Page 76 of Protected By the Billionaire Ex-SEAL

“Now I’m pregnant.” The words lay heavy on me. “Which automatically doesn’t make it casual anymore, but…he’s Christian. You know Christian.”

“He’s a good guy, Raven.”

“I know that.” Frustration sinks in until I feel like I can’t breathe. I inhale deeply, then exhale with effort as I try to find the right words. “I know he’s a good guy. But I also know that his business is his number one priority and he doesn’t do commitments. He made it clear multiple times that his agency comes first and he doesn’t have time for anything else, least of all a relationship. And a baby.”

I laugh. It’s not an amused one. Sympathy shines in my cousin’s eyes.

“Raven…”

“Honey Lee, look me in the eye and tell me it’s not true—that you don’t believe every word out of my mouth. Hasn’t he been avoiding commitment with the women here since he was a teenager?”

Honey Lee opens her mouth, then shuts it, proving me right. Her reluctant nod only cements that thought, but she’s still not a hundred percent on board.

“People can change with the right motivation, Raven.”

“I know. But people can also get trapped, and you were right about one thing: he’s a really good guy, and I don’t ever want to trap him. Besides…”

“What?”

“I was the one who insisted we didn’t need a condom. If anything, I was the one who convinced him to be irresponsible.”

She looks like she still wants to argue but settles down and takes a deep breath. “It takes two to tango, you know that. But I won’t blame anyone. I understand it was an accident and neither of you wanted this to happen.”

“Hmm. Either way, I know what it feels like to have a life almost ruined. To have your whole world turned upside down and to feel so helpless about it. I can’t do that to him, Honey Lee.”

“Then what are you going to do?”

Just like that, my mind stops swirling. “I’m going to keep the baby.” The word has my hand landing on my stomach, a storm of emotions flying through me: Nerves. Wonder. Maybe dismay, too, but most of all…love. “But I’m not going to tell him.”

“Are you sure about this, Raven?”

I’m not.

But some decisions have to be made with the best intentions for everyone, and I believe this is one of them.

* * *

There’s still a small part of me doubting what I told Honey Lee last and wondering what will happen if I do tell Christian. Luckily, my cousin is the type who doesn’t insist, opting to respect my decision and even support it as soon as I tell her about it. She does, however, shower me with attention, and I end up laughing when she orders a haul of healthy food online and has it delivered within an hour to her house.

“Honey Lee, what is this?”

“Just because you don’t want to tell him doesn’t mean I’m not going to do anything. You’re my cousin and that baby is going to be my niece or nephew, and you’d best believe that baby is going to get the best treatment from me. So, here. Sniff around, see what you like and what you don’t like. But you can’t starve yourself now.”

I bite back my tongue from telling her that I haven’t been starving myself, but I find her fussing endearing and entertaining. I express my gratefulness with a hug, which sends her into another bout of ordering until I have to stop laughing so hard.

“Oh, my God, Honey Lee, I don’t need that much chocolates or ice cream. Are you planning to give me diabetes?”

She pouts. “You don’t have to eat them all. Just choose what doesn’t make you nauseous.”

I’m so overwhelmed by her sweetness that I can only step forward and give her another hug, this one longer and more grateful than ever. She hugs me back, and we stay like that for a few minutes, just absorbing each other’s warmth and letting each other know that we’re here. When she steps back, she searches my gaze.

“If you don’t want me to tell Aaron…”

“No, it’s fine. You can tell him. I trust you both. You won’t tell anyone else.”

And by anyone else, the only one who really matters is Christian.

The hours pass with relative ease as my cousin keeps me distracted, though we research the dos and don’ts and list down the other needs I have to cater for my pregnancy. I’m just finishing my bowl of hot noodles for dinner—something my stomach thankfully likes—when my phone rings on the dot and my nerves shoot up. I excuse myself and take it to the guest room.

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