Page 249 of The Baby Twist
“So, tell me, Marley. Whose penthouse did you move into?” A smirk crossed her lips.
“His name is Charlie Stone.”
She reached over and placed her hand on my arm. “Of Stone Game Ventures?”
“Yes. Do you know him?”
“I’ve met him once at a party my husband and I attended. My husband knows him well. He’s a handsome man.” A smile crossed her lips.
“He’s broken. Shit. I’m broken. We’re two broken people having two babies who will also most likely be broken.”
“That is not true. Listen, Marley. Miles was way broken when we met.”
I sat there in shock while she told me the story of how they met, their fake marriage, and everything that happened when she got pregnant.
“Even the most broken men can be fixed.” She smiled. “Are you in love with him?”
“God, no. Well—no.” I shook my head. “I can’t be. I won’t allow it.”
“Okay.” She patted my arm with a smirk on her face.
We ended up sitting on a bench in the park, talking about what she wanted for her husband’s birthday party. I took notes. She was such a nice person, and I saw a friendship in the making.
Chapter Eighteen
ONE WEEK LATER
Charlie
Opening my eyes, I stared at her as she slept on her side. I still hadn’t gotten used to the fact that she invaded my home the way she did. I’d never met anyone like her, and I knew the moment she sat down next to me in the Chicago airport I was screwed. And even more so the first time we’d slept together. I’d had sex with plenty of women in my life and had never felt the connection I did with Marley. I couldn’t explain it, nor did I want to.
The loss I’d felt when my parents died affected me in a way that I never knew it possibly could. To lose two people whom I deeply loved at such a young age nearly destroyed me. I should have sought therapy at some point, but what was the point? I saw firsthand how life could change in a split second—how the world could turn upside down, leaving you in a lonely place, both physically and in your mind. Grief was the price you pay for love, and I’d shut myself off from ever putting myself in that situation and experiencing it again. I knew what I needed to do. It was best for Marley and the twins.
Her eyes flew open. She stared at me momentarily, placed her hand over her mouth, and flew out of bed. This was every morning. Climbing out of bed, I turned on the shower in the bathroom as she leaned over the toilet. She didn’t listen to me when I asked her to use the other bathroom. She kept throwing up in the primary one every morning to spite me. Wiping her mouth with a tissue, she stood up and looked at me.
“God, I hate you.” She shook her head and walked out of the bathroom.
I let out a soft chuckle as I stepped into the shower. When I finished, I wrapped a towel around my waist and went into the bedroom.
“You know what, Marley?”
“What, Charlie?”
“You say you hate me, but it takes two people to make a baby. We both screwed up. We were drunk, and I forgot to use condoms. But you, you were irresponsible with your birth control. So, this pregnancy is also on you.”
“Shut up.” She pulled the covers over her head, and I smiled. “Don’t forget we’re going to my dad’s tonight to announce the pregnancy.”
“Marley, I don’t think?—”
She threw the covers back and sat up. “I don’t care what you think. I’m not going to my dad’s house and doing this alone. Do you really want him to know that you want nothing to do with your children? Do you not care what people think of you?”
“Fine. I’ll go.”
“Thank you. We’re going to dinner at my mom’s house tomorrow night to tell her.”
“Oh, come on, Marley.”
“My dad is one thing, but if you think you’re getting out of going with me to my mother’s house, you’re sadly mistaken, buddy. You know the issues I have with her.”
