Page 85 of Pretend for Me

“I get to stay with you forever that means.” I laughed, thinking back to our first encounter.

Matthew pressed his lips to mine. I kissed him back roughly and began ripping off his clothes. He quickly helped me out of mine. I straddled his hips, sinking down on him, moaning as I did, causing him to throw his head back in pleasure.

Rolling around having kitchen floor sex—what a way to make things come full circle.

As we baskedin the afterglow of our lovemaking, still on the kitchen floor, our phones simultaneously pinged, alerting us of incoming text messages.

My phone was closest, nestled in my jeans pocket under Matthew’s left leg, so I opened the home screen and saw a group text from Holden.

“Holy shit!” I gasped, looking at Matthew.

He grabbed the phone from my hand and saw the shocking message. It was a birth announcement featuring a picture of a stork carrying a baby. In bright pink font, it read “it’s a girl.”

I did the math and there was no way Bridget could have been pregnant, let alone have given birth already. She was wearing a skin-tight dress just last week for God's sake.

Matthew dialed Holden’s number from my phone as he sat up from the floor.

“Hello, proud daddy speaking.” It was obvious by the way his tone echoed joyously through the speakerphone that Holden was beaming with pride over his new role.

“What the hell is this, Holden?” Matthew demanded, but amusement was clear in his tone.

“Is that any way to speak in front of my new daughter? You’re on the carphone,” he scolded, making a tsking sound.

“Daughter?” I inquired, trying to make sense of the whole thing.

“Yes, our daughter. Well, soon-to-be anyways,” Bridget chimed in, sounding happier than ever.

“What?” Matthew started but was quickly cut off by none other than Charlotte.

“Yes, Matty. I’m getting adopted by these two suckers,” Charlie said giddily.

“Well, first, we have to foster you, you know that, Charlotte, but if all goes well and your good behavior continues, the case worker said he sees no interference coming our way,” Bridget explained. “And don’t ever dare call me a sucker again.” She spoke in the same no-nonsense manner that she often did at the restaurant.

“Yes, ma’am, or should I say Mom?” Charlie chuckled, and then a slapping sound rang out.

“That’s my girl,” Holden said, no doubt giving Charlotte a high five.

Matthew and I looked at each other, taken aback.

“Congratulations!” Matthew bellowed. “I’m so happy Charlotte is finally getting the family she deserves.”

“I never wanted kids until this pipsqueak,” Bridget admitted.

Charlie shrieked, “Ow, you pinched me too hard. That’s child abuse, you know?”

Bridget snorted, and Holden chimed in, “You’re right. Cool it, Bee.”

Next thing I heard was Holden yelping for help. Bridget must have hit him.

“Oh, Audrey is calling back, no doubt she was busy being gaga over Vet Boy. I’ll call you back,” Bridget mumbled quickly, and the line clicked over.

“Charlotte is a mini-Holden so this is really a match made in heaven for all of them. They are good people. Charlie is in goodhands. I’m happy for them,” Matthew expressed as soon as we got off the phone.

“Yeah.” I took a deep breath, realizing I didn’t congratulate Charlotte on getting a family.

As mad as I was at the girl who I once considered a sister, I couldn’t not congratulate her on what was supposed to be one of the happiest days of her life.

I looked at Matthew, swaying a little as I grabbed the phone from him.

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