10. Chapter 10
Chapter 10
C HAPTER TEN
RAPHAEL
The sound of my alarm clock blaring startled me awake. I groaned and stretched, turning the damn thing off. For a second, I lay there, staring at the ceiling. My life used to be simple. In the mornings, I'd wake up, usually next to a woman I met the night before. I'd stare at her for a moment before rolling out of bed. It wouldn't take long for her to wake up as well and I'd have to go over the same routine of trying to get her to leave without being awkward.
But that wasn't the case today.
Today, there was no one in my bed. I rolled out of it, rubbing my eyes as I placed my feet on the floor. Then I stood, making my way out of the room. On my usual days, Susan would be standing outside my room. She'd greet me with a frown and ask if my guest was staying longer because she wanted to clean my room.
Today, Susan stood outside my room, but she wasn't alone.
"Uhm, I'm not sure," Rory was saying slowly, her arms crossed and her fingers tapping against her arm.
Susan placed her hands on her hips. "Just tell me what you want. If it's something from the store, I can go pick it up."
Rory was wearing a black nightgown that ended mid-thigh giving me a nice view of her long legs. Her hair was tied up in a ponytail and she looked fresh-faced. My body stirred at the sight of her. She was beautiful.
"Maybe some orange juice?" she asked, licking her lips - a gesture that did not go unnoticed by me.
I sighed heavily, shaking my head. The last time I gave in to that temptation, I ended up having sex with her and she was now pregnant with my child. I wasn't about to indulge myself again.
"That’s hardly enough for you," Susan said softly. "Think of the baby."
The baby.
My baby.
I glanced at Rory's stomach. It was the same as always, flat and firm. When would she start showing? How long would it be before I could see a bump? There was a part of me growing inside her. It was weird to think about.
"Get her a big breakfast," I said.
Rory and Susan turned around, finally noticing me.
"Raphael," Rory said softly. "Morning."
"Morning," I replied. "I hope Susan's not causing you much trouble."
"Of course not," Susan said, a furrow between her brows.
"I was just checking," I said. "We'll have a breakfast consisting of eggs, waffles, juice, fruits, and sausages," I added. "Oh and get some lemons to relieve the nausea."
"Okay," Susan nodded before walking away.
I turned back to her with a smile, noticing the way her lips parted and her chest heaved. "What?"
"Lemons to relieve the nausea?" she asked, raising a brow.
"I read a lot and spoke to an OBGYN last night," I shrugged. I placed my hand on her waist and guided her over the stairs. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yeah, but the bed is a bit too soft," she said, rubbing the back of her neck.
I glanced at her. "I thought you would be more comfortable if you felt like you were sleeping on clouds."
"I like my beds perfectly balanced. Not too hard but not too soft either."
"Hmm," I hummed. "Okay, I'll give you my card. You can take the driver and a few guards later. Go get a new bed."
"O-oh, that's not what I meant," she said. "I just wanted-"
"You're carrying my child and this is your home for the next few months," I reminded her. "So, you should have the best of everything."
We moved across the foyer to the dining room. When she didn't respond, I turned to her. "Are you good?"
She swallowed and looked away. "I'm fine."
***
Later that day after Rory left, the door to my house slammed opened and Millie trooped in, followed by Mason, Xander, Rex and Axel. Her heels clicked against the hardwood floors as they made their way to the living room where I was playing games.
"Raphael Barlowe!" Millie called, the authoritative tone of her voice echoing in the empty halls.
I grimaced. "Hi Millie," I said as she appeared in the archway, her hands on her hips.
"Oh, you're in trouble," Rex sang with a grin.
Millie clasped her hands together and inhaled deeply. "Raphael, what did your text from this morning mean?"
"Which one?" I asked, playing dumb.
She glared at me. Then she took out her phone and unlocked it, swiping through it for a moment before reading out loud. "I'm going to be a father bitches. Star emoji, baby emoji, feeding a baby emoji."
"It means exactly what it says," I said, dropping the game pad and standing.
"Raph," she hissed.
"Look, I'm sorry. I should have given you guys a heads-up but it was a spur-of-the-moment thing."
"You really got someone pregnant?" Mason asked, his eyes wide. "How? We just got back to New York."
"It happened before we left the last time," I said, crossing my arms. "I found out when I got back."
"Who was it?" Xander asked, his arms crossed.
I frowned, my lips tightening. "I'm going to take care of everything so you guys don't need to worry."
"As your manager, I do need to worry," Millie said. "There are many things that could become a scandal. Peeing in a bush is a potential scandal, slapping a baby is a potential scandal, getting a random girl- who your fans have no idea of - pregnant is a potential scandal."
"Well, when you put it that way..."
"Who is she?" Mason asked, his gaze darkening. "If she's planning on using you, we should-"
"Mason," I said, holding my palm out. "Calm down."
