Page 245 of The Baby Bargain

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But it feels too fucking good holding her.

It's perfect.

And then it's not.

Voices flow into the room. Something about showing someone an office.

Then the door pulls open.

Ariel jumps backward.

I smooth my t-shirt.

Forest stares at me like I'm the scum of the Earth. "What the fuck?"

"Forest—" Ariel steps forward, protecting me.

I can't let her do that. I can't fuck up any more families.

I hold out my arm. Stand in front of her. "This was all—"

"You got my sister pregnant?" His eyes fill with pure hate. "What the fuck, Chase?"

Ariel's face flushes. With embarrassment. And anger. "What… But… How…"

"Maybe we should go." Skye tugs at Forest's shirt. "This isn't our—"

"What? You love her too much for a condom? What bullshit did you feed her?" Forest glares at me.

"No…" Ariel steps sideways. I try to reach for her, but she ignores me. Her gaze goes to her brother. "I don't have to justify anything to you. This is my life. And my business. And Chase didn't… I asked him to do this."

Forest's face streaks with disbelief. "What?"

Skye clears her throat.

Forest ignores her. "You—"

"No, I don't." Ariel steps forward. She stares daggers at your brother. "If you'll excuse me, I'm going home."

"No you're not." He holds his arms. Adopts a protective older brother stance.

This is their battle.

But I have to do my part to ease the tension. "This was my fault." My chest gets heavy. This is what I have to do. I hate it, but I don't have a choice. "I asked Ariel to keep it a secret. I asked her to lie."

"Chase—" Ariel squeaks. "That's not—"

"Of course, it's your fault, asshole. She's in love with you. Everyone knows she's in love with you, and you're, what, using her to get over Grace?" Forest's eyes narrow. "Fuck you." He glares. "Leave before I do something I regret."

Skye pulls at his shirt. Pleads words that run together.

Everything runs together.

He's right.

I'm fucking this up.

I'm the problem again.

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