High Stakes (A Deal With The Devil)

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Aiden

It’s been a couple of weeks since I said goodbye to Bella. And me and Laurie have fallen into a comfortable routine. She does all the things I hate, like cooking, cleaning and shopping, and I go to the club and lose myself in promotions and other stuff that keeps me away from the house as much as possible. But today, I can’t avoid the twenty-week scan.

Laurie places her hand on my knee, as I drive us towards the hospital. “Are you a little excited?” she asks.

I can’t deny I want to know the baby’s sex. At this point, I don’t even mind if we’re having a boy or a girl. It’s taken me a while to get used to the idea, but saying goodbye to Bella gave me some sort of closure. I can finally look to my future. “Actually,” I tell her, as we pull into the hospital car park, “I am.”

She smiles wide. I know she’s been waiting for me to show some interest in this pregnancy. It hasn’t been easy for her to watch me try and get over Bella. “I know you want a boy, but will you be totally disappointed if it’s a girl?”

I smile, shaking my head. “Not at all, she’ll be my princess.”

I get out, rounding the car and helping her out too. Since her bumps gotten bigger, she’s

making sure not to overdo anything, including opening doors for herself. I smirk as she huffs like she’s the size of a whale, when in fact, she’s got a neat little bump and hasn’t put weight on anywhere else. Laurie kisses me on the lips. “I love you,” she whispers.

I take her hand and lead her towards the entrance. She’s been trying to get me to say it back to her for weeks now, but I won’t, I made that mistake with her years ago and she almost broke me .

As we approach the entrance, Laurie pulls back slightly. “Shit,” she mutters.

I stop and turn to look at her, amusement in my eyes. “What are you doing?”

“Marcus is here,” she explains, and I scan the carpark until my eyes land on Marcus Collins, Laurie’s husband. He’s standing casually by the entrance with his hands in his pockets and his grey hair shining in the sun, waiting for us to approach.

“He’s clearly wanting to speak to you,” I say, pulling her towards him, “How did he know we’d be here?”

“I take it you didn’t think I’d show?” he asks, keeping his eyes fixed to Laurie who’s staring at the ground. “Only, you didn’t tell the hospital you weren’t staying with me anymore and so they sent your confirmation letter.”

“Marcus, now is not the time,” she mutters.

“I wasn’t going to miss the babies scan just because we’re not together,” he says firmly.

“What’s going on?” I ask.

Laurie glances my way, her face is full of guilt, I know because I’ve seen that look on her, right before she told me she was leaving me for him.

Marcus sniggers, “Don’t tell me she’s taken you for a mug again, Aiden. ”

“Laurie?” I demand. “What’s he talking about?” Even though I’ve already guessed.

“I should have known she’d turn to you once I kicked her cheating backside out,” he sneers. “Did she tell you the baby is yours too?”

Laurie begins to cry, and I snatch my hand away in anger. “I had nowhere to go, if you knew the truth you wouldn’t have let me stay.”

Marcus is laughing hard, and I resist the urge to punch him. “You really are a piece of work, Laurie.”

I grab her upper arm, shaking her, “Is he telling the truth?” I yell angrily.

“I don’t know who’s it is,” she cries.

“Bullshit,” says Marcus, “We’ve been trying for a kid for years,” he adds. “Did you have unprotected sex with her?”

My world is spinning . . . again. She’s lied to me . . . again. I release her and take a few steps back. “You fucking bitch,” I mutter.

“Please, Aiden. Don’t do this, we can be happy.”

“Stay the hell away from me.”

“But what if it is yours?” she cries.

If there’s a small chance, I’m not gonna risk not knowing. “Let me know when the kid is born, I’ll have a DNA test.” I march back to the car, leaving Laurie screaming at Marcus .

I can’t breathe. My chest feels tight and as I grip the steering wheel, I try and slow it down. I didn’t even want the kid so why am I letting it affect me? Because, I think bitterly, I’ve spent the last few months trying my best to be the person my child deserves. Fuck. Weeks of listening to Laurie go on about baby names and which equipment was best. I even had to look at her birthing plan. Who knew that was a thing. I groan, resting my head on my arms. Maybe this is all part of my punishment for hurting Bella the way I did.

I make my way to a bar that’s not too far from Tremos. It’s the type that older men use for a quiet pint, and that’s exactly what I need right now so I can gather my thoughts and clear my head.

I open a tab and ask the barman to keep them coming. Then I find a quiet spot in the corner and relax.

It’s almost six in the evening when I settle my bar tab. My vision is blurred, and fuck knows how I’m managing to stay on my feet as I push through the office workers all making their way home after a busy day. It’s not until I’m standing outside Bella’s shop, that I realise this wasn’t a conscious decision and I’ve drank way too much. I rest my head against the cool glass, watching as Bella and Aria dance around. They’re laughing and the sound warms my heart. I squint, noticing the tiny bump as Bella runs her hand over it. She looks good. Glowing even.

Bella

I spin away from Aria and come face to face with Aiden. His forehead is pressed up against the window and his eyes are fixed on me. I gasp and Aria also turns to see what’s made me stop. “What the fuck,” she hisses, ripping the door open and marching out to where he is. “What are you doing here?” she demands. His eyes don’t leave me and I find myself moving towards him. The second I’m close enough, I can smell the alcohol. “Aiden,” I say gently, touching his arm, “Are you okay?” He shakes his head sadly.

“I’ll call JP,” mutters Aria, going back inside.

