“I’d rather have a Sprite or ginger ale if you have it. Rhett makes me sick to my stomach.”
Riko snorts out a laugh and then disappears. I can hear them speaking in hushed tones. It’s about me. Obviously. Whatever is said, though, doesn’t scare Riko away because he shows up a minute later with a bottle of Sprite and a pack of peanut butter crackers. I could kiss him.
“Derek ran over to Reid’s to help him put together some furniture,” Riko says as he perches on the coffee table, watching me with keen interest as if I’m an exotic animal that’s escaped its cage.
Rhett saunters into the room and tips a beer bottle up. I cut my eyes over to him, noticing the way his Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows. I’m pretty sure I licked him there that night.
I force myself to look away from the stupidly hot man and smile at Riko. “Guess he told you I need a place to crash for tonight?”
“Yup,” he says, smirking. “Didn’t say why, though.”
As much as it would satisfy me to blurt out our situation just to make Rhett squirm with discomfort, I don’t. He said he wants to keep it a secret, so I’ll respect that. I may think he’s an asshole, but he’s still the father of my baby, and I need his help.
“It’s complicated,” Rhett grumbles after he finishes off his beer. “Catastrophic even.”
Me and Riko both snort in response. Okay, so maybe Riko is cool.
“May as well just say it, man.” Riko rubs his chin and squints his eyes like he’s thinking. “If I had to guess, you fucked your girlfriend’s sister and got her pregnant.”
I bark out a laugh.
Rhett snarls, “Fuck. That obvious?”
“It couldn’t be any more obvious,” Riko says with a shrug. “And, yeah, Abby, you can stay as long as you need. Derek won’t care. There’s a bed upstairs in the guest room.”
“I can take the couch,” I suggest. “Don’t want to put you out.”
Rhett shakes his head. “He has a bed. You’ll take it. For the baby.”
For someone who wanted to “get rid of” my little guy not even an hour ago, he sure has gone all in on protecting him.
“Can you watch her for a few minutes?” Rhett says as he heads for the back door. “I need to talk to Reid.”
“I don’t need babysitting,” I snap back.
He doesn’t bother responding and slips out the door. Riko waits all of three seconds before he blurts out, “I like you.”
“I thought he was your friend,” I say in return.
“He is. Opposites attract and all that jazz.” His grin drops. “I won’t lie, though. I’m worried about him.”
“He’ll survive,” I grumble. “I’m the one who has to be pregnant.”
He chuckles. “I meant I worry about his mental health. This whole thing isn’t exactly Rhett’s style. I’m sure it’s eating him alive. Plus, he thinks he’s in love with his girlfriend.”
I perk up at his words. “You don’t sound like you’re happy about that.”
“No offense,” he says, grimacing. “I know she’s your sister, but he acts differently with her. Like he’s trying to be someone he’s not. I don’t love it.”
This endears me to Riko even more. Despite Rhett being his friend, he can admit that Mr. Perfect is just a personality Rhett wears like a badge of honor. It’s not real. If it were, I wouldn’t be carrying his baby.
“How are you doing? Really?” Riko asks. “The tension is tense as fuck. My guess is he’s not leaving Angela for you and the baby?”
At that, I laugh. “No. We’re his worst mistake. He wanted me to get an abortion.”
Despite the laughter, my chest tightens. There’s a thread of hurt poking and pulling its way through my heart. I knew I was playing with fire when I slept with him, but it still sucks living in the aftermath of it.
He doesn’t want you and the baby.
