Page 54 of Billionaire Temptations

“You’re about six weeks. Do you have an OB/GYN?”

“No. I just moved to New York about three months ago.”

“I’ll give you the card of a wonderful obstetrician. I want you to call him and make an appointment within the week. When you do, have his office call the hospital, and we’ll send over your medical file. Is the dad in the picture?” she asked.

I shook my head.

“Well, you have options. I want you to go home, get off your feet for the rest of the weekend, and relax. Your baby was telling you to slow down. I’ll tell your friends they can come back in. You can get dressed.”

Kara and Molly walked back into the room and grabbed my hands.

“You’re going to have a baby.” Molly smiled.

Kara didn’t say a word. She just gave me a sympathetic look. The three of us took a cab back to my apartment. I changed into my pajamas and climbed into bed.

“When are you going to tell Max?” Kara asked as she sat on the edge of the bed.

“I don’t know. I still have to process the fact that I’m pregnant. I can’t believe this is happening to me.” I started to cry.

“Aw, come here.” She wrapped her arms around me. “Everything will work out. You have Molly and me here, plus Aubrey will be here in another month.”

“How the hell am I going to tell my mom?”

“Your mom will understand, Emma. You’re twenty-four years old. It’s not like you’re sixteen.”

“Don’t you see? This is history repeating itself. This baby isn’t going to have a father just like I didn’t.”

“You’re not going to tell Max?”

“You read the letter, Kara. He left me. He couldn’t even say goodbye. He can’t even commit to one woman. Do you think he can be a father to a kid? And besides, he’s gone. He’s not even in New York anymore, and I don’t think he plans to return.”

Molly walked into the room and handed me a cup of tea. “Did I hear you right that you’re not going to tell Max? I don’t blame you. I wouldn’t tell that piece of shit, either. You’re going to be fine, Emma. Oh my God, we’re going to have a baby!”

“Who are you going to say the father is when people ask?”

“I’ll just tell them that it was a one-night stand with some guy I met at a bar. Let people think I’m a whore. Whatever. Thank you for taking care of me, but I’m really tired right now and just want to go to sleep.”

“Okay. Text us if you need anything.” Kara and Molly hugged me goodbye and left.

As I lay in bed, sipping my tea, I placed my hand on my belly; still, in shock, there was a baby growing inside of me. I didn’t want to be like my mom and raise a kid alone. I had a vision where I was married, and we’d find out together that I was pregnant. We’d go through the pregnancy together, and the love of my life would be in the delivery room when his child was born. I wasn’t supposed to be a single parent. Was I even ready to be a mom? I could barely take care of myself, let alone a baby, all on my own.

Chapter Twenty-One

Thanksgiving was in a few days,and I booked a flight back to Miami. My mom had been bugging me to fly home for Thanksgiving because she desperately missed me. School had ended yesterday for break, and I was more than ready to leave the cold weather behind, if only for a few days. I had told Hannah and Austin that I was pregnant, and they flipped. When they asked who the father was, I told them with shame that it was a one-night stand.

I packed my suitcase and took a cab to the airport. Kara and Molly were staying back in New York for Thanksgiving because they had to work on Friday. They were going to cook a turkey for the first time, and I wished I was there to watch them. But I needed my mom more than ever now, and I needed to tell her about the baby. I was so scared.

When I stepped off the plane, I took in a deep breath as I walked through the airport.

“Emma!” I heard my mom yell as she waved both hands in the air.

The minute I saw her, I started to cry.

“Oh, baby. Let me look at you.” She smiled as she placed her hands on my face.

“Hi, Mom.” I hugged her tight. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too, sweetheart. Come on. Let’s go home.”

---