His hand his hanging limply by his side and I carefully take it, noticing there’s dry blood on his knuckles. “What happened?” I ask.

“A wall,” he slurs, shrugging .

He looks so defeated and distant, I’m worried. So I lead him inside and sit him on one of the couches. I grab a bottle of water from out back and an ice pack, which I lay on his knuckles. “Did the wall come off worse?” I tease. He doesn’t respond so I sit beside him. “Do you want to talk about it?”

His eyes train on my bump and before I can stop him, he places his free hand over it. I gasp, surprised by the emotion his touch brings out in me. “I ruined it all,” he whispers. “Why am I such a fuck up?”

I carefully remove his hand and put the bottle of water in it instead. “Where’s Laurie?”

He smirks, shaking his head angrily. “Fuck Laurie.”

“Aiden, you can’t just show up here when you fall out with her,” I say, sadly. I can’t be his go to.

“She lied to me,” he mutters. “Again.”

“She didn’t go back to her husband?” I ask, because surely she wouldn’t do that to him now she’s carrying his child.

“The baby isn’t mine,” he spits. “She used me for a place to stay.”

I take a moment to process his words. The fact she lied, just like I’m lying, doesn’t sit well with me. Aria appears in the doorway, “JP should be here any second. ”

Aiden puts the water down and grips my hands in his. “I miss you so much, Bella, it’s tearing me apart. Jake was right all along. I needed you and I didn’t see it in time,” he slurs, “Let me show you. Give me another chance to prove I can change.”

I pull my hands free and stand up. “Aiden, you’re drunk, sleep it off.”

Aiden stands too, grabbing my wrist and pulling me to him. I don’t have time to protest before his hands are in my hair and he’s got his nose pressed gently to mine. “Bella please, I just need one chance,” he begs, and then he kisses me. It’s not his usual demanding kiss, but soft and unsure. I don’t stop him. It’s like the rest of the world melts away and it’s just me and him.

Aria clears her throat, bringing me to my senses and I pull away, turning my back on him. “Sorry, but JP is here,” she announces.

I head out back, leaving JP to struggle with Aiden. I can’t stop thinking about him and how good it felt to be in his arms again. Aria comes in, “Well, that was . . . unexpected.”

“Unwanted,” I correct.

She arches her brows, “Really? Because you looked pretty lost back there in that kiss. ”

I groan, burying my face in my hands. “Am I doing the right thing, Aria?” I ask. “Laurie lied to him and look at the state he’s in. If he finds out I’m doing the same,” I choke on a sob.

Aria grabs a tissue and hands it to me. “No one can tell you what’s right or wrong, Bella. Do what you feel is the right thing for you and your baby.”

“That’s all I’m trying to do,” I whisper.

She gently rubs a stray tear from my cheek. “Then what are you so upset about?”

Aiden

My head is on a cool surface, my mouth is dry. I force my eyes open and look around. I’m on a bathroom floor. I recognise the black tiles and quickly sit up, realizing that I’m on the floor in the men’s bathroom of my club. My head spins from the sudden movement and I dive to the toilet, hauling myself over it and emptying the contents of my stomach.

When I eventually find the strength to stand, I cling to the wash basin and look in the mirror. It’s not a pretty sight. My hair sticks up in all directions and I’m pale with dark circles under my eyes. I splash my face with cold water. I feel so disgusted with myself. Why did I get that drunk? I didn’t even want a baby with Laurie, I should have felt relief. But a small part of me was warming to the idea of becoming a dad. A baby was a reason to stop all of this and be someone that Jake would have been proud of.

I head out of the bathroom and into the main bar area where I find JP looking just as rough, with his head in his hands. There’s a steaming cup of coffee in front of him and in the booth behind him, lay three sleeping girls. My brain is assaulted with last night’s memories, they’re sketchy at best, but there were definitely three girls. Shit . “Tell me I dreamt last night.”

“Nightmare more like,” he mutters. “Aria will never fucking speak to me again when she finds out.”

“Just don’t tell her,” I suggest, stealing his coffee and taking a slurp. I close my eyes, letting the caffeine cure me.

“Lying just gets you into bigger trouble,” he says, raising a judgmental eyebrow in my direction. “Besides, the one just there,” he says, pointing to a leggy blond, “sometimes hangs out with Aria and Bella.”

“Shit, did we know that information last night?”

“Yep, you said, and I quote, ‘No bitch owns this cock so get sucking,’ You were pretty pissed off with the world last night.”

I groan and drop my head to the table. “We haven’t pulled this sort of shit since Jake was around,” I mutter.

“Yeah, he was the ringleader when it came to orgies.”

We share a laugh. “Seriously,” I say, sitting up again, “You and Aria aren’t together. You haven’t done anything wrong.”

“She won’t see it like that. I’m meant to be proving I can act my age,” he says, “That I’m ready for a relationship.”

“Well last night proves you aren’t,” I joke.

“You don’t get it, Aiden. She’s it for me. And I don’t expect you to understand, but I can’t imagine my life with anyone else but her.”

I want to tell him I fully get it, because I feel the exact same about Bella. But he’d tell me it isn’t the same, that it’s my guilt talking. So I force my best playboy smile as the women begin to stir. “Ladies, follow me up to my apartment and I’ll get you some breakfast.” And I lead them away like lambs to the slaughter. If I can save JP’s skin by shutting this bitch up, at least one of us will get a shot at happiness. “Leave it to me, JP. I’ll sort it.”