Chapter 18 - Izabel
When I come out of the bathroom, no one is even in the living room. Panic strikes into me as I hurry through the place looking for them and find Anton walking back into the house, closing the front door behind him.
“Where is Kayla?” I blurt out, panicked.
“She’s okay, the guard is taking her wherever she wants to go. She needed to leave.”
“You let her go?” I stammer, shocked and relieved.
“Yes, I let her go.”
“But…wasn’t she…angry?” I ask, confused by everything. I’m so drained from this overflow of adrenaline that my body just wants to collapse onto a bed and sleep for an hour.
“You look exhausted, do you need to lie down?” he asks, noticing me sway a little.
He quickly wraps his arm around my waist. “Did you eat today? What are you allowed to eat? Shouldn’t you be taking vitamins?
We need to make you a doctor’s appointment,” he says, thoughts streaming unfiltered from his mind.
I giggle and lean against him, relieved that he believed I wasn’t trying to escape. And relieved that he isn’t angry about the pregnancy.
“So, you’re…you’re ok with it?” I ask nervously.
“With what?” he says, narrowing his eyes.
“I’m pregnant, and…you know…we didn’t really talk about it yet.”
He chuckles, smiling widely. His face lights up in that beautiful way that makes my heart flutter.
“I’m more than okay with this. I’m kind of…excited, once I get over the shock,” he laughs.
“Really?” I say in surprise.
“I think you should rest a bit, then I can take you out to dinner tonight, what do you think?”
“I think I would like that very much,” I smile.
He leads me upstairs and I crawl into his bed. Anton lies down next to me and pulls my back against his chest. I close my eyes, and I’m so exhausted that I fall asleep in a matter of minutes. Or maybe it’s just how safe I feel in his arms that lets me rest so easily around him.
***
Anton wakes me up gently, whispering that I need to get ready. “We have dinner at seven,” he says.
“Mm,” I roll over lazily and stretch my legs out. “That was such a nice afternoon nap. I feel really refreshed,” I mutter.
“Good, I’m glad you are feeling better.”
I climb out of bed in a sleepy, happy daze, still thinking about what happened today.
I have so many things I want to ask him, so many things I want to know about how he feels about having a baby.
But I think I’ll wait until we're at dinner.
And also, I want to talk to him about getting me my own phone. I want to call Kayla.
“Go shower, get dressed, and come downstairs when you’re ready,” he says, slapping me playfully on the butt.
It doesn’t take me long to get ready.
I chose a black velvet dress with long sleeves and a tight-fitting cut.
I do soft makeup and pin my hair up in a high bun on top of my head with loose strands floating down to frame my face.
I chose flat black boots to wear under the long dress, because there is no way I feel like tackling the cold outside tonight with high heels on.
I grab my long, thick gray and white checkered tweed coat to slip on when I get too cold.
I feel quite pretty when I check myself in the mirror before heading downstairs to meet Anton.
And when I walk down the last section of steps and see the way he’s looking up at me, my heart somersaults with happiness.
“You look exquisite, Pixie. I’ll be the envy of every man there tonight,” he muses, holding out his hand to take mine as I get closer to him.
He pulls me into his arms and kisses my lips softly.
“I have to tell you something before we leave, though. I didn’t want to tell you earlier because I thought you wouldn’t be able to rest if I did. And you really needed that sleep,” he says tightly.
“Oh, what is it?” I ask, picking up on the edge in his voice.
“Tonight’s dinner isn’t just for us. Kayla and I made an arrangement. We will be having dinner with her and her husband.”
My mouth drops open in shock. “Josiah!” I blurt out as panic shoots through me. “He will kill you on the spot,” I stammer.
“No, Kayla has arranged for a truce tonight so that we can talk face to face. She cares deeply about you, Izabel. I trust that she will make this happen,” he says calmly.
“So, you’re just going to walk into the dinner-thing and hope that she managed to calm him down?” I huff in disbelief.
“Yes, that was my plan. Do you think your friend can get Josiah to agree to this?” he asks.
