Page 114 of Whispered Sins

“Clearly because you never tell me what the hell is going on with you anymore!”

I could tell that this went deeper than I thought. Brody and I had always been close growing up and in business. We had shared our ventures with women like they were trophies to impress each other with. I couldn’t blame him for thinking we were still those same brothers, when one of us was not.

Still, my anger was too hot to admit any of that. And it wasn’t the right time to share what exactly had gone on in my life the past couple months.

“Well, until you do know, butt the hell out of my life.” I held up a threatening finger.

Brody didn’t say anything as I turned and walked out the door, slamming it behind me.

Armand waited outside of the car and opened the door without saying a word. The look on my face must have made it clear I wasn’t in the mood for pleasantries.

When I got home that night, I should have been tired. I had just flown for eighteen hours and had a massive blowout with my brother. But instead, I was wired.

I took a hot shower, unpacked my suitcase, ran my laundry, and placed a grocery order for delivery for the next day. As I was ordering groceries, I realized how hungry I was. I threw on a sweatshirt and a baseball cap, not wanting to be recognized by anyone, and rode the elevator down to the lobby. I didn’t need Armand. I just wanted to walk the streets of Manhattan in the late hours and find some greasy pizza to eat by myself.

Chapter 41

Addison

“I can’t believe we’re finally doing this,” said Monica, her hands on her hips.

She stood in the middle of my loft and looked at all the boxes and bags we needed to open—the gifts from Daniel I had refused to go through. But after my trip to the hospital, and realizing how real this pregnancy was, I knew it was time to start setting up my apartment for baby’s arrival. Even if I was only just over five months pregnant.

“I’m tired of looking at the boxes. I figured it’s time to just rip the Band-Aid off.” I shrugged.

“I’m glad you decided to keep everything. It’s the least the jerk could do,” she said.

“He’s not a jerk.”

“Did you forget what he said at that charity event?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“No, I didn’t forget,” I replied softly. “I just know he didn’t sign up for this. You know?”

“And you did?”

“We both made choices we might not have thought through, but I’m happy, Monica. Really, I am. I know this isn’t the best place to raise a baby, and my current circumstances seem pretty unoptimistic, but I want to be a mom. I want to be a good mom.”

Monica knelt down and sat beside me on the wood floor. She put her arm around me. “And youwillbe,” she said with certainty.

I nodded and looked at all the pretty gift bags and wrapped boxes. They made me think of Daniel.

“You miss him, don’t you?” she asked.

“I try not to,” I admitted.

“It’s okay to. I know you really liked him…”

“It was more than that. I felt like I might be falling for him. I had this whole silly vision of us being one big, happy family.”

“That’s not silly. That’s what anyone would want for their baby.”

“But now I know he never wanted that.”

“You don’t need him,” she said.

I looked around at all of the packages and laughed softly. Clearly, I did. I would never have been able to afford all of this.

“Enough of that. It’s time to get into baby prep mode!” said Monica, slapping her hands on her thighs and reaching for the first bag.

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