High Stakes (A Deal With The Devil)

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Bella

Cal is very strict on my diet since getting pregnant He ensures I eat three healthy meals per day, and he’s worked out a fitness plan for me. So, as we take a brisk walk around the park during my lunch hour, I decide to tell him about last night. He isn’t Aiden’s biggest fan, but he’ll always tell me what he thinks honestly.

“So, Aiden stopped by the shop last night. He was really drunk, and Aria had to get JP to pick him up.” Cal stops, I keep going before I realise that he isn’t at side of me. I turn to face him. “What?” I ask .

“Just odd that you didn’t mention it before now,” he says.

“You had your breakfast date with Ellie this morning, I didn’t want to ruin your mood by talking about Aiden, again.” It was his third date to be precise and I didn’t want to give him any reason to cancel. I grab his hand and tug him to begin walking again. “It’s not a big deal.”

“What did he want?”

“He was upset. Laurie lied about the baby being his and he found out.”

“Ouch, why would she do that?”

“She needed a place to stay apparently.”

“Let me guess, now you feel bad for him because you’re lying too?” he guesses.

“You didn’t see the state he was in, Cal. He was gutted.”

“Don’t tell him to make him feel better. Tell him because you think he will be a good dad to your baby.”

“I’m not talking abut getting back together,” I say.

“Bella, I wouldn’t judge you even if you did. I just want what’s best for you and the baby.”

“He wanted that baby,” I tell him. “Aria said he’d really settled down and stopped partying and sleeping around. Maybe he’ll want this baby too. I should at least give him one chance, right? ”

Cal gives me a tight smile. “He’d be stupid not to want it. Just know I’ll always be here for you, no matter what happens.”

Aiden

I feed the women once they’ve showered, and I’m relieved to find Gemma, Aria’s friend, has a boyfriend. Who she has rushed off to see in the hope he doesn’t discover she was in a three way with me and JP. Which means she won’t be announcing it to Aria anytime soon. Kaylee and Becky remain. “Any plans today?” I ask.

They exchange a smirk, “Nope, we’re both free all day. You?”

I grin, suggestively. “Free as a bird,” I tell them. Now I’ve successfully upset both the women in my life, I have no reason not to go back to how I used to be.

Becky pulls me closer until her lips crash against mine and we tangle our tongues in a deep, hungry kiss. I feel Kaylee approach, watching us for a minute before tugging my head in her direction. She kisses me with the same desperation her friend did.

Becky reaches for the button on my jeans, popping it and pulling out my cock. I sit Kaylee on the counter, pulling the front of her dress down and groping her breasts. She lies back, spreading her legs and guiding my hand there.

Becky lowers to her knees, taking my cock in her mouth. Her hand grips me tightly at the base and I close my eyes in pleasure as she gags.

I focus on the way Kaylee is writhing around on the worktop with my fingers pushed into her wet cunt. I remove them, stuffing them in her mouth while her friend sheathes my cock in a condom. I waste no time burying myself in Kaylee. The women kiss, caressing one another and I marvel at how stupid I’ve been, wanting to give all this up. This is where I belong. This is my life.

Bella

I take a calming breath before pushing the doors open to Tremos and heading into the bar. JP looks up and smiles wide the second he sees me. “Bella, you’re looking great,” he says, rounding the bar and kissing me on the cheek.

I force a smile, because I’m still not quite over his part in the entire thing. “I need to speak to Aiden,” I say.

“Erm, he was in his apartment but let me just call him.”

I roll my eyes, and he pulls out his mobile. After a few seconds he shakes his head, “No answer.”

“I could just pop up; it’ll only take a second.”

The phone in the office rings, “Let me go up first. I just have to grab that call,” and he rushes into the office .

I head for the elevator. I’m sure Aiden won’t mind me going straight up after what I’ve got to tell him. I lightly tap on the door, and it opens, like he forgot to close it properly. I wait a few seconds, but he doesn’t answer so I push it some more and step inside. “Hello?” I whisper, wondering if he’s in bed after his drinking session. I’m certain he’ll be hungover.