I tilt my head to the side, considering his question. This is Kayla. She’s pretty damn fierce, and when it comes to Anton, she pretty much always gets what she wants.
I sigh, reluctantly accepting that she can. “Yes, if anyone can do it, it’s her.”
“Then, shall we?” he asks, stepping back and offering me his hand again.
***
My stomach is still doing flip-flops when we walk into the restaurant.
I can see Josiah and Kayla sitting next to the window. Kayla waves, a relaxed smile on her face. Josiah looks grumpy.
As we get closer, Josiah stands. I move away from Anton to hug Josiah. “Are you okay?” he whispers in my ear tensely.
“I am, I’m better than okay,” I smile.
He releases me and turns to Anton. Kayla and I wait, watching and holding our breath. The men don’t shake hands, but they also don’t start shooting at each other right away, so that’s a good sign as far as I’m concerned.
It’s horribly awkward as we sit at the table. I sit next to Kayla with Anton on the other side of me. Josiah is seated between Kayla and Anton.
The waiter comes to take our drinks order, and no one speaks.
To my relief, Kayla takes over and orders two bottles of wine for the table and a bottle of sparkling water for me. The men glare at each other in silence until the waiter leaves to fetch the wine.
“So, Anton, have you kidnapped any more people lately, or are you content with just the one for now?” Josiah huffs bitterly.
“Oh, don’t start…” I groan.
“How’s it looking up at the top, Josiah? Can you see all the lives you destroyed from up there, or is your head so far up your own ass that you’re delusional enough to think you played a fair game?” Anton snaps.
“Oh, please, you want to pretend you don’t destroy lives. You act without ever thinking. I don’t believe there is a single person on this planet that you even care about or would have empathy for—”
“That isn’t true at all,” I snap, angrily interrupting Josiah. “I’ve seen his life. I’ve met the people who work for him, and they all have a great deal of respect for him. I don’t care if you two want to continue hating each other, but at least hate each other for reasons that are true.”
Josiah hardly looks at me to acknowledge what I’ve said, and I grumble in annoyance.
The waiter arrives and doesn’t read the tension at the table. He happily pours wine and chats about the specials.
“Four steaks,” Kayla says, making it very easy for him. I’m relieved when she takes control like that, because the men haven’t even looked at the menu. I have no idea how we're going to get through this whole dinner.
After the waiter has gone around the table asking everyone how they would like the steaks done and what sauces they want with it, I let out a breath of relief when he walks away.
“Dammit, this is tense,” I grumble to myself as I look between Anton and Josiah, who still clearly want to tear each other to shreds.
Kayla, for some reason, is finding this amusing. “Let them have it out,” she tells me, picking up her wine glass. “Maybe they just need to fight it out in the parking lot and then come back here before the steak arrives,” she muses.
“Don’t encourage them,” I snap at her, shooting her a glare. She giggles and mouths ‘sorry’ quietly to me.
Anton picks up his wine and downs the whole glass.
Josiah laughs bitterly. “Dutch courage?” he mocks.
“Just dulling my senses so I can be on the same level as you. Tell me, Josiah, have you ever played fair in a business deal, or is everything you do underhanded and dirty?”
I kick Anton under the table and glare at him.
“I just told Josiah that if you two want to hate each other, at least do it for reasons that are true. And that means I’m saying the same to you.
Josiah has been nothing but kind to me in my life.
He is like family to me. If you want to sit here insulting him like that, you are insulting my family. Okay?”
Anton sneers.
“And you, one more childish remark from you, and I’m calling this off. You two both need to grow up and start acting like men instead of kids in high school. This is ridiculous!”
Kayla is nodding at me, still amused by it. “Tell them,” she says.
“Ugh, I feel like I’m trying to tame to full grown toddlers who happen to be the size of bears,” I huff, picking up my water and taking a long sip to try to calm myself. “This is not doing anything good for my stress levels,” I groan.
All the other comments hardly earned a blink from Anton or Josiah, but now suddenly they are both looking at me.
“I’m pretty sure you aren’t supposed to be stressed when you’re pregnant,” Josiah says.
