Page 70 of High Stakes

“Not by him,” I say arching a brow.

JP’s mouth falls open, “Holy shit.”

“No fucking way,” snaps Raff. “That baby is not yours.”

“She said it is.”

“And you’re just taking her word for it?” he yells. “Jake would lose his fucking mind if he heard this bullshit.”

“Why would she lie?” I ask, “If it wasn’t mine, she’d keep quiet and raise it with that prick. He’s loaded.”

“So are you,” JP points out.

“Not like him,” I say, finishing my drink and pouring a second. “And now, Bella will never forgive me.”

“What are you gonna do?” asks JP.

“What can I do? She’s keeping it.” I put the drink down and scrub my hands over my face. “I’ve gotta grow up and take responsibility.”

“Just cos she said she’s having your kid, doesn’t mean you have to marry her and settle down,” says Raff.

“I’ve already lost Bella, I may as well accept my fate. Maybe this is karma for what I did to her,” I mutter.

“Are you going to tell her?” JP asks.

I shake my head. “I can’t watch the disappointment in her eyes,” I admit. “I’ve already hurt her so much, and I can’t make this one better, can I? Laurie will always be in my life now. The kindest thing I can do for Bella, is stay away from her.”

Bella

The last couple of weeks have flown by. And as I sit waiting to be called in for my scan, I’m a bundle of nerves. So many things are going through my mind. “What if there is no baby?” I whisper and Cal laughs.

“Why would you think that?” asks Aria, rolling her eyes.

“Tests can be wrong.”

“What if there’s more than one?” asks Aria, gasping.

I stare wide eyed, terror filling me. “Ignore her,” says Cal. “The chances of twins is highly unlikely.”

I sit straighter. “Aiden was a twin,” I hiss.

Cal shrugs, “Still unlikely. Just relax. And Aria, stop winding her up.”

“I need to pee.”

“Hold it. It makes the scan clearer,” Cal instructs.

“How do you know?” asks Aria. “Been to many scans, have you?”

“He’s been reading books about it,” I tell her, rolling my eyes. “He’s taking uncle duties very seriously.”

Aria folds her arms, “You’re such a suck up.”

“I’m prepared so I can answer Bella’s million questions when she wakes me every night with another anxiety attack,” he teases, and I narrow my eyes playfully. The truth is, I am terrified. I’ve been having dreams about Aiden finding out and stealing my baby. Or worse, finding out and demanding he move in with us.

I stand, “I really have to pee,” I say, rushing towards the toilet. The door to the scan room opens and I freeze at the sight of Aiden and Laurie. They don’t immediately see me, but it’s too late for me to back track, I’m within touching distance. They’re staring at the scan pictures she’s clutching, and they’re both smiling.

Laurie sees me first and it must feel like all her Christmases’ have come at once as her grin gets bigger. “Bella, what are you doing here?”

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