I freeze at the sound of moaning, unsure if I should turn back and pretend I was never here. I wince, JP’s already seen me so that won’t work. The moaning comes again. Maybe he’s sick. As I go into the kitchen, I’m unprepared for the scene that greets me. Aiden’s back is to me as he thrusts into a woman that’s bent over the table. Her face is buried between the legs of another woman who suddenly arches off the counter as she orgasms. As her eyes open, she sees my shocked face and freezes. Aiden glances back to see why she looks concerned, and his smile falters. He stops mid thrust but the woman he’s fucking doesn’t know what the hell’s going on, and she starts wriggling to encourage him.

I inhale sharply, “Jesus, Aiden, don’t just stop, you’ll ruin her entire day.” And I turn on my heel and march out.

I hear him call my name, but I don’t wait, relieved when the elevator closes before he can get to me. My heart slams hard in my chest and my breathing is heavy as I slump against the wall. It’s not the first time I’ve seen Aiden with another woman, and the second I heard those breathy moans, I knew deep down that’s what it was. But I had to see it for myself, to prove that I’m right and Aiden Tremos is not ready to have a baby. I imagine him introducing our child to a different woman every weekend and shudder with repulsion. It’s not going to happen.

JP is talking into his mobile when the elevator opens, and he quickly disconnects when he sees me. “Was he there?” he asks, pretending he has no idea what I’ve just seen. “Don’t rush off, lets catch up,” he adds.

“Relax JP, it’s not a big deal. I was just checking he was okay after last night, and he is. Tell him there’s no need to run after me, he can continue his . . . afternoon.”

I step outside and breathe in the fresh air. The sun is beaming, and it instantly cheers me up, who was I kidding thinking this would ever be a good idea. I scoff to myself and head in the direction of my shop.

Minutes later I hear footsteps running up behind me, and then Aiden grabs my arm and halts me. I turn to him, forcing a smile, “Didn’t JP pass on the message?” I ask innocently.

“Let’s not pretend you’re fine about what you just witnessed,” he mutters, not quite meeting my eye. “I’m sorry. ”

“It’s fine, Aiden, really. What you do in your private time has nothing to do with me. I was simply checking you were okay after last night.”

“I’m sorry about that too,” he says, adding a cold, empty laugh, “I’m always apologising just lately.”

“It’s fine-”

“Stop saying it’s fine,” he snaps and a passing couple glance our way. Aiden winces, “It’s not okay,” he adds. “I shouldn’t have showed up like that, especially not in that state. I didn’t even plan to come to you . . . it’s just sometimes, you calm the noise in my head.” I remain silent and he shifts uncomfortably. “What you just saw,” he says, “I haven’t done that for so long.”

I shrug, “Whatever, Aiden. It’s your business.”

“I didn’t want you to think I’d gone back to my old ways.”

I almost smile, “The evidence was pretty damming,” I whisper.

“It was a blow out,” he says, “After hearing all that shit yesterday, I needed to take my mind off it.” He groans, running his fingers through his already messy hair. “Fuck, I don’t even know why I’m so cut up. I didn’t even want the fucking kid,” he grits out. “Imagine me with a baby?” And he laughs again. “I hate kids. ”

I swallow the lump in my throat. “I’m glad you’re feeling better,” I mutter. “Take care.”

Aiden

JP looks up when I enter the bar. “Did you catch her?”

“Why the fuck did you let her up, JP?” I snap.

“I didn’t, she slipped past when I was on a call. I tried to warn you, but you didn’t pick up.”

“I sorted your problem by the way,” I tell him, my voice full of sarcasm. “You’re welcome.”

“Don’t be mad at me cos Bella caught you. It makes no difference anyway, she’s with Cal.”