"He's right," Xander said. "Women are not always the most trustworthy-"
"And I'm just saying, that you all should calm the fuck down," I snapped. I took a deep breath. "Her name is Rory. She's..."
"Your brother's girlfriend," Axel finished, tilting his head.
"Ex-girlfriend," I corrected. "And how do you know that?"
He shrugged and moved over to a flower vase in the corner, leaning in to study them.
"Getting your brother's ex-girlfriend pregnant," Millie said. "Is definitely going to be a scandal."
I sighed, collapsing on the couch and pushing my hair back with my fingers. "Obviously, I wasn't planning on it, but it happened and I'll deal with it."
"Does this mean she's keeping it?" Xander asked.
"Yes. I made her move in a couple of days ago."
They glanced at each other.
"You know," Rex began. "I always knew Raphael was most likely to impregnate a girl by accident."
Millie buried her face in her hands and groaned. "You guys are going give me a heart attack one day."
The guys moved to sit while Millie took out her phone. I leaned back on the couch and watched as she furiously tapped on the screen. "I'm making an appointment with the PR team," she announced.
"PR team?" I asked.
"Well yes, news like this have a way of leaking out," she said. "We have to do pre-emptive damage control. If not, the tabloids are going to spin this into the worst thing that could happen. You have a reputation as a playboy, Raph and now your brother's ex is pregnant for you."
"I don't think it'll be that bad," I said, scratching the back of my head.
"Really?" Mason asked.
I nodded. "People love me."
Millie took a deep breath. She seemed to love doing that. "Please just keep this whole thing a secret for now while I parade you around New York as the perfect man," she said. "I'd like for everyone to focus on your charity. Who else knows about this?"
"My parents, the staff here but I paid them extra to be discreet and they all sign NDAs," I said. "Rory's sister and Rylan."
"Oof," Rex made a face. "That must not have gone well."
I rolled my eyes. "Tell me about it. He almost broke my nose. I’m lucky I don’t have a scar."
"Okay, keep everything the way it is and let me handle the rest," Millie said. Her phone rang just then and she picked it up quickly. "Ronald, you fucker. When I call you, you fucking pick up the phone," she growled, walking away.
I sighed, picking up my gamepad. I didn't click it immediately. The weight of everyone's stares bore down on me.
"This is a bad idea," Xander muttered.
"What is?" I asked.
"You having a kid."
"Thanks," I muttered.
"Don't be pessimistic right now," Mason said, glaring at him. Then he turned to me. "How are you feeling?"
I licked my lips and thought for a moment. How was I feeling? "I was shocked when I found out but now...now, I feel like I have a responsibility to fulfill," I explained. "I'm not going to abandon her or anything like that."
"Do you have any idea what raising a child is like?" Xander asked. "You have the life of a human in your hands. One little mistake and they'll be dealing with major trauma and daddy issues in twenty years."
"I can learn," I said, rolling my eyes. "And I'm not stupid. I'm going to read everything I can. And there's Rory too. She'll be here and we'll deal with it together."
"You don't sound scared," Mason noted.
"I've never been scared of anything," I said, grinning. "I've never failed at anything either. If being a father is what's next for me, then I'm going to be the best fucking father there is."
The guys were quiet for a moment.
"Might not want to use words like that around your child," Axel muttered, finally pulling his attention away from the vase. He looked over at us. "So they don't start cussing at three."
I grabbed a cushion and flung it at him, earning laughter from the guys.
"A child with your genes in it is going to be quite the character," Xander said, clearing his throat. "Still, they won't be so bad to be around."
I blinked at him for a moment. Mason's brows furrowed as he frowned. "Are you trying to say he can count on you for anything?"
"Is this your way of being endearing?" Rex added.
"Xander can't wait to meet your kid," Axel said softly, placing the cushion on my lap and sitting next to Mason.
Xander licked his teeth and stared at us with a neutral look on his face. "I am his friend, am I not?" he asked. "It only makes sense for me to be there for him."
"That's so sweet," I gushed, wiping a fake tear.
"Fuck you," Xander snapped.
"That's enough," Mason said, chuckling.
"Well," Rex began. "We're all going to be there for that kid. I call dibs on being the godfather."
Mason smacked the back of his head. "That position is mine."
"Why?"
"Because I'm the leader."
"That doesn't mean shit."
I laughed, watching the two bicker. Millie came back, and when she saw us laughing, she raised a brow. "Did I miss something?" she asked as she sat on a couch.
"Not really," I said, waving the pad in the air. "Who wants to play?"
"I do," Rex said, grabbing another gamepad.
I needed this. I needed my best friends.
For the next few months, everything was going to change.
I wasn't just a rockstar anymore.
I was going to be a father.