Page 68 of High Stakes

“Aria mentioned you were at a doctor’s appointment,” he says casually, picking up a catalogue and flicking through.

“So?”

“Are you sick?”

I sigh. “What do you want, Aiden?”

“You weren’t drinking on Saturday. You sent the champagne back too.” He places the catalogue down and stares at me like he’s expecting me to explain myself.

I place my hands on the counter to show I’m not threatened by him being here in my space, and I fix him with a look of contempt, hoping I’m conveying everything I feel about him in my stare. “I don’t like you, Aiden. I don’t want gifts. I don’t want apologies.”

“How about dinner?” he suggests, and I want to scream.

“No thank you.”

“You can choose. No expense spared.”

I scoff. “You really think this can be fixed with money.”

“Everything has a price,” he points out.

I shake my head sadly, heading for the conjoining door. “I paid the price. Now please leave me alone.”

I hear the shop door open and close and release a breath. “You okay?” asks Aria, gently rubbing my arm. I watch Aiden get into his car and nod. “How did it go at the Doctors?” she asks, and I give her a big smile.

“I’ve decided to keep the little bean.”

Aria squeals in delight, throwing her arms around me. “I’m so happy for you. And I’ll be there every step of the way. I’ll be the best aunt.”

“Good, because I’ll need all the help I can get.”

“And Aiden?” she asks, wincing.

I shrug. I haven’t decided what to do about him. I hope he’ll get bored before I have to tell him. But who knows with him, maybe I’m worrying about nothing, and I’ll tell him, and he’ll run a mile. We all know he can’t commit.”

Aiden

I head back to the apartment with a heavy heart. Bella’s not falling for all my usual shit, which I expected, but it doesn’t give me much hope for winning her over.

My mood doesn’t improve when I spot Laurie sitting on my doorstep with a bag at her feet. She looks up as I approach and it’s obvious she’s been crying. She pushes to her feet, tipping her head for me to kiss her on the cheek. I hesitate, but do it anyway, like an old habit that’s hard to kick. “Are you okay?” I ask, unlocking the door.

“No, he’s kicked me out,” she sniffles, following me into the club.

I stiffen at her words but show no reaction as we head through to the elevator. “Does he know about us?” I ask, punching in the code.

She pulls out a tissue and dabs her eyes. “No. He’s in love with someone else.” A few more sobs leave her. “She’s eighteen,” she suddenly wails angrily. “How can I fucking compete with a someone barely legal?”

I sigh as we go into the apartment. “Do you care?”

“Of course I care,” she spits.

“Laurie, you’ve been seeing me for years behind his back. We fucked on your wedding day.”

“That doesn’t mean he can leave me,” she snaps.

I pour her a whiskey, placing it on the kitchen table and she sits down, placing the bag down. “I need a place to stay.”

I’m already shaking my head before the sentence is finished. “No.”

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