Chapter 5
FIVE
ZOE
Six weeks later
I pick up my phone for approximately the one millionth time since our weekend in Vegas.
Declan never called me.
And I’m too stubborn to call him.
With me only being here until the end of the year, it might not be the best idea to start a new romance anyway. When I sold, the contract for the deal contained a clause for me to stay on and help manage the transition to the new owner’s infrastructure. Every day I have less and less to do—my time with the company was planned that way as I ease myself out of it.
The deal was so big, once I work out this year I never have to work again, but there’s also a sense of loss that what was once mine is gone. If I want to build something new, I’ll have to start all over again.
I knew all this when I sold my company, but the closer I get to the conclusion of my contract, the more adrift I feel.
“What’s crawled up your ass?” Caitlin asks.
Brandon is out with friends, and I invited her over to hang out. She’s leaving in a couple of days, but now I’m regretting hosting her. I’m not feeling great, and I’m cranky as hell. She’s not done anything wrong, but the last thing I want is for her to cop it just because I’m grumpy.
“Nothing.”
“He hasn’t called yet? What a prick.” She’s on my side—I know that, but everything is grating on me right now and her words still irritate me.
“Maybe he’s busy.”
“For eight weeks?” She frowns. “I’m sorry, Zoe, but the guy’s an asshole. He should never have asked for your number and given you hope.” I burst into tears, and her sad expression changes to one of horror.
“I know all that. It’s just …” I sniff.
“What’s going on?” Her soft tone makes everything worse.
“I don’t know. I’m getting closer to the end of my contract, and you’re moving, and everything’s a mess.” I fling my hands up to add melodramatic flair.
She bites her lower lip before resting her hand on my arm. “Don’t take this the wrong way …”
My eyebrows rise. “What?”
“Have you thought about taking a pregnancy test?”
I shoot her the side-eye. “Why would I do that? ”
“Because you’re grumpy all the time, and you were a little green around the gills when we had breakfast the other day. You’re just not yourself.”
“I’m not pregnant.” I huff.
“Go and buy a test. It’s not like it’s far to get one. There’s a pharmacy …”
“I know where it is.”
She shoots to her feet. “Fine. I’ll go buy one now.”
“Don’t. I’ll get one. Just not this instant.”
Before I can stop her, she’s grabbed her bag and flung her coat over her shoulders, and is stamping toward the door.
I’m not sure how long I sit there, frozen by uncertainty until she storms back in, slamming the door in her wake and waving a small blue box at me.
“You owe me.”
I laugh. “What are you talking about?”
“The woman at Walgreens recognised me. She’s a big Brandon fan. Now there’ll be rumours about me being pregnant.” She flicks her blonde locks over her shoulder.
“Well, if I remember rightly, I told you not to go out and get a test. It’s your own fault.”
She wriggles out of her coat and throws it on a nearby chair. “Now I’ve gone to all that trouble, you can go and take the test.”
I shake my head. “You’re a pain in the arse.”
“You’ll miss me when I’m gone.”
My throat tightens. I will miss her. Regardless of what happens, we’ll be in different parts of the world and not in each other’s pockets like we have been these past two years.
How quickly Caitlin has become such a big part of my life—one I’m going to struggle to do without. When I first came to the US, I had no one. I’ve got friends back home, but none I would call my best friend.
She frowns.
“I will miss you.” I sniff.
“I’ll miss you too. But I’m only at the end of the phone. So before I sail off into the sunset, I want you to take that test.”
I sigh. “I’ll miss your bossiness. And okay. I’ll take the damn test, but I’m telling you, it’ll be negative.”
Caitlin pats me on the head. “Good girl.”
I snatch it out of her hand. “Wait here. I want to at least pee in private.”
Her laughter follows me all the way to the bathroom. She’s right. I do need to do this. It’s all adding up. I’m terrible at tracking my cycle. If Caitlin hadn’t said anything, I probably wouldn’t have realised that I haven’t had my period in … how long has it been?
I glare at the blue box before ripping it open and pulling out the stick.
“You’d better only have one line,” I grumble.
It only takes a moment to do the test, but the instructions say now I need to wait. Doubt starts to creep in as I place the test on the bathroom cabinet. Could I be pregnant?
I do know we used condoms—I remember that much, plus I’m on birth control pills. But nothing’s one hundred per cent, and we did have sex multiple times.
And I’m sure I haven’t had my period since before our trip.
Oh God. I am pregnant.
I don’t even need to check the test to know .
The one night I kicked loose and acted out of character, I ended up pregnant. It’s also not like Declan and I will ever be in a relationship—his past speaks for itself.
It was just one night.
I wipe myself clean and pull up my panties, sitting on the toilet again for a moment before taking a deep breath and picking up the test.
Two pink lines.
For a moment, I just sit there. There’s nothing else I can do.
Declan O’Leary knocked me up and never called me.
What an asshole.
I glower at the test in my hand before slamming it down on the counter. Standing, I wash my hands, then pick the test back up to show Caitlin.
Her eyes widen when she takes the sight of me in.
“This is your fault.” I wave the test at her.
“Wait. What? What’s happened?” She grabs hold of my arm, and her mouth falls open as she stares at the plastic white stick. “Shit.”
“How the hell did this happen?”
