Page 74 of My Bestie's Billionaire Brother

"I've been an ass this week. I've been avoiding you, avoiding us, avoiding everything that scares me by burying myself in work." I pause, swallowing hard. "I'm sorry."

The silence on the other end stretches long enough that I wonder if she's hung up.

"Tess?"

"I'm here." Her voice is soft. "I just didn't expect...thank you for saying that."

"I need to do more than say it. I need to show you. Cancel that dinner rain check. I'm coming over tonight, and I'm turning my phone off. We have a lot to talk about." I take a deep breath. "Including why you didn't tell me about your iron levels."

She sighs. "I didn't want to bother you when you were so busy."

The words twist in my chest like a knife. "That changes now. Everything about us—about me—changes now."

"I'd like that," she says, a cautious hope in her voice.

"I'll be there at six. With actual groceries to cook you a real meal." I pause, then add, "I miss you."

"I miss you too."

When we hang up, I sit straighter in my chair, a plan forming. For the first time since hearing the word "twins," I feel something besides panic—a flickering sense of determination. I don't know how to be a father, especially not to twins. But I do know how to show up. And that, according to Jane, is where everything begins.

Chapter 23

Tess

Ituck my sheet music into the leather folder, fingers trembling slightly as I smooth out a crease. My stomach flutters with a mixture of excitement and anxiety because in just a few hours, I'll be auditioning for the Seattle Symphony.

Charlie came through with this as promised. It’s the opportunity I desperately need as PacWest crumbles to pieces.

Art stretches on the kitchen counter, his tuxedo fur gleaming in the morning light. He eyes me with that knowing feline stare as I lean my cello against the refrigerator and straighten the music folders on the island.

The kitchen still smells faintly of garlic and sun-dried tomatoes from Charlie's cooking last night, a comforting reminder of his presence even though he left around midnight. With an early morning meeting for him, it made more sense for him to go home.

I pour myself a glass of water and swallow my prenatal vitamin, thinking about how my entire life has shifted in the span of just a few weeks. From a fake relationship to real feelings to unexpected pregnancy to... twins. And now, this audition that could determine whether I can continue supporting myself as a musician.

It materialized from a last minute call yesterday afternoon from the music director. He asked if there was any way I could come today for an audition and I answered immediately with a resounding yes.

"We're going to be okay," I tell Art, who blinks slowly in response. "If I nail this audition, we'll definitely be okay."

My phone chimes with a text from Charlie:Break a leg today. You're going to be brilliant. Call me the second you're done.

I smile, typing back:I will! Thanks again for setting this up.

His reply comes quickly:Don't thank me. This is all you. They need an amazing cellist, and that's exactly what you are.

His confidence in me feels both wonderful and terrifying. Until a few weeks ago, Charlie Astor was just Jane's ridiculously handsome brother who I'd known for years, but never spent a lot of time with. Now he's the father of my children.

Last night was different. After weeks of Charlie retreating into work, something had shifted. He arrived at six exactly, arms loaded with grocery bags, apology in his eyes.

"Time to whip up some dinner," he'd announced, setting down the bags and dropping his keys. "No phones. No work. Just us."

I'd sat at the kitchen island, watching him unpack ingredients with focused intensity. Chicken breasts, sun-dried tomatoes, heavy cream, garlic, fresh basil, penne pasta.

"This basil smells fantastic," I'd said, shoving my nose into the package.

"That’s the key to this dish. Fresh basil." He'd smiled, rolling up his sleeves. "The dried stuff just isn’t the same."

As he'd chopped and sautéed, moving through my kitchen with unexpected ease, he told me about Jane's phone call, abouthis realization that he'd been hiding in work instead of facing our new reality.

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