Page 68 of Fake Fiancée for Dad's Best Friend
In fact, I haven’t had any since my arrival in the city six weeks ago. I’ve been vaguely aware of the fact, but been busy adjusting to my new life that I keep ignoring it. So now I’m at least a month late. This isn’t good, is it? Am I pregnant? No way. I didn’t think it was possible when I told Alex to skip the condom. I made the suggestion on the spur of the moment so I might’ve miscalculated the days.
I regret my impulse now. I have no doubt Alex will take care of the baby and me like he promised, but I don’t want to use my pregnancy to tie him down. I’ve gotten him into enough trouble already. Besides, what about school? I don’t want to quit it but Alex might want me to.
“Are you okay?” Cody’s voice startles me, and I drop the pregnancy kit back to the shelf.
“Yes, I am,” I say and begin to walk away, hoping he hasn’t noticed it.
“Pregnancy test. Why’re you checking that?” he asks, frowning.
Shit. He probably recognizes the test tubes. “I…err, nothing.”
“Have you been seeing someone?” he doesn’t let me off the hook.
“No!” I say. “I mean, not lately.”
“I knew it,” he says with a smirk. “You’re hiding something from me.”
I’m suddenly overwhelmed with shame. After all, Cody is a friend and he never hides his relationships from me.
“I’m sorry,” I say. “It’s just complicated, and I’m not proud of what I’ve done. But I’ll tell you soon, okay?”
He nods with concern in his eyes. “I hope the guy is worth it.”
I smile. “He’s okay. But it’s over.”
“You look sad,” he says. “Do you love him?”
“What?” I look around to see whether there are shoppers around. “I don’t want to talk about it now.”
“Okay.” He nods again, taking a box of the test and dropping it into the cart. “Tell me on our way home.”
Chapter 29
Alex
“This should be it,” the taxi driver stops in front of an ancient building on Quai Voltaire, a historic street in Paris, along the Seine River.
I pay him and steps out of the car and walk toward the gate painted blue. I’ve seen the picture of the building, and it doesn’t look as old as this. I cringe as I ring the bell. There are many cars parking parallel to the street and quite a number of people walking along the river across to it. It doesn’t look as safe as I thought. I frown and push the door buzzer button, but no one answers. I haven’t texted or called Vivian to tell her I’m coming to Paris because I wanted to surprise her.
Seeing a coffee shop not far from the apartment, I go over there, order a drink and sit down at a sidewalk table where I can observe the apartment's entrance. Where is Vivian? I know her schedule. It’s three o’clock and she should be home. Most of her classes are in the mornings, and she usually comes home at around noon. I’ve transferred twice the amount of money we agreed on to her bank account so she wouldn’t have to work while studying. My motive is partly selfish. I want her to be able to finish school soon and return to New York.
I’m halfway through my coffee when a silver Peugeot squeezes into the one parking spot left in front of the apartment building, and the doors open. A good-looking, lanky young man steps out of the driver’s side, and I recognize him right away. Amanda Lee’s son. What’s he doing here? I don’t have to wonder for long because a young woman with a ponytail gets out of the passenger side. Vivian. My heart leaps when I see her. She’s in a long-sleeve, floral blouse over jeans. I want to stand up and go to her right away, but I’m crippled by jealousy and suspicion. Why are they together? I watch the two of them go to the back of the car, laughing as they carry out grocery bags.
So they’ve gone shopping together, like a couple. I clench my fist.
“Let me carry that one. It’s heavy with the wines,” Cody says to Vivian. I hate him even though he’s considerate.
“I got it!” Vivian insists, taking the bags to the apartment gate.
From the expression on the young man’s face, I have no doubt he wants more than friendship from her. How could he not? Vivian is beautiful, brilliant, and sweet. I watch Vivian opens the gate with her key, and the two of them go inside.
I can hardly stand it any longer. I have no doubt they’re living together. The apartment has two bedrooms. She may be renting one out to him, or he simply comes over to stay with her. Neither possibility has crossed my mind before, and neither is tolerable to me.
The joy I envisioned seeing her just a moment ago vanishes without a trace. I’ve flown seven hours across the Atlantic to prove I’m a fool. What made me think Vivian would take our fake marriage seriously as I did? Why did I believe her when she said there was nothing between Cody and her?
Seeing a Taxi driving by, I have the impulse to stop it. I need to get out of here, go back to the airport. But my rational self takes control of me and I take a deep breath.Calm down, Alex.It might not be what it seems. Maybe the lad is here to help Vivian with grocery shopping. She doesn’t have a car, so it must be inconvenient. I suggested leasing her a car, but she said it would be challenging to drive in the city. Now I regret not insisting on it.
Vivian soon comes back down to take another bag from the trunk.