Caitlin cocks her head. “Well, it usually happens when a penis is inserted into a vagina and …”
“This isn’t funny.” I frown again at the two pink lines on the white stick in front of me.
She slips her arm around my shoulders and I rest my head against hers. “There’s no way it’s not Declan’s?”
“Has to be his. I haven’t had sex with anyone else in months. Unless it’s an immaculate conception, the father is Declan O’Leary. ”
“My mom loves him,” she says in a dreamy voice.
“That’s not helpful,” I snap.
She lets out a sigh and squeezes my shoulder. “Why don’t we talk this out. Are you going to keep it?”
“I only just did the test—I haven’t got that far.” Knitting my fingers together, I raise my knuckles to my lips. What the hell am I going to do? “I need to tell him.”
“Why?” she scoffs. “It’s not like he’s going to want it.”
“Maybe, but he’s still the father, and if he or she wants to know about their dad later on, I’d much rather he knows.”
“So, you’re keeping it.” She chuckles and places a kiss on my temple. “Whatever you do, you know you have me. I’m always a hundred per cent behind you. I just don’t want you to rush into any rash decisions.”
I sigh. “He gave me his number. I guess I’ll call him.”
She nods. “Do you need me to sit with you? Moral support?”
“No. I’ll be fine. Thank you.” I give her hand a squeeze.
“You’re never alone, Zoe. You’ve always got me.”
“You’re leaving.”
“And your contract is up at the end of the year. You could always come to Chicago. And even if I’m not always physically with you, I’m just at the end of the phone or we can Zoom.”
There’s so much to think about. I can’t say it to Caitlin, but a big part of me just wants to crawl home to New Zealand and back to Mum and Dad. I’ll have to organise a meeting with Jason and Chrissie—the people who bought my company to discuss this pregnancy, but there’s nothing stopping me working for as long as I can and then being available for support.
Caitlin being my best friend is the only other thing that’s kept me here.
And now she’s spreading her wings.
It’s time to spread my wings too.
Her phone pings, and she rolls her eyes.
“Let me guess. It’s your husband.” I don’t mean it as down as it comes out. Brandon has been nothing but good to me.
“We’ve got reservations. I need to go home and get changed, and I’m already running late.”
I stare at her. “This could have waited.”
“No, it really couldn’t. Besides, you’re important. You always will be. I don’t want you to forget that.”
Tears well in my eyes. “I won’t forget. You’re important to me too.”
“Love you.” She plants a kiss on my temple.
I sniff. “Love you right back.”
“See you later?”
The concern in her eyes makes me want to reassure her, but I can’t when I’m so uncertain. How will Declan take my news?
Does it really matter?
I’m thirty years old. If I’m going to have a baby, it might as well be now. Who knows what the future will bring when it comes to having a family? I’m not short of money—the whole reason I’m in the US is because I sold my business to an American one.
I can do this without Declan.
But I’m still going to tell him .
“Zoe?” Caitlin pinches my bicep.
“Ouch.” I glare at Caitlin and rub my arm. “What was that for?”
“You were miles away. I can call Brandon and let him know I’m staying longer if you need me.”
I shake my head. “No. You go and have a great evening. I’ll be fine.”
She lingers for a moment, her brow still furrowed. “Call me if you need me.”
“I will.” I grasp her forearm. “Seriously, I’m all good. I’ll call Declan to make a time to go and see him. If he doesn’t want to meet, then I’ll be okay.”
I know she doesn’t like me doing this alone, but if I’m raising this baby without Declan, I need to get used to doing things by myself.
Before I come up with a million reasons not to tell him, I have to pull up my big girl panties and make that call.
It’s not until Caitlin’s gone that I pick up my phone. My finger hovers over Declan’s contact before I take a deep breath and tap it.
“Hello.” Weeks have passed, but his deep, sexy voice takes me back to the hotel room.
I swallow hard. “Declan, it’s Zoe.”
“Zoe?” He pauses for a moment. “Las Vegas Zoe?”
I bite my bottom lip. He remembers me at least. “That’s me. Las Vegas Zoe.” I laugh.
“What can I do for you?” His tone makes it sound like he’s on edge—suspicious. I’m not really surprised. He’s famous and people undoubtedly approach him for all kinds of things .
“I’m coming to Los Angeles, and I wondered if we could get together for a coffee? There’s something we need to discuss.”
There’s silence, and I assume he’s digesting my words. There aren’t many things we’d have to talk about, so he’s got to guess what I’m calling about. But I don’t want to do this over the phone. If we’re going to discuss things, I want it done face-to-face.
“Sure. Text me the place and time and I’ll be there.”
A sense of relief washes over me. I’d thought he might be difficult—he might still be difficult, but he’s prepared to meet me and that’s a start.
I don’t need a man in my life. I’m perfectly capable of raising a child by myself. But the combination of not wanting to have secrets and the raging hormones inside me are forcing my hand.
“Thanks, Declan.”
“Are you okay, sweetheart?”
I blink rapidly and shift my gaze to the ceiling in an attempt not to cry. “I’m fine.”
“Let me know when you get into town. I’m not working, so I’m free any time.” His soft tone takes me by surprise, and I smile to myself.
“Okay. Thanks. Talk soon.”