Chapter 9
Gail
T he cursor blinks on my laptop screen, teasing me with the promise of what ‘EduSync’ could become. Or should I say, what it is becoming because with all the time we’ve poured into it over the past two months, it’s looking absolutely epic.
I’m perched on a plush armchair that Luce has declared our office throne, while she sprawls across the modern glass desk in her new house, papers and color-coded folders fanned out around her like a strategist amidst battle plans.
“Got it!” Her triumphant cry pulls me from my thoughts as she secures another educational package deal for our fledgling enterprise. “Gail, this is really happening.”
I try to force a positive facial expression, but when Lucia frowns I know I must look ridiculous.
“Hey, you okay?” My bestie’s concerned eyes meet mine, her intuition always razor-sharp.
“Sure,” I lie, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. “Just thinking about the website structure.”
“Good, because you’re the brains of this operation.” She winks, her confidence in me unshakable.
I hate lying to Luce with every fiber of my being, but I can’t tell her about Fet. Yeah, in my insanity, I’ve started calling it Fet. Fetus sounds too clinical, but baby sounds too real. So… Fet it is. I keep telling myself that I just need one more night with the men at Cupid’s Court, and then I’ll get real. It’ll be like a goodbye session.
The best thing about being the only one knowing my secret is that there’s no one arguing with me. My word is law, which is good since I already know I’m handling this in the worst possible way. As the only person in the know, that’s my prerogative.
But my mind betrays me, wandering again to that email nestled among the mundane in my inbox. The subject line, ‘Booking confirmation’, taunts me as I open it for the umpteenth time, scanning the words that solidify plans for in a couple of days, the same night the Sabertooths have a home game.
I’ve already promised Luce that I’ll go to the game with her, and if I time everything correctly, I can still leave to spend the night with my men at Cupid’s Court afterwards.
Then I double check my calendar, wanting to make sure I’ve made several reminders for the doctor’s appointment with Doctor Patel, my appointed physician from Cupid’s Court. Although she’s busy, I’ve managed to snatch up an appointment in a couple of weeks, and in preparation, I’ve made myself notes to ask how it’s possible that I’m pregnant.
I mean, I know how it happened. What I don’t know is how it was even a possibility. When I signed up to Cupid’s Court they put me on birth control, and I was assured it was superior to anything on the market. Yet, it’s failed spectacularly. I can’t even do any period math since I haven’t bled since getting the shot at the end of November. Nope. I’m not thinking about this. Not yet.
“Did you say something?” Lucia peers at me, brows furrowed.
Shit, I must have spoken out loud. “Nothing important.” I force a smile, turning back to the screen before us. “Let’s finalize these service packages. I was thinking we could offer a discount for the first sign-ups?”
“Great idea!” She claps her hands together, her enthusiasm infectious.
We dive back into work, and I do my best to focus. “Luce,” I start, hesitating only a moment. “What if… what if we did something truly unique with EduSync? Something that sets us apart?”
Her eyes light up, and I know I have her full attention. “Like what?”
“Interactive workshops. Live Q&As with experts. Personalized learning paths.” Ideas spill from me, a torrent unleashed.
“Genius, Gail. Absolute genius.” Luce’s spirit, always so vibrant, fuels my own. In this room, with her, possibilities seem endless. “I love our little work baby,” she laughs.
I do my best not to flinch at her choice of words, but instead hide my face behind my hair so she can’t see the shocked expression I’m sure I’m wearing. Christ. A Baby. Nope, still not thinking about that.
We work until my alarm goes off. Looking at the clock, I get up. “I have to go,” I say as I start packing my things.
She watches me as I button my coat and reach for the beanie I’m hiding my hair under. “You know you can’t hide beneath that thing forever, right?”
“Why not?” I wince, hating that I had to lie to my mom about why I wore a hat indoors.
Rolling her eyes, Luce explains, “Your mom is going to make you remove it at the dinner table.” I let out a deflated sigh because she’s right, and I can’t keep using excuses like needing to wash my hair or a coloring going wrong. “But hold on.”
Before I can ask any questions, Luce darts out of the room. “I don’t have time for this,” I whine. “I’m going to be late.”
Oh my God, I hadn’t thought about my hair. But I had the coloring redone last week, and surely that can’t be good for Fet, right? I need to ask Dr. Patel about that as well.
“Patience,” Luce says, handing me a small plastic bag. “Consider this an early birthday present.”
