Page 85 of Enemies, Lovers & A Valentine's Baby

“I’ll tell you later. Shouldn’t you be off serenading your wife or something? Don’t you have a present for her?” I try not to rollmy eyes at the way his smile instantly softens when I mention Sue.

It’s the first time that I truly understand.

“Yes, but Sue won’t leave here until she’s seen her best friend who seems to be running a little late,” he says, leaning back in his chair. “So—oh, speak of the devil,” he chuckles, his eyes trained now on something behind me.

I follow his gaze, turning around to see what he’s staring at.

The breath instantly gets stuck in my throat, my heart rate accelerating. Lila steps into the room, her silver dress catching the light and scattering it like starlight. Her hair tumbles in soft waves, framing her face, which is lit with the kind of smile that could stop time. She takes gentle strides in her clear slippers to where Sue is already waiting for her with outstretched arms.

She looks absolutely stunning, like she’s been plucked straight out of a fairytale.

For a moment, it’s just her. The room fades away. The noise dims. There’s only Lila, and I’m powerless against the pull of her.

“I need a moment,” I say gruffly, getting off the stool and disappearing into the hallway just beyond the door. The air in the ballroom feels suffocating and I can’t stay. Not when every nerve in my body is screaming at me to go to her, to touch her.

I can’t forget what’s happening between us, yet my heart still yearns for her. My entire body burns with the need to be near her.

It’s going to be a long fucking night.

I continue my walk down the hallway, in search of the restroom. I make my way to the sink, splashing some cold water on my face. My knuckles grip the edge of the sink, white and strained.

“Get it together, man,” I growl.

I stare at my reflection in the small bathroom mirror, forcing myself to take deep, calming breaths.

If I’m such a mess just at the sight of her, what’s going to happen when I have to talk to her?

“You need to pull yourself together,” I mutter again to myself.

Pushing through the doors of the restroom, I make my way back down the hallway, ready to get back into the party. I’m just about to round the corner, when the sound of a familiar voice just on the other side catches my attention. I halt in my tracks, listening for just a moment longer. Is that…Sue?

Brows drawn tightly together, I contemplate just walking past her regardless. Yet, I don’t move. Something tells me to stay put, ears involuntarily tuned trying to make out what she’s saying. Who’s she talking to? It’s probably Greg.

I turn around to head back when her next words stop me dead in my tracks.

“You have no idea how happy I was when you told me,” Sue says. “I know how hard it’s been for you thinking you’d lost your dream of ever being able to have kids. My heart was broken for you, and I’ve said a thousand prayers for you, because if anyone deserves to be a mother it’s you. I just couldn’t accept that the universe could be so cruel.”

“Thank you, Sue! Those prayers worked, because they told me this was impossible for me, that I’d never be able to have kids, and now miraculously there’s life growing inside of me. I mean. I—I just have no words to express how happy and grateful I am,” Lila whispers.

Her voice is so small I have to strain to hear it, but my heart instantly drops into the pit of my stomach as her words hit me like a freight train. My chest tightens, and I lean against the wall, suddenly unsteady.

She never lied to me. She wasn’t trying to deceive me.

“I’m so happy for you, Lila. You deserve the entire world, and I’m so glad that this—I just…” she trails off, and the sound of sniffling comes through as emotions take over.

I don’t even dare breathe, for fear that they might hear me. Instead, I just stand there frozen, my brain trying to make sense of everything I’m hearing.

“Aw, don’t cry, Sue. If you cry, then I’m going to start crying,” Lila sniffles, and my heart skips a bit at the sound. All I want to do is wrap her up in my arms.

“I still can’t believe we’re pregnant at the same time,” Sue says, her voice tinged with amazement. “We’re going to have the cutest babies, and they’re going to be best friends. After all, their dads and moms are best friends, so they don’t even have a choice,” she laughs, a light, joyful sound, and Lila chuckles softly along with her.

Pregnant at the same time? Sue’s pregnant? Greg never mentioned this. I push away the slight twinge of guilt that I hadn’t told him about Lila’s pregnancy either. The two of us clearly have a lot to talk about.

Sue’s laughter fades as she sighs, her tone taking a sharp dive. “Too bad their dads are assholes.”

My ears perk up again. I can understand why Sue would say that about me; I have been acting like an asshole, but why would she think that about Greg? That’s not like her. They literally worship the ground the other walks on.

What the hell is going on?

---