Page 88 of Vicious Arrangement
Aria’s pregnant?
Chapter Twenty-Three
ARIA
I’m beyond tired,and more than a little nauseous to be anything more than grateful today’s shift was a single.
Angus is usually waiting for me by the lift door whenever I get home. Because short of locking the pocket doors, he can nudge them open. So I’m slightly shocked what’s waiting for me in the great room isn’t Angus, but Noah.
And he’s pacing.
Not a good sign.
“What…” I trail off. My gaze locks onto the lavender glittery phone case in his hands, the cover a gift from Katie. “Why do you have my phone?”
For a moment, a dark anger beats in my veins. Then my stomach twists and turns, my heart beating rapid fire fast.
My phone… I don’t… there’s no lock on it because if I’ve got to check it quickly at the hospital I don’t want to mess with a mask if I’m wearing one, or remembering a pin.
Shit. Fuck.
I meet his gaze, and it’s a full on violent storm looking back.
He knows.
He fucking knows.
And an answering storm whips through me as I stalk over to him and reach for my phone.
Noah’s taller than me, and he holds the phone out of reach.
I glare and jump, trying to reach it. “Give it to me.”
“Why? Something on there you don’t want me to see?”
Oh yeah, he definitely knows. “I can explain?—”
“Explain what?” His eyes blaze, belying the silk and calm his voice exudes. There’s not a single calm thing about him. “You mean explain the fact you’re pregnant and everyone in the world knows apart from me? Explain why you didn’t bother to tell me?”
“I was going to tell you, you idiot,” I say, “but listen to you. Is it any wonder I didn’t rush up and tell you the moment I found out?”
His lips curl and he laughs harshly. “Is it even mine?”
I reel back. What? For a moment I’m nonplussed. What kind of question is that? Who would I be seeing? I’m not the type to sleep around or be chased by swathes of men like he seems to be hinting at.
I’d laugh if the situation weren’t filled with a rough and dangerous fury.
“What the fuck do you mean, is it yours? Who else would it belong to? I can’t reproduce on my own, and there hasn’t been anyone but you for a very long time.” I stop, fighting the urge to throw up at all the meanings in his accusation. “And by that, I mean a very long time before I even met you. Like before I split up with my ex.”
“Your ex?” He latches onto that, voice now a savage attack. “Have you been fucking this mythical ex?”
“He’s not mythical. And no. We broke up, long before you. He moved to LA and another hospital.” I close my eyes for a moment. “Not because of me. He got a job offer and we had problems—” I stop, cut myself off, and glare. “Why am I even telling you this? You don’t need to know. We don’t discuss pasts, presents, or even futures, do we? So yes, it’s yours, and yes, I was going to tell you?—”
“When? After it graduated college?—”
“Maybe after you became a grandfather for the second time, Noah.”
He flinches, and I know I’ve said the wrong thing.