I quickly open the bag, frowning as I pull out what looks suspiciously like a wig in my natural hair color. I don’t hesitate to tear at the wrapping, freeing the shoulder long, light brown locks. “Luce!” I exclaim. Damnit if my bestie doesn’t have a fucking sixth sense for knowing exactly what I need.
“Want me to help you get it on?” she offers. I nod and stand completely still while she places the cap over my head, quickly hiding the black and white strands beneath it. “You’re ready to face the fam without anyone being wiser.”
I throw my arms around her, hugging her tightly. Just as Luce opens her mouth to say something else, the door opens behind me and I quickly jump out of the way. Coming through the door is Sawyer, Soren, and Mickey. The latter, whistling. “Well damn, this is impressive.”
“Told you,” Sawyer grumbles. He throws me a half-hearted wave on his way to Luce, and the two of them greet each other like they’ve been apart for years.
“I meant the welcome committee,” Mickey grins, looking at me. “I’ve seen the house already.”
“Fucking hell,” Soren laughs. “If you invited us here to watch you two make out, I think we need a talk about our friendship.”
Mickey chuckles. “Hi Gail. Long time no see. What are you up to these days?”
“I’m good,” I say, sounding slightly breathless. “Keeping busy.” Jesus, I sound like a fucking moron.
These two guys keep getting under my skin with a single look, and it’s frankly getting embarrassing. They don’t even have to do or say anything to make my poor little heart flutter like a trapped bird. The way my body reacts you’d think I was eighteen and hormone ridden, not twenty-eight, and… well, hormone ridden.
“Yeah, so we hear,” Soren says. “Congrats on the biz and all that, beautiful.”
They both move closer, making me wonder if they’re aware just how close we are now. I look up at the two contrasting guys. Soren is the epitome of dark and sinful looking with short, dark brown hair, green eyes. His large hands are covered in intricate tattoos, and even more ink in the form of cobwebs spans across his neck.
His solar opposite, Mickey, is like a Scandinavian God with his shaggy white hair and silver eyes. As far as I’m aware, he doesn’t have any tattoos, at least none that I can see. But it doesn’t make him any less appealing, far from it. It’s like he’s a deliciously untouched canvas next to his friend.
“Umm… thanks,” I rasp, finally finding my voice. “It’s exciting.”
“I bet it is,” Soren adds, his tone low and suggestive. “Nothing like breaking into something new.”
Oh hell, these two are too much. Just their presence and voices are enough to make my pussy throb, acting like it’s underserviced.
I have no idea how I can be all confident when I give myself to the mysterious strangers at Cupid’s Court, but when it comes to Mickey and Soren, the OG’s of my threesome fantasy, I’m back to being a mess.
Maybe my awkwardness is because I feel like everyone can see I’m keeping a secret. I’m so uncomfortable I keep shifting my weight from one foot to the other, wondering how I should stand without looking like I’m knocked up from living my double life. I know my inner ramblings make little sense, but it’s how I feel and there’s no shutting them up.
Mickey runs a hand through his untamed white hair. “Are you on your way out?” he points at the door over his shoulder. “Or do we have the pleasure of your company tonight?”
Before I can answer, Soren throws his arm around my shoulders and pulls me to his side. I’m barely aware we’re heading further into the house as he says, “Of course you’re staying. We’re all for pleasure. ” And suddenly, I can’t remember why I was about to leave.
All I can focus on is Mickey and Soren as they flank me, and how fucking ridiculously good they both look and smell and… “No, I really can’t stay,” I say, doing a silly twirl out of Soren’s hold. “I’m on my way to go see my parents.”
I hear Luce laugh behind me, and when I spin around, she gives me a knowing grin. “Say hi to them, will you?” She gives me a gentle push toward the door, which is incredibly helpful since my brain is mush right now.
“Sure thing,” I easily agree. “See you tomorrow morning.”
Luce shakes her head slowly. “No, you won’t. I have to help Sy with his traditions before the game. But I’ll see you at the arena the next day.”
“Right,” I mumble, not sure how I forgot about the game and all that comes with it for Luce.
“We could use some help as well if you got nothing going on tomorrow,” Soren smirks, shooting me a wink. And there I go, blushing like a schoolgirl again.
Luce cackles. “Leave her alone, you two. She’s…” She trails off when I shoot her a warning look. “… too good for you.”
After hugging Luce goodbye, I get in my car and head toward the familiar neighborhood I grew up in. During the drive, I try to talk myself into ditching the wig and show my family my newly colored hair. I’m twenty-eight and shouldn’t hide something as stupid as this from them. Yet, I can’t talk myself into revealing it.