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His car pulls up to the gate and he has a conversation with the guards, some of which I catch but most of it I don’t hear. All I know is when the conversation is over, the one on my side nods at me and stares like he is somehow committing my image to memory and putting it in some invisible computer I can’t see. His driveway is like another mile by itself, but surrounded by gorgeous gardens and plants. The outside of his house looks like an oasis. Like a tropical paradise. I can see why he has it guarded so much.
Once we have made it to the front, Bolton and a very blushy Sassy are standing close together having what must be a very private conversation because when she sees the car pull up, she hops back like she was just caught in a compromising position. “Well, hello there you two. Seems there is much Miss Rose here left out,” she says, putting her hand on her hip, trying to deflect from what she knows I witnessed.
“Yeah. It doesn’t look like I am the only one leaving things out,” I tell her, smirking when her cheeks turn red. Instead of saying anything, she winds her arms through mine.
“Let’s leave the boys to talk business. You and I have a conference call.” Oh crap. Sure enough not a second after we make it inside my phone rings. Rolling my eyes at her, I open it and the faces of our best friends pop. Right away I see the hurt in Cheryl’s face. The guilt hits me immediately and I just burst out in tears.
“I am so sorry I didn’t tell you guys. Especially you, Cheryl. I don’t know why. I mean at first I was in denial. Stupid really because we never used a condom even though I know better, but when I was with him, nothing existed but he and I and I saw all the possibilities and let myself be swept up. By the time it was time for me to move on, I had lost the gloss and told myself it was nothing. So when I found out, I spent six weeks denying it and trying to rationalize something that makes no sense. Then, the story with Honey broke and I felt like an idiot. I mean can you imagine what my mom is going to say, let alone my dad?” Hiccupping, I finally take a breath and stop begging for forgiveness.
“Oh sweetie, we are just worried about you. All of this is a lot and to go through it alone, I mean I don’t know what I would do without all of you.” Hope says, rubbing her ever growing baby belly.
“Seriously. I am barely showing and still overwhelmed with all of it. We just want to be there for you.” Jinny smiles into the phone and I feel like even more of a fool because they are both right.
“Hey. I get it. How long did I keep you ladies in the dark?” Scarlett asks, shrugging her shoulders. Her situation was also unique, not knowing who the dad was, at first.
“Well, I hated finding out from the paparazzi.” Sassy says, frowning at me. It takes me a second to realize what she said, but then it hits me.
“Oh God. This sucks,” I screech and stumble back. I vaguely remember the paparazzi asking questions and when the man grabbed me, Nick said something. My stomach begins to rumble, and I run for the garbage can.
“Shoot, Rose. I’m sorry. I thought you knew,” she says holding my hair back. I shake my head as everything I managed to eat, mainly nothing, comes up. Feeling like I might be finished, I groan and sit up slightly and look at the face of my friends.
“My life is never going to be the same again, is it?” They all sympathetically shake their heads no.
Yeah. I was afraid of that.
CHAPTER 12
When Bolton and Sassy leave, I search for Rose. I find her curled up on the couch, her eyes red rimmed and her already pale face tear streaked.
“Come on baby, let’s take a shower,” I tell her.
“No. I’m okay here,” she says softly.
“You’ve had a rough day, Rose. Shower now,” I demand. I feel the goosebumps rise up on her arms and I know I have her.
“Fine,” she says, and I lift her up in my arms, carrying her bride style into my bedroom and straight into the bathroom.
“I can shower by myself,” she says, taking her skirt off and finally the shirt that belongs to another man. When she’s standing in front of me, naked, I growl.
“I swear to God and all the Apostles, if you don’t get in the shower with me, I won’t be responsible for my actions.”
“Geez… twist my arm, why don’t you.” Reaching into the shower, I turn it on, remembering she likes it as hot as it will go, but I since I like to keep my skin, I set it to a happy medium.
