Page 35 of Kinks of a Billionaire
She shrugged. “Raphael.”
I frowned. “Why is he keeping tabs on me?”
She waved her hand. “He keeps tabs on everyone close to us. It comes with the territory.”
“Tell him to stop.” I glanced over to where the men stood around, drinking whiskey.
Aurora scoffed.
“I think that ship has sailed. Do you know these men at all? And don’t think for a second Royce is any different.”
I opened my mouth to argue but then closed it. She was right. Every single one of Aurora’s brothers was overbearing and overprotective. I knew my friends’ husbands were no different.
“So how about a toast?” Sailor suggested, sliding a fresh glass of champagne to me and Aurora. I eyed it debating whether I should pretend to sip on it or not even bother. I decided for the latter.
“Since when do you turn champagne down?” Aurora challenged, causing me to flush crimson under her attention.
Sailor shot to her feet. “Hold on, I know what you want.”
She bolted toward the bar my parents set up while Aurora leaned forward, her eyes locked on me.
“You’re knocked up.” Her gaze fell to my abdomen, almost as if she was wearing X-ray glasses and could see through me. “Aren’t you, Willow?”
On the way over from the church, Royce and I agreed we’d keep the pregnancy a secret for a while longer, and though it made sense, it was so damn hard. If there was one thing I knew for certain, it was that my friends didn’t judge me. In this case, I was my own worst enemy.
“Don’t say anything.” The past twenty-four hours had been a whirlwind, but I didn’t want to start my new life on lies. “It’s just that…” I faltered.
“What?” Sailor returned, glancing between us, clearly picking up on the tension in the air. “What’s going on?”
Aurora sighed. “It’s Willow’s story to tell, so I won’t push.” She leaned back in her seat, taking another sip of champagne. “Although, if it’s true, it would be great timing considering Sailor is knocked up and Alexei and I are trying for another baby.”
“What?” Sailor’s squeal nearly pierced my ears.
I shot Aurora a disapproving look.
“That wasn’t subtle at all,” I remarked wryly.
She grinned unapologetically, shrugging her shoulders. “Just saying…”
Sailor popped one of mymãe’s homemade cookies into her mouth and moaned. “God, these are almost as good as sex.”
I rolled my eyes. “That’s sad.”
“Oh, don’t worry, sex with Raphael is excellent. He’s insatiable—which is why I need to replenish my energy.” She grinned around a mouthful of cookie.
Aurora sighed. “It would be so nice if the three of us could have babies around the same time. I’d love for our kids to grow up together.”
Guilt niggled at me as I traced patterns on the table. Would she feel the same if she knew that the baby wasn’t Royce’s? My skin heated. I really messed this up. The worst part was that I had no fucking idea how. I always used protection.
I met my best friends’ attentive gazes. It was almost as if they knew I was keeping a secret.
“I have something to tell you both,” I grumbled. “But you cannot tell my parents. Not yet anyhow.”
This was humiliating. I felt like I’d done everything wrong.
As if one unit, Aurora and Sailor leaned in.
“The baby is Stuart’s.” There. I blurted it out and there was no retracting it. No more lying.
