Page 89 of High Stakes

Raff laughs, “Shit, you punched him.”

“Right!”

“Why did they lie?”

I shrug. “She said it was a spur of the moment thing when she saw me with Laurie.”

“Who’s the father then?”

“She didn’t tell me.”

Raff sits opposite me. “Do you think you know him?”

I frown, “I do now.”

He grins, “Just weird she won’t say.”

I shrug, “I didn’t really push her to be honest. I just wanted to get out of there. She said I didn’t know him.”

“Unless you do and that’s why she won’t say.”

“She only knows you and JP,” I point out.

“And you,” he adds. I stare, waiting for him to continue. “What if it was yours?”

I scoff, “Don’t be ridiculous. She’d have just told me.”

“Would she?” he asks. “She saw you with Laurie, why would she announce it after that?”

“I mean before that, she’d have called me when she found out.”

“She was really angry and upset, Aiden. I’m not convinced she’d tell you. How far along was she?” I shrug, realising I’ve never actually asked her. “Don’t you think you should find out?”

I groan, scrubbing my hands over my face. “She’ll never tell me now, I’ve just walked out because she lied about Cal.”

“So go to the source of the lie. Ask Cal, it’s the least he owes you.”

Cal is in the park. He wasn’t hard to find seeing as he conducts most of his sessions here. I wait for him to finish up with his client before heading over. He eyes me warily, maybe expecting another punch, instead, I hold out myhand for him to shake. After a few seconds, he grips it firmly. “I’m sorry,” I say. “I shouldn’t have hit you. My feelings towards you came from a jealous place,” I admit. “And now Bella’s finally explained everything, I realise I was out of order.”

He nods, “I appreciate your apology.”

I hand him the bottle of water I purchased from the hut on the park, and he takes it gratefully. I take a seat on a nearby bench, cupping my coffee. “I just can’t get my head around it all.”

He sits beside me, “Yeah, it’s a lot.”

“And I realised I never even asked her how far along she was,” I admit, I give my head a sad shake. “I was so pissed she lied, I just walked out.”

“Bella hates lies,” he tells me. “And I shouldn’t have forced that on her. I just saw her struggling when she was faced with you and Laurie together,” he sighs heavily, “She’d already been through so much.”

“Thanks to me,” I mutter.

“Which is why she didn’t want to tell you when she found out.” He takes a mouthful of water. “Me and Aria said she should tell you the truth. But you really hurt her, Aiden.”

“I know,” I mutter.

“And she said you didn’t want to be a father, that you weren’t ready.” I stiffen at his words, but he continues, not noticing. “But I’m glad she finally told you. Now you can start a fresh with no lies standing in the way.”

I get to my feet, rage pulsing through me. “Thanks for the chat. I should go and see Bella now.” And I stride off in the direction of the shop.

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