Chapter 50
BEATRICE
As the next few days passed, my morning sickness got a little better, and I started going to work at lunchtime despite Everett’s insistence that I stay home.
As sweet as it is that he wants me to relax and take care of myself, and as much as I enjoy hanging out with him, I can’t leave Sienna running the salon.
The last few months have been stressful with my financial situation and then discovering my pregnancy, but there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t love my job and the business I’ve created.
My salon is my happy place, and I miss it when I’m away too long.
“I still can’t believe this is all happening,” Sienna says. I might have been living with Everett a few days now, but it seems that my best friend is having about as hard a time getting her head around it all as I am.
“Tell me about it,” I mutter as I tidy up after my last client of the day.
Sienna did an amazing job of shifting my clients around, and without me knowing, she’s also moved all my early morning clients for the next few weeks as well, just in case. It means I’m finishing a little later than usual, but it’ll all be worth it.
“All those interviews are confirmed for next week,” she tells me.
My stomach knots as I contemplate a time when I’m not going to be here.
We decided a few days ago that it was better to get the upcoming vacancy out now, because once our relationship is released to the world, we may attract people we don’t want.
I hate to look at it with such jaded thoughts, but it’s my reality now.
At least, it will be for the foreseeable future.
I have no idea how long Everett and I will be “together,” but it’s going to be enough time to change my life.
I just pray that it’s all going to be worth it.
“Perfect. Thank you so much for organizing everything.”
“You don’t need to thank me, Bea. It’s my job.”
I know it is, but I’m sure I’ll forever think I’m putting her out by relying on her so much. I want to do everything, but I can’t. I’ve always struggled with delegation, and it’s going to get a whole lot more challenging when I’m at a distance.
“I know, I know,” I mutter.
“Anyway, why are you still here? Your last client left over an hour ago.”
“I know, I just…”
“I hope you’re not avoiding that hot-ass man waiting for you at home,” she teases.
My teeth clench.
“Oh? Do tell,” she begs, closing the laptop she was working on and giving me her whole attention.
“Si,” I warn, but all she does is raise an eyebrow.
“Ugh, fine. We agreed to no benefits.”
“What?” She balks. “Why? Why on God’s green earth would you ever agree to live with, to be in a relationship with, one of the world's hottest men and agree to ignore the benefits?”
I throw my hands up. “Because this is already complicated enough.”
“Bea,” she sighs.
“Don’t give me that look,” I hiss.
“What look?” she asks innocently.
I point my finger at her face and circle it. “That…that sympathetic, sad look. I know what I’m doing.”
“Oh really?” she quips.
“Fine—no. I have no idea what I’m doing. But spending my nights fucking Everett seems like a really bad idea. What if I get used to it? I can’t do that to myself, Si. I just can’t.”
“What if he gets used to it?”
I shake my head. “Everett doesn’t see the same woman twice. If it weren’t for this,” I say, rubbing my growing belly, “he wouldn’t give me the time of day.”
“I think you’re wrong.”
“Wonderful,” I say, spinning on my heels and walking toward the staff room to get my purse, well aware that she’ll be hot on my tail.
“What happens when his needs need scratching?” she asks.
“He has two hands.”
She snorts a laugh. “Yeah, sure. But this is Everett Donnelly. Before all of this, the guy practically got his dick wet every night of the week.”
“Nice,” I hiss, trying to keep my feelings about him being with other women off my face.
“You have feelings for him,” she says, not even bothering to fight her smile.
My face heats. “What? No. That’s crazy. He’s a fuckboy with anger issues. I—”
“Oh my god, you do. I can see it in your eyes. You totally have a thing for your baby daddy.”
“He’s hot, sure. And I have no doubt he’d be able to satisfy my raging hormones right now, but we’re not going there.”
Sienna rolls her lips into her mouth and bites on them, stopping herself from replying. It doesn’t matter, though, I know her well enough to read her thoughts.
She thinks I should ride that man right through Pound Town and beyond. And while my desperate girly parts might agree, my head is on a completely different planet.
“We’ve set rules. And we’re going to stick to them,” I state firmly.
Surely, they’re not going to be that hard to follow. Right?
Sienna’s eyes burn into me as I pull my purse free and dig my cell out.
Baby Daddy: Gone out with Linc. Will be back at eight with dinner.
“See,” I say, flashing the screen at Sienna. “He’s barely even at home. It’s gonna be fine.”
It’s not entirely true. Despite the media reporting otherwise, it seems Everett is something of a homebody. He seems to love his own company and shutting himself away from the world.
I guess that’s probably normal when he spends months of his year out of town. And thankfully, right now, I’m busy working, so we’ll hardly see each other before the season starts again.
