Page 8 of Seduced By My Brother's Best Friend
“It’s not the end of the world, little sis. You can do this. You’ve lived life being the strongest you could be for everyone else. Now you’ve got to do that for your own baby, you understand?”
Fallon nods. “Yeah, I do. Thanks, Damien.”
Then my best friend turns to me. His green eyes are cold, and it’s obvious he hasn’t forgiven me yet.
“I don’t presume to know your plan, Alex, but my mom was right. Fallon is your responsibility now. I swear I’ll kill you if anything happens to my sister.”
“I’m literally a five-minute drive from your house,” I state, trying hard not to roll my eyes.
Aster Falls is a small town. Do they really think they won’t be running into her? They’re all being really dramatic right now. And her parents were so wrong for kicking her out. She’s a twenty-five-year-old woman, not a teenager.
“Come on,” I say to Fallon.
She doesn’t meet my eyes, and that worries me slightly. We haven’t talked about the future yet, and I have no idea what’s going on in her head. Everyone’s right, though. She’s my responsibility now. Mine to protect.
I follow her into her room, help her pack a few more things into her already-packed suitcase, and then lead her to my car. She raises an eyebrow when she sights it.
“You bought a new car?” she questions, staring at the silver BMW.
My parents were wealthy. My dad was the CEO of a small company before he died. After my family passed away, all his wealth was passed down to me. I don’t mind the matters of the company, but I have enough money to make me comfortable for a very long time. I suppose that includes my baby and his mother now.
“Yeah. I was bored,” I reply, opening the passenger seat and gesturing for her to step in.
“People don’t simply buy cars because they’re bored, Alexander,” she says. I can hear the judgment in her voice.
“I can,” I say.
I head over to the driver’s side and then drive her over to my house in total and complete silence. Her gaze is fixed on the side of the road as she watches houses and little trees speed by. I don’t know what brought me to Aster Falls. After my parents’ death, I needed a purpose so badly. I knew I didn’t want to go to college. And then I heard about a small picturesque town in Virginia. I thought it was the best place to hide from everyone who knew me and from myself. I moved to disappear. But I guess there’s no time for that anymore.
Fallon walks into my house with me. It’s a two-storied five-bedroom home, and I’m hoping she will be okay with living here. Granted, I have no idea if she even wants to live with me because she hasn’t said anything to me. She could very well choose to go back to Jersey once her morning sickness eases.
She sits on the living room couch and takes a deep breath.
“Is there anything you need?” I ask her.
She shakes her head without looking up at me.
“All right then. I guess I’ll go and prepare us some dinner,” I say.
“Alex,” she calls, stopping me in place. “Why aren’t you saying anything? Or asking me anything.”
She sounds distraught, and I immediately feel bad. I move to take a seat on the table in front of her.
“Because I didn’t think you wanted to talk to me. I’m the reason your life is ruined after all,” I state.
She shakes her head. “I’m pretty sure I’m the person intruding on your life right now. If you don’t want me here, say the word, and I’ll leave.”
I frown. “Why wouldn’t I want you here?”
“So, you do want me here? Alex, we’re talking about a baby here. An actual child that’s going to be yours to protect. I’m not sure you’re ready for the responsibility, and it’s fine if you’re not. I won’t hold it against you if you decide you don’t want to be a part of this baby’s life.”
“Why is everyone always so good about making assumptions about me and my actions?” I ask, getting to my feet.
“Because we judge based on what we see,” she replies.
“Really? And all you see is a playboy, a reckless person that’s incapable of taking care of you or the child?”
“No, Alex, I didn’t mean it like that.”
