Chapter 13
Marley
I stepped into my apartment, sobbing. Olivia ran over and hooked her arm around me.
“I assume it didn’t go well with Charlie.” She led me to my bedroom.
“He doesn’t want to take responsibility,” I cried. “A kid doesn’t fit into his lifestyle.”
“He said that?”
“Yep, and other hurtful things. He kept telling me I have options.”
“Did you tell him you’re not getting an abortion?”
“Yep. He said he’d help financially, and that’s it. What am I going to do, Olivia? I can’t raise this kid on my own.”
We heard the apartment door open.
“We’re in Marley’s room,” Olivia shouted.
“Hey, what happened?” Penelope sat on the bed next to us.
“McBillionaire doesn’t want the kid. He said he’d help her financially, and that’s it,” Olivia told her.
“Ugh, Mar. I’m sorry.” Penelope hugged me. “All this stress isn’t good for you or the baby.”
“She’s worried about raising the baby alone,” Olivia spoke.
“You’re not alone. We already told you that we’re helping you. Plus, you have your parents,” Penelope said.
“That’s comforting.” I blew my nose into a tissue.
“All I can say is what’s done is done.” Olivia stood up, walked over to the dresser, and pulled out one of my nightshirts. “Now, you’re going to stop feeling sorry for yourself and start taking care of yourself. Fuck Charlie McBillionaire.”
“Yeah,” Penelope said. “Fuck him. He said he’ll support you financially, and that’s all that matters.”
“I’m not taking a dime from him. I never want to see him again. Besides, I told him we’re now strangers who never met, and if he sees me on the streets, keep walking.”
“Now, you’re just being stubborn,” Olivia said. “There’s no way we’re letting you not take his money.”
“So he never used a condom that night?” Penelope asked.
“He said he knows for sure we used one. As for the two other times, he wasn’t sure.”
“It’s obvious now he didn’t,” Olivia said. “Fuck him. We got this. Right, Penelope?”
“That’s right. We’ve always stuck together through the good and the bad. You’re not alone, Marley.”
“I know. Thanks, you two. I love you both so much.”
“We love you too, girl.” Olivia and Penelope hugged me tight.
Charlie
“Good—wow, you look like shit,” Chase said, walking into my office.
“I feel like it too.” I sighed.
“Are you sick or something?” He took the seat across from my desk.
“Yeah. I’m sick to my stomach, but not in an illness type of way.”
“What are you talking about?” His brows furrowed.
“Marley came by the penthouse last night. She’s pregnant.”
“Oh, shit, Charlie.” Chase ran his hand down his face. “Are you sure it’s yours?”
“Yeah. I’m sure. She’s five weeks, which puts it at the time of my housewarming party.”
“I guess you did have a reason to worry when you only found one condom. She’s not on birth control?”
“Apparently, she gets these shots and missed one because she put her doctor’s appointment in the wrong month on her calendar.”
“Is she keeping it?”
“She said she is. I told her I want nothing to do with it and that I’d help her financially.”
He sat there, narrowing his eyes. “That’s a bastard thing to do.”
“Yeah, well, I’m a bastard.”
“No, you’re not. I know why you’re the way you are. I’m your best friend. Nobody knows you like I do. I think you’d make a great father.”
“Knock it off, Chase.”
“Nah. You’re just in shock. Once it wears off, you’ll adapt to the situation.”
“No, I won’t. Marley told me that we’re strangers now and never met. She told me to keep walking if I see her on the street because she’ll do the same.”
“I hear sadness in your voice. You like her, and don’t try to deny it. You didn’t call her for a month after the night you took her out because you started feeling something, and you ran. Don’t forget that I was here when you ran into her on the street that day. I saw the look of despair on your face.”
“You’re crazy and don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.” I raised my voice.
“I know exactly what I’m talking about, Charlie. But there’s nothing I can say or do.” He stood up from his seat. “I can’t help someone who doesn’t want to be helped. I’ll talk to you later.”
Turning my chair around, I stared out at the busy city. My entire world crashed down on me, leaving me gasping for air. I couldn’t help the way I felt. Kids were never part of my life’s plan. Commitment was something I couldn’t do. I was committed to the one thing in life that I knew I could control: my company. Babies cause drama—a lot of drama—things I had no control over.
I turned my chair around and picked up my phone. Pulling up Marley’s number, I sent her a text.
“Last night was a clusterfuck, and we both said things we shouldn’t have. I’m sorry. I want to meet you somewhere and give you a check to deposit into your bank account. You’re going to need it. Don’t fight me on this, Marley. It’s the least I can do.”
“New phone. Who dis?”
I sighed and rolled my eyes.
“You know damn well who this is.”
“I regret nothing I said last night. And everything I did say I meant. I don’t want your money now or ever. Keep it and keep walking away. In fact, run as fast as you can. Apparently, it’s what you’re best at in life. Don’t text me again!”
I threw my phone across my desk, walked over to the bar, and poured myself a scotch. I didn’t give two shits if it was only ten o’clock in the morning.