Page 75 of High Stakes

“That’s all I’m trying to do,” I whisper.

She gently rubs a stray tear from my cheek. “Then what are you so upset about?”

Aiden

My head is on a cool surface, my mouth is dry. I force my eyes open and look around. I’m on a bathroom floor. I recognise the black tiles and quickly sit up, realizing that I’m on the floor in the men’s bathroom of my club. My head spins from the sudden movement and I dive to the toilet, hauling myself over it and emptying the contents of my stomach.

When I eventually find the strength to stand, I cling to the wash basin and look in the mirror. It’s not a pretty sight. My hair sticks up in all directions and I’m pale with dark circles under my eyes. I splash my face with cold water. I feel so disgusted with myself. Why did I get that drunk? I didn’t even want a baby with Laurie, I should have feltrelief. But a small part of me was warming to the idea of becoming a dad. A baby was a reason to stop all of this and be someone that Jake would have been proud of.

I head out of the bathroom and into the main bar area where I find JP looking just as rough, with his head in his hands. There’s a steaming cup of coffee in front of him and in the booth behind him, lay three sleeping girls. My brain is assaulted with last night’s memories, they’re sketchy at best, but there were definitely three girls.Shit. “Tell me I dreamt last night.”

“Nightmare more like,” he mutters. “Aria will never fucking speak to me again when she finds out.”

“Just don’t tell her,” I suggest, stealing his coffee and taking a slurp. I close my eyes, letting the caffeine cure me.

“Lying just gets you into bigger trouble,” he says, raising a judgmental eyebrow in my direction. “Besides, the one just there,” he says, pointing to a leggy blond, “sometimes hangs out with Aria and Bella.”

“Shit, did we know that information last night?”

“Yep, you said, and I quote,‘No bitch owns this cock so get sucking,’You were pretty pissed off with the world last night.”

I groan and drop my head to the table. “We haven’t pulled this sort of shit since Jake was around,” I mutter.

“Yeah, he was the ringleader when it came toorgies.”

We share a laugh. “Seriously,” I say, sitting up again, “You and Aria aren’t together. You haven’t done anything wrong.”

“She won’t see it like that. I’m meant to be proving I can act my age,” he says, “That I’m ready for a relationship.”

“Well last night proves you aren’t,” I joke.

“You don’t get it, Aiden. She’s it for me. And I don’t expect you to understand, but I can’t imagine my life with anyone else but her.”

I want to tell him I fully get it, because I feel the exact same about Bella. But he’d tell me it isn’t the same, that it’s my guilt talking. So I force my best playboy smile as the women begin to stir. “Ladies, follow me up to my apartment and I’ll get you some breakfast.” And I lead them away like lambs to the slaughter. If I can save JP’s skin by shutting this bitch up, at least one of us will get a shot at happiness. “Leave it to me, JP. I’ll sort it.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Bella

Cal is very strict on my diet since getting pregnant He ensures I eat three healthy meals per day, and he’s worked out a fitness plan for me. So, as we take a brisk walk around the park during my lunch hour, I decide to tell him about last night. He isn’t Aiden’s biggest fan, but he’ll always tell me what he thinks honestly.

“So, Aiden stopped by the shop last night. He was really drunk, and Aria had to get JP to pick him up.” Cal stops, I keep going before I realise that he isn’t at side of me. I turn to face him. “What?” I ask.

“Just odd that you didn’t mention it before now,” he says.

“You had your breakfast date with Ellie this morning, I didn’t want to ruin your mood by talking about Aiden, again.” It was his third date to be precise and I didn’t want to give him any reason to cancel. I grab his hand and tug him to begin walking again. “It’s not a big deal.”

“What did he want?”

“He was upset. Laurie lied about the baby being his and he found out.”

“Ouch, why would she do that?”

“She needed a place to stay apparently.”

“Let me guess, now you feel bad for him because you’re lying too?” he guesses.

“You didn’t see the state he was in, Cal. He was gutted.”

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