heard that,” I yell on my way into the office. As soon as I’m inside, I slam the door and start to pace. I feel like I could climb the walls.

I fucked up. Big time.

I just let her go. I know we agreed this would be temporary, but things changed. They did for me at least. She ripped my heart out when she left, and I didn’t even say a word. I stop pacing and grab the back of my neck and let out a frustrated growl.

I’ve called Will several times to check on her. I’d call him twice a day if it wouldn’t make me look like a deranged stalker. He said she’s struggling. I’ve contemplated hopping on the next plane and showing up on her doorstep, but she’s made it clear how she feels. I am about to start throwing things around the room, but a knock at the door stops me.

“What?” I swing the door open.

“Glad to see you’ve returned to your normal charming personality.” Hawk is standing outside the door with a coffee in hand.

“What do you want, Hawk?”

He holds out the cup, and I snatch it from his hands.

“Can I come in?”

“Looks like I don’t have much of a choice.”

I step aside so Hawk can walk in.

“You look like shit,” he says as he passes.

“Haven’t been sleeping well.” I take a big gulp of the coffee.

He studies me for a moment and then says, “We got the DNA results back, and the blood is not a match to any of Brooklyn’s biological relatives.”

I run my hands over my face. “That’s good. That’s good.”

“Yeah. We’re not any closer to finding them. They’re mixed up with some bad people, Kip.”

I rest my hand on my chin.

“You don’t think Brooklyn would do anything stupid, do you?”