Anton has already slipped his hand around my back and is gently rubbing up and down my spine. “Do you want me to order you something else to drink?” he asks.
“When Kayla was pregnant, she drank peppermint tea,” Josiah tells Anton.
“I made Izabel peppermint tea the other day, it helped with her morning sickness,” he explains.
I stare in shock from Anton to Josiah and then across to Kayla, who is rolling her eyes.
The men are suddenly stuck in a conversation about having a baby, and Anton is getting advice from Josiah about how to deal with the hormonal mood swings and what it’s going to be like not sleeping for three months straight.
I open my mouth, wanting to ask them if they’re done fighting now, but beneath the table, Kayla nudges me with her foot, and I glance at her.
She whispers, “Let them keep talking, at least it’s progressed from insults to this.”
“Babies, really?” I scoff.
She shrugs. “Whatever works.”
The steaks arrive, and it interrupts the guys' conversation.
They seem to realize for the first time that they weren’t fighting anymore.
Josiah sits up straighter, almost confused.
Anton clears his throat roughly and picks up his knife and fork.
They have gone deathly quiet again, and the tension has returned.
“Are you two serious?” I giggle.
“What?” they both ask, looking at me at the same time.
“Are you done arguing and then talking about babies? Can we maybe talk about a truce between the two of you for the future?”
“I don’t…” Josiah huffs, but it’s clear he doesn’t really know what to say.
Kayla leans forward with a smug expression on her face, and for some reason, I get the idea that she knew this was going to be how it went all along.
“Guys, I think there is something that you two never factored in until now. You have more in common than you think. Maybe you are both just men trying to do the best for the people they care about. And let’s accept one very important fact: you both care deeply about Izabel. ”
Anton nods, not saying anything as he looks at me, and his eyes warm at the sight of me.
Josiah groans loudly. “Yes, we both care about her, but it doesn’t change the history.”
“It can, though,” Anton says cautiously. “People let go of past issues for any number of reasons. Why not let go of issues for the sake of someone you care about?”
I reach out under the table and press my hand against his thigh. He threads his fingers through mine.
Josiah sighs heavily.
“Fine. I can’t really argue with that. Then…we both agree to a truce?” he asks, looking at Anton with annoyance etched into his eyes.
“A truce.” Anton holds his hand across the table, offering it to Josiah, who takes it and shakes to seal the agreement.
My heart is beating a million miles an hour as relief floods me.
I can’t believe this actually happened.
The rest of dinner is still just as awkward as before. It’s clear the men aren’t thrilled about having to be around each other, but the pathetic back and forth of insults has stopped.
After the check is settled and we are standing outside on the sidewalk, getting ready to say goodbye, Josiah gruffly issues an invitation.
“There is a family dinner in Chicago this weekend, it would be great if you could bring Izabel.”
Anton cocks his head to the side. “I can bring Izabel to the family dinner,” he replies cautiously.
“And perhaps you should meet them, too. Considering everything,” Josiah gestures roughly over the two of us. “We’ll have a room ready for you in the guest wing of the house.”
“Appreciated.”
The men keep their words civil and clipped, and now Kayla isn’t the only one who is finding it amusing. I am, too.
We wave goodbye to them as they drive past us on their way down the street.
“That was…interesting,” Anton says, starting his car.
“I think it went very well,” I say. “You got invited to family dinner.”
“No, you did. He only invited me so that he can keep his eye on me. A test of sorts,” Anton says.
“Oh please,” I scoff. “It’s not like that.”
“It is, little pixie. It’s what I would do. Give the guy a chance, but keep a very close eye on him. It’s because he cares about you. I get it. Shall we go home? This was a long night!”
I lean over the car to place my hand around his stubbled jaw and pull his face to look at me.
“Thank you. It really means a lot to me that you are trying,” I smile, lifting myself to kiss him.
He laughs against my lips. “Pixie, you can’t get me started here like this. We’re right in the middle of town….” His words drift off as I cheekily run my hand up the inside of his thigh to press my fingers against his already hardening cock.