Page 50 of Best Friend's Brother's Surprise Baby

“Just because you knocked me up?” I accuse, anger rising up in me. The food arrives and I take in a few deep breaths, trying to calm down.

“Don’t be like that, Aurora,” Nico says, his voice calm. “We’ll figure something out.”

“You’re right. We’ll figure out custody when the baby is born,” I say. “Until then, you don’t have to do anything.”

“I want to go to appointments,” Nico insists. “I want to be involved in the pregnancy.”

“Like I said, that’s up to you, Nico.” I pick at my fries, still feeling a little nauseous.

We don’t talk for the rest of the meal, and when we get back into the car, I pretend to be dozing against the window because I’m fighting tears and I don’t want him to see.

“Aurora,” Nico says, and he pauses when I don’t answer, keeping my eyes tightly closed. “I’m sorry,” he says softly.

Tears begin to trail down my face and I keep my eyes closed, wishing that I could doze off and forget everything that’s going on for just a few minutes.

When we arrive at Dante’s, I rush inside with him trailing behind me.

Francesca meets me at the door and throws her arms around me, and I hug her back tightly, bursting into tears. I missed my friend and I need her so bad right now, even if she doesn’t know it.

“I’m so sorry about everything, Aurora,” she says. “I know how much you’ve been through and it’s all my fault.”

I’m not crying because of what’s happened but because of Nico, but of course I can’t tell her that. I sniffle and pull away slightly.

“I’m just glad that you’re okay,” I tell her, and she smiles, tears welling in her eyes, too.

“I’m home, too,” Nico drawls. “And alive.”

“Good to know,” Francesca says easily, glancing at him with a smile before looping her arm through mine and dragging me up to my room. “You need some rest,” she says, and I can’t deny that I feel exhausted emotionally and physically from the trip and from the past couple of days.

I’m still crying when I climb into bed and Francesca climbs in with me.

“You look like you need some company,” she says.

I smile shakily at her. “I do,” I say softly. “It’s been a long few weeks.”

“I missed you terribly,” she says. “Mia’s so pregnant she can’t swim with me.”

I laugh, grateful to have my best friend with me. “I missed you too. Nico isn’t much of a swimmer.”

“He’s a bore,” she snorts, and I disagree, given the great time we had in bed, but of course she wouldn’t want to hear that. Besides, I suppose Nico is keeping it a secret, at least for now.

I feel a pang of guilt. I’ve always told Francesca everything, and now I’m keeping a huge secret from her. We’ve always been best friends and so close, but I can’t tell her why I’m upset or what’s going on.

I close my eyes tightly and Francesca throws an arm around me. “Get some rest,” she says quietly, and I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep at all.

But with the quiet hum of the air conditioning in the mansion and Francesca’s presence, I’m able to drift off within a few moments.

22

NICO

It’s nearing dusk by the time Aurora wakes up and she and Francesca come down for dinner. I want to grab Aurora’s arm, pull her aside and talk to her, but what would I even say? It’s not like I’m willing to give up everything to be with her.

Am I?

My chest feels tight every time I think of her not being around. Worse still, the idea of us not being exclusive means that she might start seeing someone else, and that makes my stomach roll.

I’m just territorial. It doesn’t mean anything. I care about her, sure, we’ve been through a lot together, but it’s not love.

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