“I’m just so tired of letting her down,” I admit, sitting on a stool. JP pours me a whiskey, but I push it away, that’s the last thing I need. “I can’t seem to stop fucking it up. She always catches me at my worst. Her eyes are always full of sadness or disappointment. I hate it.”

“Maybe you should sit her down and talk properly,” JP suggests.

“I’ve tried that.”

“No, you haven’t. You keep turning up unexpected and uninvited. You pin her in the bathroom, go to her shop. Just ask her to meet so you can talk.”

I think over his words. He’s right. I haven’t sat her down and explained everything. “You and Jake were tight. Tell her about him. Explain why you thought it was important to go through with the stupid game.”

“What will it achieve?” I ask, shrugging.

“Maybe you can forgive yourself, and maybe she’ll forgive you. Then you can both move forward.”

I send her a text.

Me: I’m aware I’m a massive twat. But please can we meet for dinner so we can talk? Five in our Italian?

Bella

“Are you going to meet him?” asks Aria as I wipe down the countertop.

“No way. Why would I?”

“So you can clear the air and tell him everything.”

I check my watch, it’s almost six already but I have no intention of turning up to meet Aiden. What could he possibly say that I haven’t already heard? “I told you, I’m not telling him about the baby. This is for the best, Aria.”

“What if you telling him makes the difference in his life and he does change.”

I stare wide eyed, “Why are you suddenly his biggest fan?”

“I’m not,” she says, “I just don’t think he’ll give up until you’ve heard him out.”

At exactly Six, Aiden walks into the shop. “I knew you wouldn’t come,” he states.

“Take a hint,” I mutter.

“I wanted a chance to talk properly. Not like this where I have to force it on you,” he says sadly and for a second, I feel bad.

“There’s nothing left to say.”

“I want to explain about Jake and how what he did was like normal practise for us,” he says.

I sigh and lower onto the couch. He sits beside me. “We were always playing games. Dares, challenges, right from when we were little kids. It drove my mum mad. JP and Raff were just as bad and it became a thing we did. Stupid shit like kissing girls in the middle of class or seeing how far we could push the teacher to breaking point. Childish really,” he says trailing off. “I think that’s how we all became so confident, getting up in the middle of an English lesson and kissing a girl takes some balls,” he smiles at the memory. “Anyway, as we got older it became bigger. Challenges that we set daily like having a threesome with complete strangers or stealing the most expensive car we could find. They’d be either crazy or dangerous, but none of us ever backed down. When I saw Jakes final challenge, I didn’t give it much thought. If anything, it just felt like a mild inconvenience for me. You never entered my mind,” he admits. “You weren’t a real person to me, Bella, just someone Jake named on a piece of paper. And I thought it would be easy. But you turned out to be so much more than a name on a piece of paper.” He releases a shaky breath, “You made me feel alive. And I didn’t see it back then, but since you left, I’ve been struggling. Last night was the first time I felt like the old me in such a long time, that I just went with it. But actually, I’ve realised I don’t much like that version of myself. In fact, I despise him. And now in the evenings, instead of craving random women and drunken sex, I miss watching your shit films and snuggling under the blanket.” I swipe the tears that are rolling down my cheeks. “I never meant to hurt you, Bella. And I don’t mean to keep hurting you. And Jake never meant to hurt you either, he liked you and he just thought he could take the two people he liked the most and put them together so they could live happily ever after. He just forgot what a fuck up I am.”

“I appreciate you talking to me,” I whisper.

“I’m going to try and be better, Bella. I’m going to prove I can be a nice guy that doesn’t mess everything up. And I know you’re with Cal, and I know you’re happy. But I hope in time, you’ll forgive me enough to keep me in your life as a friend.” I give a slight nod, and he smiles wide, “Thank you, that means so much.”

I feel lighter inside, like a huge weight has been lifted. This feels right, forgiving Aiden and starting over again as friends. For the first time in a while I smile a genuine smile.