Page 37 of Hap

I let go. “Oh, I’m sorry. It’s the arthritis, you see,” I lie, adding to the ‘I’m old and no threat’ lie.

She waves it off. “I wouldn’t worry. My gran started getting arthritis in her fifties, too.”

In her fifties?! Did she think I was fucking fifty?I scream to myself. My jaw grits tight as I ball my hands into fists at my sides.

“Ha-ha, oh yes. It’s funny what happens to us when we getold,” Star says, drawing out the word old while glaring at me with a ‘I’ve been fucking watching and listening to you’ glare. “Sometimes they even lose their mind,” Star adds, tilting her head. She breaks eye contact with me and looks at Sandy. “If you could go get ready, you can then begin organising your station,” she orders Sandy.

Sandy gives her a smile and nods. “Sure, it was nice to meet you,” she says sweetly before she starts to walk off.

“Sandy, a word of advice,” Star calls after her. “There are cameras everywhere, so if you so much as look too long, touch, or speak to any man that is here tonight, I will hunt you down in your sleep and cut off your left tit. Do I make myself clear?” Star threatens.

Sandy’s face pales, but she gives Star a curt nod before she scurries off down the hall.

I glare at her. “What the hell?!” I protest.

She turns and grabs me by the elbow, leading me over to the couch. “Sit your ass down there,” she barks, pointing to it. I sit, not arguing with her. She doesn’t scare me as such. I know when I have met my match in an opponent, and Star is definitely a worthy opponent. She takes a seat next to me, her eyes assessing me. “Okay, what the fuck was that all about?” she asks in a no-nonsense tone. I open my mouth to answer, but she holds upa finger, stopping me. “I don’t want a lawyer’s answer, so don’t even try to fob me off or play me like you did her. I saw what you did there,” she adds.

I exhale a long breath and flop back into the couch, groaning as I rub my face. “I’m old,” I whine, like a petulant child. Star should kick my ass. Hell, I would kick my ass. “He’s young, so young, and I may only be able to have this child. I don’t know if I even want any more children yet, and it’s not like I can just take my time to think about it, because I’m not far off menopause age. In fact, I think I know a few women who are going through it at my age. Hap is young, and he has a chance to find someone younger, not just younger than me, but younger than him. With time to date, time to fall in love, and time to have a family. All of those things. Me and Hap can’t be those things. I’m just going to age, to wrinkle, and things will start drooping. Hell! They already are, and I do palates. I can’t compete with the Sandys, and while it might feel okay now, in two or five years time, I don’t think I will feel okay,” I admit as I offload my feelings.

“Okay, I get it. As a woman, there are certain pressures to keeping everything tight. I understand that after having Enzo. I was terrified of having weak flaps. I would dream that on a strong windy day, and they would just start flapping all over the place, so much I’d nearly trip over them.” She smirks. I can’t fight the smile on my face at her words. She sighs, all humour leaving her expression. She leans her elbow on the back of the couch, resting her head in her palm. “You are one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen. You are not only stunning; you are fierce. You are a complete fucking powerhouse; you are caring, and I know you will make an amazing mother.”

I shake my head. “You don’t have to say all those things, okay? I’m not fishing for attention or anything. I’m thinking logically and rationally. I’m saving myself from the heartbreak and disappointment that I know will come. I’ve been hurt before,and it stings a lot. I don’t want to go through that again, and I get the feeling that with Hap, it will sting all the more,” I confess. The ache is already building in my chest at the thought, which only certifies my decision that if it hurts this much now, I know I won’t survive it further down the line.

“You love him,” Star says softly.

I shake my head. “No, no. It’s not love.”

Star snorts, like I’m full of shit. “Okay, it’s not love. So you’re telling me that you’re more than fine with little miss perky rubbing herself up against him tonight? You know he isn’t going to go near her,” Star affirms.

I roll my eyes. “Come on, he’s not blind. Did you see her? It’s only fair that he has options, a way out. I won’t hold it against him. He will realise that I’m not right for him. Right now all he can see is that I’m carrying his baby. It’s just his testosterone kicking in, the caveman in him wanting to stake his claim while thumping his chest. Without this,” I say, gesturing to my bump. “I wouldn’t be sat here now. I would never have seen Hap again.”

Star’s mouth pulls into a thin line. she knows I’m right. “Fine,” she says, holding up her hands in defeat. “You want to play it this way, then that’s on you, but I am betting you that you are wrong about him. I think had you crossed paths again, regardless of carrying his kid, then you’d still be here. You’d still be fucking like rabbits, and he would still choose you over everyone else, and you refer yourself as old one more time, I swear I’m going to flick your nipple,” she threatens.

I burst out laughing. “Flip my nipple?” I snort.

Her lips twitch into a grin. “Yes, as I know how sensitive those fuckers are when pregnant, and I won’t hit a pregnant woman. No matter how much you need some sense slapped into you.”

“So, is this a bet?” I ask, raising my brow.

Star’s grin widens. “I knew I liked you. There are security cameras everywhere. We can sit and watch tonight while we are back at the house. No betting, because I will be right, and when he works out that you set this up, good luck with that,” she mocks.

“Well, it won’t happen now, as you just threatened Sandy’s left tit,” I point out.

Star’s eyes widen. “Shit, you’re right. Hold that thought.” She bolts out of the couch and goes after Sandy. “Sandy, wait! There is one guy you can rub yourself up against!” she yells.

“Who’s got the popcorn?”I ask.

“Here.” Belle hands me the large bowl, and I take a big handful.

We are all sat in the living room with the security camera’s live feed streaming onto the large TV screen.

“How did you even manage to get this to work?” Josie asks as she dips her chip into the seven layer dip Nova made.

“I may have given my brother a little call.” Maggie smirks. “He talked me through shit via video call.” Maggie clinks her wine glass with Star.

“Oooh, is that her?” Rhea asks, pointing excitedly as she takes a bite of her red liquorice.

“Yeah, that’s her,” I answer, my lip curling in disgust at her tiny black hotpants that barely covers her perky round ass. That’s when I spy her white shirt. I mean, how many buttons can she have undone?! She may as well just walk around with her tits out. “I thought she was running the blackjack table, not fucking stripping,” I huff, feeling jealousy growing, and for the first time I’m starting to regret my decision. Star nudges me with her elbow, a knowing smirk on her face. “Yeah, yeah. Just shut up and drink your wine,” I mutter. Star laughs and drinks her wine.

---