Page 78 of High Stakes

“I’m not,” she says, “I just don’t think he’ll give up until you’ve heardhim out.”

At exactly Six, Aiden walks into the shop. “I knew you wouldn’t come,” he states.

“Take a hint,” I mutter.

“I wanted a chance to talk properly. Not like this where I have to force it on you,” he says sadly and for a second, I feel bad.

“There’s nothing left to say.”

“I want to explain about Jake and how what he did was like normal practise for us,” he says.

I sigh and lower onto the couch. He sits beside me. “We were always playing games. Dares, challenges, right from when we were little kids. It drove my mum mad. JP and Raff were just as bad and it became a thing we did. Stupid shit like kissing girls in the middle of class or seeing how far we could push the teacher to breaking point. Childish really,” he says trailing off. “I think that’s how we all became so confident, getting up in the middle of an English lesson and kissing a girl takes some balls,” he smiles at the memory. “Anyway, as we got older it became bigger. Challenges that we set daily like having a threesome with complete strangers or stealing the most expensive car we could find. They’d be either crazy or dangerous, but none of us ever backed down. When I saw Jakes final challenge, I didn’t give it much thought. If anything, it just felt like a mild inconvenience for me. You never enteredmy mind,” he admits. “You weren’t a real person to me, Bella, just someone Jake named on a piece of paper. And I thought it would be easy. But you turned out to be so much more than a name on a piece of paper.” He releases a shaky breath, “You made me feel alive. And I didn’t see it back then, but since you left, I’ve been struggling. Last night was the first time I felt like the old me in such a long time, that I just went with it. But actually, I’ve realised I don’t much like that version of myself. In fact, I despise him. And now in the evenings, instead of craving random women and drunken sex, I miss watching your shit films and snuggling under the blanket.” I swipe the tears that are rolling down my cheeks. “I never meant to hurt you, Bella. And I don’t mean to keep hurting you. And Jake never meant to hurt you either, he liked you and he just thought he could take the two people he liked the most and put them together so they could live happily ever after. He just forgot what a fuck up I am.”

“I appreciate you talking to me,” I whisper.

“I’m going to try and be better, Bella. I’m going to prove I can be a nice guy that doesn’t mess everything up. And I know you’re with Cal, and I know you’re happy. But I hope in time, you’ll forgive me enough to keep me in your life as a friend.” I give a slight nod, and he smiles wide, “Thank you, thatmeans so much.”

I feel lighter inside, like a huge weight has been lifted. This feels right, forgiving Aiden and starting over again as friends. For the first time in a while I smile a genuine smile.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Bella

Cal squeezes my hand as the doctor puts the cold gel on my stomach. “Twenty weeks already,” he whispers excitedly.

“It’s gone so fast,” I agree.

“Everything feeling normal?” the doctor asks. I nod. “No pains, cramping? And you’ve felt movements.”

I shrug, “I’ve had some back pain. I think I’ve had some movement, but I don’t really know, it’s my first pregnancy.”

He smiles, pressing the wand to my stomach. “Okay, let’s see what’s going on in there.”

“Can we find out the sex today?” asks Cal.

“If I can see it, I’ll tell you,” the doctor replies, “Although sometimes we can’t always guarantee.”

He spends some time moving the wand, pushing it hard into my stomach and then glancing at my notes. “Describe the movements you felt,” he says.

“Erm, just light fluttering’s. I told the midwife, and she said it was fine as long as I wasn’t bleeding or anything.”

“I’m going to ask my colleague to come and take a look,” he says, standing.

I immediately panic, squeezing Cal’s hand, “Is everything okay?”

“I’ll be right back,” he says, leaving the room.

“Maybe you aren’t as far gone as they first thought?” Cal suggests, “Don’t panic, it’s probably something and nothing.”

He returns minutes later with another doctor. He turns the monitor towards him and away from me, studying the screen hard. I hold my breath, waiting for him to confirm my fears.

“Is it okay if I have a go on the scan, Miss May? We’re just having a little trouble locating your baby’s heartbeat,sometimes this does happen, it may be nothing to worry about,” he says with a smile.

He presses hard, but I don’t mind this time, I want to hear the heartbeat desperately. My eyes don’t move from the doctors face, but he gives nothing away with his stony expression.

After a few agonising minutes, he puts the scanner down and gives me some tissue to wipe my stomach. We all remain silent whilst I clean myself up.

I push to sit, “You didn’t find it, did you?” I ask quietly, and he shakes his head. My heart shatters.

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