Page 20 of The Secrets that Surround Us

Both ladies stand there grinning and nodding. Tears well up in my eyes. I can’t believe someone would do this for me. I didn’t even know these ladies that much before I called Hazel asking for help. I blink the tears away, not allowing them to fall.

Alex comes up behind me, pulling me into his chest. He probably can see how hard this is for me. “It looks great ladies.” Giving them a wink, he breathes into the shell of my ear, “Save me a piece.”

Turning into his arms, I look up at him. “You’re not staying?”

“Nah. Mateo, Dexter and Ricky want to take me to grab a beer while you ladies enjoy yourself.” he replies sheepishly. That’s when I realize maybe Alex doesn’t really like to be the center of attention, either.

Leaning down he kisses the tip of my nose, “Don’t worry, I’ll be back intime to take you and that mountain home.” He gestures to the living room.

Two hours later, I’m sitting in a huge wing-backed chair next to the fireplace surrounded by Hazel, Cecilia, and their friends who decided I should be a part of their crew, too. When all the ladies showed up, I couldn’t help but feel a little guilty and, of course, hormone tears fell at the idea that these ladies were wasting a day at a party for someone they didn’t even know.

The ladies though, assured me they wanted to meet me, telling me how both Hazel and Cecilia have been talking me up, and they were all just using this baby shower to force me to meet everyone. I couldn’t help but smile at the image of them trying to make a plan to force me to socialize.

Taking another huge bite of cake, I murmur. “This is delicious. Thank you, ladies.”

“You’re welcome. Full confession Dexter had his friend Blanche teach us how to do it.” Cecilia confesses while Hazel glares at her.

Everyone lets out a huge laugh when Kimberly jumps up and says, “I knew it! I knew you didn’t make this all by yourself.” She points at Hazel, still laughing, “You’re the one who makes her mom bake her cookies.”

Hazel stands up and puts her hands on her hips. “Shut up, Kimberly. You suck at cooking. Besides, not all of us can be in love with a billionaire.”

“Well, not everyone can have a man carved out of stone, now, can they?” she counters with a quirked eyebrow.

My eyes bounce between each lady. This argument is super weird. I mean, are they really arguing and putting each other down? It sounds more like a compliment battle. A grin spreads across my face as I realize I want to be a part of this group.

We all giggle and laugh a little while longer before Alex and his brother’s bursts through the doors. My eyes connect with Alex across the room, and I can feel an electric current run through my body. Everything around us fades as we stare at each other. As if he is on autopilot, he walks toward me with a soft smile on his face. Once he’s in front of me, he leans down and places, his hands on the arms of the chair, caging me in. I peer up at him through my lashes, waiting to see what he’s going to do next, praying that he’ll kiss me. Just one soft kiss. When he closes the gap between us my wish is granted when he brushes his lips against mine.

My body reacts instantly, and now I suddenly don’t have any clue why I kept him at arm’s length. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I melt into the kiss, deepening it. I need to be as close to him as possible. I know that I’m falling in love with him. There is no need to keep away anymore. It will be impossible. The world comes back into view when I hear a wolf whistle from behind Alex and my cheeks heat as I pull away. Making it worse, Alex grins, muttering against my lips, “I love it when you blush, love.”

He stands up and, turns back to the group as they banter back and forth. A pain in my chest hits me hard when I think about how my family was never like this. I’ve never had supportive people before in my life, and now my parents will probably never be a part of my daughter’s life.

Neither my dad nor my mom has reached out to me or checked on me. For all they know, I could be on the streets, starving, being exposed to who knows what. They erased me so easily. If it weren’t for Alex, I don’t know how I would’ve survived any of this. Alex must sense the melancholy mood within me because he moves close and cups my face.

“Are you ready to go?”

“Yes, please. I’m tired.”

“Okay, love. Let’s go.” He guides me toward the car. I slouch down into the passenger seat as I watch him and his brothers load the back of the car with all the gifts from everyone. Cradling my stomach, I can’t comprehend how parents could just abandon their child like that. I know deep in my bones that will never happen with my children.

When Alex finally gets into the car, I can’t help it. I need to touch him. Ground myself. So, I place my hand on his thigh. He grips it with his. That’s when he takes me in and furrows his brows. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

Having someone ask me about myself and emotions is so new, which brings my parents up again in my thoughts. And I can’t stop it. Even though I try taking a gulp, I sob out my worst fears that I have barely admitted to myself. “I was never enough for my parents. What if I’m not enough for our daughter, or you?”

He cups my cheeks, pulling my face up to his as he demands, “Love, look at me.”

“You are everything I could ever imagine for myself. You are the perfect woman to be the mother of my child. You will always be enough.”

I scoff at him. “Don’t worry, I’ll spend the rest of our lives proving it. Because Fiona, I love you.” With that declaration from the heart, he crashes his mouth to mine.

Proving to me I belong with him.

Chapter fourteen

Fiona

Over the next few weeks, Alexand I get the nursery ready. He was able to recruit Mateo and Dexter to come over and paint the room the most perfect lilac. Thinking about how we came up with the color brings a smile to my face.

“How about this pink? "Alex shows me a sample of a bright neon pink.

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