It’s all gonna be just fine.
“You’ve got his contact as Baby Daddy?”
My cheeks burn so hot, I swear they heat the entire room.
“He did that,” I say in a rush.
“And you haven’t changed it,” Sienna points out. “Can I assume that you’re Baby Momma in his?”
I frown. “I…uh…I don’t know, actually.”
She rolls her eyes. “You totally are.”
“Whatever. I’ll see you tomorrow,” I say as I walk toward the door. “And go home. You finished hours ago.”
“I am,” she confirms. “See you tomorrow. Enjoy your baby daddy.”
“Love you too,” I call as I walk through the salon.
With Everett being out, I take the opportunity to head to my apartment to grab a few extra things.
I can only assume that living in Everett’s fancy penthouse has helped me forget just how awful my place is, but I hate it even more than I used to. The damp smell is stronger than ever, and my stomach turns over as the door slams behind me, and of course, the music vibrates the walls.
As fast as I can, I grab everything I need, but before I walk out of my bedroom, my eyes lock on my nightstand.
My core tightens in desperate need for what lies inside that drawer.
Okay, no. That’s bullshit; it’s proven time and time again recently that it can’t hit the mark.
Maybe I need to order a new one.
Or maybe you just need Everett Donnelly’s dick…
Forcing that thought from my head, I rip the drawer open and wrap my fingers around my vibrator.
As I stuff it to the bottom of one of my bags, I tell myself that it’s for emergencies. Emergencies when Everett is out of the apartment. This thing isn’t overly quiet, and the last thing I need is him knowing what I’m up to.
With my body begging for me to make use of my not-so-little friend, I quickly scan my living area for anything else I might need before hightailing it out of there and back to the luxury of Everett’s apartment.
In contrast to my place, when I step inside and breathe in, it’s only the fresh scent of Everett that hits me, and there is nothing but blissful silence.
I take off toward my bedroom, but my steps falter when I find an open notebook on the kitchen counter with Everett’s messy scrawl written across it.
Would you rather be chased through a forest by a zombie or by a lion?
I frown as I read the question, my head spinning.
After a couple of seconds, I grab the pen.
A lion.
“Umm…” I tap the pen against the page as I think of another one to add.
Would you rather live on a boat or in a treehouse?
When I take off again, it’s with a smile. It’s amazing how much a place can make a difference in my mood.
I’m busy finding a home for all my things and planning a nice long soak in the tub when a loud knock fills the apartment.
I glance at the clock, and assuming he’s home early, I head for the front door.
“Hey, did you forget your—” My words die as I find a young man with messy curly hair, an unkept beard, and tired eyes. And thankfully, from the amount of research I’ve done over the past few weeks, I know exactly who it is.
He holds my eyes for a beat before glancing at the door I’m holding open, I assume double-checking the number.
A frown wrinkles his brow when he realizes he is at the right place.
“There’s a woman at Rett’s apartment,” he blurts, his eyes returning to me.
I look around him to see who he’s talking to, but there isn’t anyone else.
“Uh…hi,” I squeak, realizing that I probably shouldn’t have run out here and opened the door without at least looking first.
I might love it here, but this isn’t my home.
Suddenly, he thrusts his hand toward me. “Hi, I’m Hayden Monroe, one of Rett’s team—”
“Teammates,” I interrupt with a smile as I slide my palm against his. “I know who you are,” I say softly. “Did you want to come in?” I ask, moving aside to give him space.
“I…uh…I don’t want to intrude.”
“It’s okay,” I say with a smile. “Everett isn’t due back for a bit. But you can hang out and wait for him.”
He nods, although hesitantly, as he steps inside and toes his sneakers off at the door.
“Can I get you a drink, Hayden?”
He stands at the end of the island, watching as I march toward the fridge.
“Oh shit, sorry. I’m Bea. Beatrice Walsh. I’m Everett’s…girlfriend.”
Hayden’s eyes go impossibly wide.
“G-girlfriend?”
“Yeah, we met the night of your final game of the season. I was with the girl with the crown on her head. Everett and I…well, you know,” I say, wiggling my brows. “We’ve been seeing each other since. Kept it on the downlow.”
“Yeah,” he says hesitantly, not looking entirely convinced.
“Message him,” I say. “I promise it’s legit and I’m not some obsessed bunny.”
I spin around and focus on getting drinks, allowing him some privacy to confirm what I’m saying.
Honestly, I know the whole thing sounds utterly unhinged, but it’s the truth. Kind of.
“A soda would be great,” he finally says. “Sorry for showing up like this, I just…I needed some company, and I hoped Rett would be here.”
“Well, lucky for you, you got me. And I can confirm that I’m way less grumpy and a hell of a lot more fun.”