Page 81 of Rivals Next Door

“Uh-huh. Well, as your rival and fuck buddy…”

I couldn’t help letting out a laugh at that but the sound was void of humor.

He continued, “I’d advise you to take a trip to your doctor. You’ve had that nausea problem for a few days now. I think you’re stressing too much about the whole Weaver situation, but still, get checked out.”

“Yeah, you’re right. I will,” I muttered as I took another sip from my mug. Alex continued to stare at me so I asked, “What?”

He sat forward in his chair and rested his hands on his elbow. “Since we’re establishing boundaries, I suppose I shouldn’t invite you to Jamie and Charlotte’s engagement party.”

My jaw slackened because that invitation was not expected… not in a million years. “Oh… uh… I thought there was already an engagement party.”

“That was a little get-together for family only. This one is going to be a bigger affair. You know, all of Charlotte’s friends who are coming from all over the world and some people from Jamie’s circle.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “You don’t have to come. I just thought it would be nice if you got out of this damn apartment. You don’t do much when you’re in Manhattan and that’s a little sad.”

I snorted. “Wow, a pity invitation… Thanks for your concern.”

His lips curled up slightly at the corners. “Well, are you interested in being my plus one? It’s not an intimate date or anything…”

I regarded him with annoyance because he just had to point that out. However, the longer I considered it, the more I didn’t mind the outing. Slap a straitjacket on me and call me insane, but despite being miserable that Alex would never love me like he once did, I enjoyed spending time with him. Maybe I wanted to soak up as much laughter and fun as I could with him before this all ended.

“Well, I could do with a little celebration. Besides, I’d like to congratulate Jamie on his upcoming nuptials in person.”

“Alright, great,” he said, getting up. “So it’s a non-date.” I shot him a look of pure irritation and he grinned. “I’m going to get back to work. Finish your tea and get some sleep.”

“You’re not my boss,” I said.

“Excuse me for having your best interest at heart, Princess Olivia. Geez.” He huffed as he walked out. However, his head popped back around the door and he pointed at me. “I mean it, get some sleep. You look like you really need it, kiddo.”

I rolled my eyes, but when he disappeared I smiled slightly. I’d take Alex and I being friends or fuck buddies since it was all I could get.

Holy shit. Holy shit. Holy shit…

That was all my brain could compute to chant as I listened to my doctor. Actually, I stopped hearing what she was saying about a minute ago because her voice was drowned out by my rapidly pounding heart. The last thing I heard her say was… “pregnant.” After that, I zoned out and just watched her lips move.

“Olivia, are you alright?” Dr. Sutter’s voice finally cut through the fog in my mind.

I blinked. “Um… I don’t… pregnant?” The last word came out as a terrified squeak.

She nodded, her brown eyes moving over my face with concern. I must have looked ready to faint… I certainly felt as if I would. I even swayed a little and had to clutch my chair.

“Yes,” she confirmed. “You’re about eight weeks along.”

My poor brain, which was barely processing the shock, struggled to do the calculations. That meant that it happened the first time Alex and I… The night he rescued me from that scary gangster who I found myself involved with because of my brother. I didn’t even suspect pregnancy because I didn’t get my period on the pill so I had none to miss.

“B-but that’s… How…? I’ve been careful. I’m on the pill.”

She nodded, her expression understanding and gentle. “These things happen. The pill isn’t one hundred percent effective and certain factors can decrease efficacy. There’s always a slight chance of pregnancy.”

“What kind of things can decrease effectiveness?” I asked. I needed the reminder because the effectiveness of birth control was something that I hadn’t had to worry about for ages.

The doctor folded her hands on her desk. “Some medications such as antibiotics, failing to take the pill every day…”

“Oh, yeah. Right.” I flopped back in my chair as I recalled finishing a round of antibiotics recently for an ear infection. It was before Alex and I… “I might have missed a day or two of the pill,” I murmured more to myself than to the doctor. Admittedly, I must have missed way more than that. I’d been so preoccupied with all the crap going on in my life. Plus, I wasn’t religious about taking them until my sex life spruced up again.

I fucked up.

“The important thing is to take care of yourself,” Dr. Sutter said gently. “We’ll schedule your next appointment and discuss prenatal care.”

I nodded numbly, barely registering what she said. All I could think about was that I was pregnant by a man who hated me, and there was no way I could tell him…

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