Page 46 of The Nanny's Bossy Billionaire

“I did. I was, but I think I missed a couple—”

“You missed a couple! Jesus, Brooke, howcould you have been so careless?” I roar.

“Xavier, please stop shouting at me. You could take some responsibility too. You’ve never ever used protection, not even the first time.”

“Because you said you were on the pill!”

“But you didn’t know me then,” she shoots back. “How many girls could be walking around pregnant by you?”

It’s impossible because I’ve never ever gone without protection. Not even with Taylor. Still, the mental image her words paint crushes my chest in a tight fist, and I hyperventilate. I don’t know what comes over me when I say, “And so how do I know it’s mine if you’d let a man you don’t know fuck you without protection?”

She recoils as if she’d been hit and visibly pales. Her eyes fill with tears.

“Xavier, please don’t be ugly about this.”

“I’m a fucking idiot for believing you.”

“I swear I didn’t lie, I didn’t. I—I had a lot on my mind and just forgot.” She’s sobbing now. Seeing her cry is torture; my skin feels on fire with the need to take her in my arms and tell her it’ll be okay. But I can’t make myself touch her.It’s not going to be okay. She’s pregnant, for Christ’s sake!

My throat closes, and I yank off the first few buttons of my shirt. Still, the air feels cloying and heavy. I need some air. I can’t do this… I don’t realize I’ve said that out loud until she says, “What do you mean?”

“I mean, I need to leave. Right now.” I grab my jacket.

“Xavier, please let’s talk about—”

I yank open her bedroom door and come face to face with Stella, who leaps a foot away from the door as if she’s been standing next to it. She’s livid. “That woman loves you and trusts you, and I truly believed you were a decent human being.Guess what? You hurt her more in the last ten minutes than her ex did in a whole year.” She points to the front door. “Get the hell out and don’t ever come near my friend again.”

I’m numb, which is why Stella’s words don’t sink in. Or maybe it’s the damned ringing in my ears. As soon as I get outside, I take huge gulps of calming breaths. My heart rate slows and my knees weaken. I need to lie down before I collapse.

I don’t remember the thirty-minute drive home, but as soon as I get in, my bed calls to me like a siren and I gratefully collapse into it. Brooke’s smell envelopes me and I take a deep breath, filling my nostrils. I need her. Badly.But she’s pregnant. I got her pregnant. I’m a fucking selfish asshole.

I pick up my phone and scroll down to a number I never thought I’d call again. It rings off. He’s busy. Obviously. My phone starts to ring almost immediately.

“Hello, Dr. Carlson,” I say.

“Xavier. What a pleasure. How can I help?”

“I was hoping I could come and see you.”

Chapter Seventeen

Brooke

I’m sitting at thesmall kitchen dining table, nibbling on the lunch Stella made me.

It’s been twelve days since Xavier stormed out of the house and I still haven’t heard from him. I’ve given myself a migraine trying to wrap his reaction around my head. He switched right before my eyes, turning into a different person entirely with an ashen face and crazed eyes. I get that he detests the idea of having a baby that much, but surely by now he would have calmed down enough that we can at least discuss it like normal adults. But as he’s not picking up calls or returning any of my messages, he obviously doesn’t want anything to do with me.

I tell myself the reason I keep trying to reach him is that I’m worried about him and not that, in spite of everything, I’m so lovesick I’m craving the sound of his voice.

I can’tnothave this baby. Still, I wait for him. To tell me to go jump off a bridge, or that he’ll play his part… anything, just talk to me. Stella and I have worked out I’m around sevenor eight weeks. I started to take pregnancy vitamins and booked myself into antenatal already because I want this baby with a fierceness that shocks me. And part of the reason is that it’s Xavier’s.

How pathetic is that?

I pick up my phone and start scrolling down my recent calls.

“Brooke, don’t do that.” Stella has been hovering, making sure I eat my dinner. “Don’t obsess. You’ve sent him enough messages. Any more and you’d be begging. And I will not let you do that.”

She’s been so angry I worry she’ll give herself a heart attack. I guess she feels responsible for pushing me toward the guy in the first place. Although she didn’t make me have unprotected sex. No, that part is all on me.

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