Cease Fire (Blackbridge Security 9)

Brooks clears his throat, and I know he’s gearing up to give his opinion on how big a piece of shit he thinks I am.

“Are we… you know… together? Is that another lie we’re telling?”

Another lie.

His distaste is clear in his tone, and it makes my eyes burn. The man may not come right out and tell me he’s disgusted with my actions, but I don’t miss the implication.

I straighten in the passenger seat of his car as we turn onto the Riggs’s street.

“No.” I swallow, needing to get a better handle on my emotions. Showing up with tears in my eyes won’t lend any faith to our situation. It’ll cause questions and doubts. “I’ve told Beth that we only hooked up once. I told her that you’re going to be a part of the baby’s life, but only in the capacity as the father. There’s nothing romantic going on between us, and there’s no hope for it. I told her I was drunk.”

His head turns, eyes locked on me after he pulls up in front of the Riggs’s home.

“You did what? You told her you were drunk?”

I nod. “I figured it would be more believable that way.”

“For whom?” he snaps.

“I understand why you’re angry, Brooks. I—”

“You do? You understand that not only have you made me the man that slept with his best friend’s girl—”

“I’m not Kit’s girl.” I feel like his girl. He’s been at my place every single night since he showed up in a rage and took me against the wall. We talk and snuggle, share meals, and then when we go to bed, our bodies join as if we can’t imagine doing anything else before falling asleep in each other’s arms. We wake up together. He kisses me goodbye in the morning, telling me he’s going to miss me before going to work. He presses soft kisses to my stomach.

He huffs, a humorless sound that makes me realize today isn’t going to be easy on any of the people who know the truth.

“I’m not going to argue with you about that, but you have to realize what you’ve done, and I’m not talking about just this huge lie that’s hanging over all of us like a black cloud that’s going to unleash acid rain when the storm breaks. You told your best friend that I fucked you while you were drunk. You’ve made me the man who takes advantage of a woman who didn’t have the wherewithal to give proper consent. Fucking thanks for that,” he snaps before climbing out of the truck and slamming his door.

I fully expect him to head inside, but he walks around the front of the truck, standing at the passenger door. I watch him take a few deep breaths as if he’s trying to gather patience to deal with me before he pulls open my door.

I cough, a crappy attempt to clear the emotions threatening to bubble out.

“Brooks, I’m—”

“Don’t,” he says, his frustration over all of this clear in his tone. “I’ll pretend. I’ll keep up the charade of your lie, but don’t talk to me. Don’t touch me. Don’t smile at me while lying to everyone you claim to love. I’m just the guy who fucked a drunk girl and got her pregnant.”

Yep, I’m a complete asshole because I nod in agreement as I climb out of his truck. He closes the door, moving to keep a few feet ahead of me as he heads to the front door, and then it’s like a switch has flipped when the front door opens before we can knock.

Brooks is all smiles and happy hugs. He’s an incredible actor, and it makes me wonder how he’s gotten so good at pretending to be someone he isn’t.

“Aw!” Beth says as she rushes to me. “The happy couple.”

Brooks looks at me, that irritation clear in his eyes despite the smile on his face.

“Not a couple,” I say loud enough for everyone to hear. I don’t want to have the conversation over and over.

“The happy parents,” Beth’s mom Marjorie corrects, her eyes beaming with happiness as she moves in for a hug.

She presses a motherly hand to my stomach, and I’m nearly split open with shame. Her grandbaby is in there, and I won’t even tell her. My lies are denying her that joy.

She wouldn’t feel the same level of joy if she knew all of your truths, my brain reminds me.

I fake another smile when Marjorie steps back and her husband Walter takes her place.

“Good to see you, kiddo,” he says against my ear.

“Sorry I’ve stayed away so long. Morning sickness has left me drained.” It’s not a lie. It’s just not the full truth.

I spot Kit standing across the room. Anders and Gannon are watching him as well, his other brothers waiting for his cue as to how they need to act.