Page 7 of Dubious Secrets

Her giggle twists my heart and I stare up at the ceiling. I can’t believe that just happened and I’m not sure how I feel about it. After the night I accidentally fucked Stassie, I chalked it up to an honest mistake and less as cheating with each passing day. An honest mistake that I replayed in my mind every time I fucked my fist, and deluded myself that it still wasn’t cheating. Now I’ve kissed her on purpose, and come in my pants from the mere thought of her pregnant. What the fuck is wrong with me?

Chapter 5

Stassie

When Mary leaves for work,I shower and get dressed. Ryker is in the kitchen when I come out, and he nods at me.

“Want a salad? I’ll cook extra chicken.”

I scrunch my nose, patting my belly. “I’m too nervous to eat.”

He sets the bowl down, facing me and crossing his arms over his chest. “Why are you nervous?”

“Oh I don’t know, maybe because I’m about to confirm for real if I’m carrying your baby.”

His eyebrows raise. “And confirming it at the doctor’s is different than last night?”

I shrug. “Feels like it, no?”

A smile pulls at his lips. “I was thinking about how I hope it’s a boy so then Archibald and I have one up on you girls.”

Rolling my eyes, I grab a banana from the counter and hope it settles my queasy stomach. “I had nightmares of my belly growing so large that my shirts can’t fit over it.”

His eyes drop to my belly and he swallows harshly before turning away from me, but I catch him adjusting himself in his jeans. A flutter of excitement shoots through me. We awkwardly untangled ourselves from each other on the couch last night, and when he went to shower, I locked myself in my room.

“You know if you’re pregnant, I’ll take care of you, right?” he says.

I shrug and Ryker grabs my hand, waiting until I look up at him.

“Whatever you need, Stassie. I’ll get it for you and the baby.”

I give him a half-smile. “Thanks. I don’t want to burden you too much. I’m going to try to pick up some more hours at the coffee shop in the meantime.”

Ryker’s fingers curl tighter, squeezing my hand. “I—I’d prefer it if you quit, actually. If you’re pregnant, I mean. That’s just a lot of hours on your feet.”

My eyes widen and I stare at him incredulously. “And take care of the baby with what money?”

He blows out a breath. “Maybe we’re getting ahead of ourselves until we know for sure, but you know I invested in my brother’s company, right? And it’s doing really well?”

I raise an eyebrow. “Are you saying you’re rich?”

“I’m saying I don’t have to worry about money, and neither would you,” he says with a chuckle.

Shaking my head, I swallow down the unease that’s growing inside me. “You say that now, but what if Mary makes you choose between her or the baby?”

Ryker’s expression falls. “She wouldn’t do that.”

“You don’t know that. I wouldn’t want anything to do with the baby my boyfriend had with someone else,” I say honestly. I’ve always had a problem with sharing, and I’m prone to jealousy. My ex spent nearly every day with me, but any day he didn’t, my mind always jumped to illogical conclusions of him cheating on me. As far as I know he never did, but I couldn’t banish the thoughts.

“You’re not your sister…” Ryker says, trailing off as if to find words that won’t offend me. “I just know that Mary wouldn’t do that. And if by some chance she does, I’ll always choose my kid, okay? If you trust anything, trust that I’m not your parents and I will always put that child above my own needs.”

My eyes sting with the need to cry and I glance away from him, pushing away the ache in my chest.

He clears his throat. “I’m gonna wrap this up for later. You ready to go?”

I nod, squatting down to scratch under Archibald’s chin. “Where have you been all day? You miss me?”

He meows and turns sharply, swinging his tail straight into my face. I scowl as he walks over to Ryker, rubbing against his legs for a few seconds before trotting off toward the bedroom. I think I just got snubbed by a catagain.

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