Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
CANDY
Hollis is easy to talk to. I spill almost everything to him. About how Max and I met in college and so on from there. I tell him about him talking me into moving in with him after graduation, the bank account, and my phone. I go on with a list of other things.
I don’t go into the baby stuff fully. Instead, I leave it at Max asking me to be a surrogate, and I add that it would be my own egg. Though I hadn’t agreed to that. Max has worked around that. But I leave it at me not having made up my mind about it.
By the time I’m done, Hollis has plated our lasagna with a salad and garlic bread.
“Are you going to say anything?” I ask when it grows quiet.
“How honest do you want me to be?”
“I need to hear the truth. I worry that I’m seeing it wrong and he really is my friend.”
“He’s not your friend,” Hollis says immediately. There is heat to his words. He’s pissed. “Twice he’s brought up the two of you being more. He’s playing the long game.” I don’t get it. Max has a string of beautiful girls he can have. They’d do anything for him.
“I don’t want to believe that. He’s kind of all I’ve got.” I’d be alone in this world once again.
“You can’t have a baby with this man. This is his final plan to entrap you. He will wield that baby like a weapon against you, and it sounds like he’s got money.”
“He does.”
“What about you? How does my mom know your family or whoever recommended you?” Well, crappers.
Why hadn’t I thought of that? Of course, if his mother knows me, it would be through fancy people. I don’t run in those circles except for the rare occasions Max talks me into going to an event with him. I always feel awkward and out of place.
“I don’t have any family.” Hollis's eyes narrow.
“And he’s using that against you too. Gwen, you have to get away from this man.”
“I know.” I huff a breath. “Thanks for letting me get that off my chest. It’s been weighing on me.” Hollis’s face softens.
“The first step is getting out of his home. I know we only just met, but New Hope might be the right fit for you. You said you got your degree in education?”
“Yes, but I can’t just up and move hours away. I wouldn’t know where to start.” My mind starts to race. This is a freaking mess.
“Well, you start by staying here.”
“What?” My head snaps up. Did he really say that?
“Why not? I have the space, and then he doesn’t have you cornered. Right now, he thinks you’re trapped. He’s not saying it out loud, but you know he could toss you out onto the street, shut down the phone, and close the bank account.”
I put my hand to my chest. This isn’t helping with my anxiety. “I can’t stay here. You don’t even know me. We’re basically strangers.” I shake my head no.
“Hey.” Hollis grips the high-top chair I’m sitting in next to him at the kitchen island and pulls it closer to him. “Breathe for me.” I suck in a breath. “I can fix this.” He’s trying to reassure me and calm me down, but it’s not helping.
My eyes fill with tears. Hollis is such a good man. He doesn't know me at all, and he's offering me this. I feel like I'm one of those people about to stab him in the back.
“I lied!” I blurt out. I can’t allow him to continue to be so nice and welcoming as I sit here and keep secrets.
“All right.” His hand rubs up and down my back. Hollis doesn’t seem fazed by that. “What did you lie about?”
“I did it. I agreed.” I lift up my sweater, showing him the small bump.
Hollis keeps his expression blank as he glances down to my belly. He might think he’s hiding his displeasure, but I can tell by the tic in his jaw that he’s not happy.
“I’m sorry I lied,” I say, a tear deciding to slip free. I’m moments away from having a full breakdown.
“Don’t cry.” His fingers come to my face, wiping away the tears. “It’s going to be okay.”
“You said it. He’ll use this baby against me.” I don’t know how this would all play out in court. Max paid for it, but it was all lies. The contract that was drawn up was even a lie.
Hollis's hand drops down toward my stomach. My breath hitches, but it stops a few inches from my belly. “Can I?” I nod. I choke back a sob. “This doesn’t change anything. My offer stands. In fact, I’m going to push harder.”
“Hollis.” I burst into tears. He pulls me into his lap, holding me close.
“Keep breathing for me, precious girl.” He’s got one arm wrapped around me, his other hand still on my stomach. My sweater has fallen back down into place but over his hand.
“The deal”—I hiccup—“was a donor egg. I’d just be the surrogate. That’s what I actually thought, but I found out it wasn’t. He had the doctor use my egg.” I give him more. I feel his whole body tense, and then he takes a deep breath. I know he’s forcing himself to relax.
“As fucked up as that is, that gives you power here, Gwen. It’s also imperative to leave the city. Wherever the baby is born is where you can have more legal standing.”
“Really?” I lift my head. I’m sure I look terrible right now.
“I’ll talk to a lawyer but—”
“No!” The word bursts from me.
“Are you saying no because you don’t want a lawyer or because you’re scared?” I sink my teeth into my bottom lip. “You can tell me,” Hollis encourages.
“Scared.”
“You don’t need to be scared anymore. I can be a good man, but when provoked, I’ll do what I need to. That includes destroying this Max.” I can see the sincerity in his eyes. “Will you tell me his last name?”
“Can I sleep on it first?”
“You’re not going to run on me, are you?” His hold on me tightens a bit.
“No.” I shake my head adamantly. “I’m not going to run.” I might be stalling on telling him the full truth, but I will.
Max has done all the wrong things, and I’m going to fix them the best that I can. I won’t allow him to use my baby against me.
We stare at each other; Hollis's eyes drop to my mouth. I can't resist licking my lips. When he starts to lean in, I almost do the same but catch myself pulling back and turning my head.
"I probably shouldn't be in your lap," I whisper.
"Kind of feels right."
"You're engaged," I remind him. His body tenses.
"Let's get dinner inside of you." He lets me slip off his lap and back into my own chair.
“It might not be the best idea if I move in here.” I almost kissed him. Shame fills me. He belongs to someone else. I won’t be that girl. Never.
“You just got a lot off your chest, and you’re full of emotions. You should sleep on that too, but even if you’re not moving into my home, there are a million other places in the town you can stay. You’ll find the people of New Hope are rather protective.”
Then I’m guessing they won’t be happy to learn that I’m carrying their engaged mayor’s baby. They’ll be more protective of Hollis and Kindred. I don’t blame them. Kindred was a sweetheart to me, and Hollis is turning out to be the white knight.
“I’ll sleep on it.”
“Good, now eat.” I pick up a piece of the garlic bread and take a bite. I hadn’t felt hungry since the news Cara gave me, but the second the food touches my lips, my hunger comes back full force, thankfully.
“Are you going to watch me eat, or are you going to eat too?”
“You know that you make adorable little moans when you eat?”
“No!” I gasp with a small laugh. Hollis takes a bite of his own food. “Do you want kids?” I find myself asking. “You and Kindred.” I feel the need to say her name as a reminder to both of us.
It’s easy to forget that he’s someone else’s with how natural it feels to talk to him. Even when he’d pulled me into his lap, it wasn’t awkward or weird. If Max ever did that, I would have flipped on him.
“Kindred and I won’t be having kids.” He shakes his head, a half smile on his lips. “Ever.”
He doesn’t want kids. I’m not sure how to take that. I suppose he could sign away his rights.
I shove more food into my mouth. If I keep thinking, I’m going to give myself a headache.
“I really want a bath and bed,” I tell Hollis when I can’t eat anymore.
“All right,” he says. “You are free to move around the house. If you get hungry or need something, you can help yourself. You can also come and find me even if I’m asleep.”
“You’re really kind.”
“This is all going to work out, Gwen.” He tucks a piece of my hair behind my ear, then gently strokes my cheek with his thumb. “I promise.” I nod trustingly, wanting to believe him, praying for a Christmas miracle.
That miracle might be Hollis Frost.