AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“He said there’s some woman who’s harassing him. He wouldn’t go into much detail. It apparently had something to do with his pets, and he claims it’s nothing ‘a little dick’ can’t handle. I couldn’t be sure if he was talking about the size of his cock, referring to himself as a dick, or if he’s planning to sleep with her.”
“God,” I sighed. “Is the cat okay?”
“The cat’s loving life. Your brother may be a lunatic, but I have to admit he knows how to make an animal happy.”
“One of his few talents,” I agreed. “What about you? How’s that new job going?”
“Oh, I quit yesterday.”
I blinked. “You what? That was supposed to be some kind of dream job, right? Your ticket to an apprenticeship in France or something?”
“Yeah, well, now it’s not. My manager was a creep, so I bailed on them in the middle of a dinner rush. Fuck that guy. I’ll make my own way to France sooner or later.”
“Sorry, Trin. I know how bad you wanted that.”
She made a dismissive sound. “It’s nothing. I’ll figure it out. So what is the status with you and the writer? Are you two official yet?”
“Actually, there’s something I’ve been afraid to tell you. Promise you won’t freak out.”
“When someone tells you to promise not to freak out, it’s generally a bad sign, Kenzie. What is it? Did he ask if you’re allergic to vinegar?”
I paused. “What? No? Why would he ask that?”
“It’s the first step in the pickling process.”
I rolled my eyes. “Very funny. No. I, um, kinda got pregnant. Four months ago.”
All I could hear through the line was faint, muffled static.
“Are you there?”
“Pregnant? How long have you known? Who is the—Oh, God, Kenzie. It’s Sebastian, isn’t it? From the conference? You told me he used a rubber!”
“He did. It must’ve had a hole or something. I only found out when I woke up at his mansion after the book signing. The doctor ran all kinds of tests and told me.”
“What did Sebastian say?”
I hesitated.
“Please don’t tell me you haven’t even told him?”
“Oh yeah. I definitely told him.”
“When?”
“A few days into the retreat? I thought I was storming out of his life in a blaze of glory at the time and just kinda had a fuck it moment.”
“No kidding. How’d he take the news?”
“Well, we’re sort of somewhere between dating and not dating, as far as I can tell.”
“There’s no place between those two things, Kenzie. You’ve either gone on dates or you haven’t.”
“We’ve had date-like encounters. Cute nights by the fire. Little reading sessions in our room. A cuddle on the plane ride back. I mean, if that’s not kinda dating, what is?”
Trinity sighed. “So what are you waiting for?”
“I don’t want to push it too fast, I guess. I don’t want to be that woman who gets pregnant and forces a guy into a relationship for the sake of the baby. So I’m just sitting back and letting him decide what to do.”
“That’s not like you.”
“Well, this is my first time being pregnant, Trinity.”
“All I’m saying is your excuse is bullshit. He’s a grown ass man. If he doesn’t want to be in a relationship with you, he won’t. And you’re a grown ass woman who deserves to feel her feelings and act on them. So if you want it to be more than kinda dating, stop dancing around it. Tell him what you want.”
“Normal people don’t just go making demands like that.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were normal people.”
I laughed. “Alright, I’ve got to go. I told Sebastian I was using the bathroom. I probably should get back before he starts worrying that I fell in or something.”
“Assert yourself, Kenzie.”
I ended the call and headed back to where Sebastian was waiting. I had a chance to admire him from a distance as I approached. He was sitting on the edge of a squared in area with mulch, trees, and plants. His long legs were in front of him and crossed at the ankles. He managed to make upright posture look comfortable and natural as he sat and glared at nothing in particular.
I was amused to notice that every other woman who passed by him turned to look over their shoulder at him. The ones who didn’t look stood a little straighter or waggled their hips more once they were in front of him. A young girl even stopped to ask him to sign a paperback of his book at one point, but he otherwise escaped being recognized as anything more than the most attractive man people had ever seen.
I took a seat by his side, feeling even more baffled by his interest in me after getting a quick reminder of how any woman with a pulse wanted to jump his bones. “Well,” I said. “We’re back home.”
