Chapter 17
Marley
“We had sex last night,” I said, holding the warm cup between my hands.
“At least you don’t have to worry about getting pregnant,” Olivia said.
“So, things are good between you and Charlie?” Penelope asked.
“I wouldn’t say that. It happened in the moment. There’s a side to him he doesn’t let out. I saw it last night.”
“Probably because he’s a fucked up billionaire,” Olivia spoke.
“I don’t think he ever got over his parents’ deaths.” I brought the cup to my lips.
“I don’t think anyone ever really does,” Penelope said. “I know your parents are still alive, but look at how you never got over their divorce.”
“Shit.” I sighed. “Do you think I have to tell them about the babies?”
“Really, Marley?” Penelope cocked her head.
“Just dodge them for the next seven months and then pop over to their houses with one in each arm.” Olivia grinned.
“Look at that line. We better get behind the counter and help,” Penelope said.
“It’s okay. I have an event to start working on.”
“What event?” Olivia asked.
“Stella Bradshaw. One of my other clients’ nannies referred me. She’s throwing a surprise birthday party for her husband.”
“The nanny of a client?” Olivia’s brows furrowed.
“Yeah. I thought that was weird, too.” I grabbed my purse and hooked it over my shoulder. “I’ll talk to you girls later. Love you.”
“We love you too!” They both shouted as I walked out of the café.
I knocked on the door of the Bradshaw home, and an older woman answered.
“You must be Marley.” She smiled. “I’m Dora. Please come in.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Dora.” I grinned.
“You can have a seat in the living room, and I’ll let Stella know you’re here.”
“Thank you.” I stepped into the living room and looked around.
“Marley. Hi, I’m Stella. It’s nice to meet you finally.” She walked into the room holding a newborn baby and extended her hand.
“Hi, Stella. The pleasure is mine. Aw, your baby is adorable.” I smiled. “He looks brand new.”
“He is.” She laughed. “He’s four weeks old. I have another son as well. Our nanny, Melissa, took him to the park.”
“How old is he?”
“Not quite two years old yet.”
Suddenly, a wave of nausea fell over me. Placing my hand on my belly, I prayed it would pass. It didn’t, and I placed my hand over my mouth.
“Marley, are you okay?”
“Bathroom?”
“Down the hall. First door on the left.”
I ran down the hall to the bathroom, shut the door, and vomited. I had never been so humiliated as I was at that moment. Who throws up at a client’s home? Shit. This wasn’t the impression I wanted to give. After I finished, I washed my hands and returned to the living room, where Stella was sitting on the couch with her baby.
“Are you okay? Do you need to reschedule?” she asked.
“I’m fine, just pregnant.”
“Oh! Come sit down. Morning sickness sucks. I’m all too familiar with that. I had it with both of my children. Dora?” she shouted.
“Yes, Stella?” Dora walked into the room.
“Can you please make Marley some peppermint tea?”
“I sure will.” She smiled.
“Peppermint tea helped me.” She placed her hand on mine. “How far along are you?”
“Seven weeks.”
“Wow. You’re newly pregnant. Congratulations. You and your husband must be happy.”
“This pregnancy happened by accident with too much alcohol involved. I’m not married.” I bit down on my bottom lip. “And my babies’ daddy is pissed off and doesn’t want kids.”
“I’m sorry. Did you say ‘babies?’”
“I’m having twins.”
“How wonderful.” She grinned.
“Is it?” I cocked my head. “Is it really?”
“Well—I mean—okay, I’m sorry. And the father doesn’t want kids?”
“Nope.” I popped my lips. “But I’m not giving him a choice.”
“How do you mean?” Stella asked.
“I was partially accepting the fact that I would be a single mother at first. But when I found out it was twins, I wasn’t letting him off that easy. So, I moved into his penthouse.”
“Well, at least he asked you to move in.”
“No. He didn’t ask me. I packed my things, showed up at his place, and told him I was moving in whether he liked it or not.”
“Stop it!” She laughed. “You did not.”
“Yes, I did. There’s no way in hell I’m raising these babies by myself. He did this to me, and he will take responsibility.”
“Oh my God. I love you!” She reached over and hugged me.
The front door opened, and Stella instantly panicked.
“What is my husband doing home?” she whispered as her eyes widened. “Just follow my lead.”
“Hi, sweetheart.” The handsome man walked into the room and kissed her cheek. “There’s my big boy.” He took his son from her.
“Miles, what are you doing home? It’s the middle of the afternoon,” Stella asked.
“I had a meeting not too far from here, and I figured I’d just come home and spend the rest of the day with you and the boys. Hi. I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Miles.”
“Hi, Miles. I’m Marley.”
“Marley is my new friend,” Stella said. “We met at the doctor’s office when I went for my check-up. She’s newly pregnant.”
“Congratulations, Marley. So, Dr. Gregario, is your obstetrician as well?”
“Uh, yeah. He is. Love that guy.” I grinned.
“You know, Miles. I wish you would have told me you were coming home because Marley and I were just on our way out to do some shopping.”
“Oh. Well, it’s okay. Go ahead and have fun. Where’s Melissa?”
“She took Ben to the park.”
“Then I’m going to take this one and relax.” He smiled.
“Are you sure you don’t mind if we go shopping?” Stella asked.
“No. Of course not.” He kissed her lips. “I’ll have Sean drive you, and I’ll see you when you get home. I love you.”
“I love you too.” Stella smiled. “But we’ll take a cab.”
“Are you sure, sweetheart?”
“One hundred percent. Come on, Marley. Let’s go shop.”
We climbed into the back of the cab, and Stella let out a breath.
“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.