Stepbrother's Gift

I sighed. There was so much regret in her voice that I wanted to say yes. Tessa was my best friend. We'd been through everything together. Over on the couch, James was just watching TV, the baby on his chest rising and falling with his even breaths.

“You have one minute. Go.”

“Thank you, Allie.” She let out a short breath, as if mentally preparing herself for what was coming next. “James took my virginity.”

I nearly dropped the phone. “What?!”

James glared at me from his spot on the couch, the baby wiggling against him and almost waking up from me yelling into the phone.

“James took my virginity,” she repeated.

“I heard you right the first time.” I sank into a chair and stared over at James. I tried not to imagine him and Tessa going at it, especially since he was smiling at the baby on his chest. “How? Why?”

“I went to a party at the beginning of our freshman year and had a couple of drinks. He didn't take advantage of me, if that's what you're thinking,” she quickly added. “Anyway, I thought he was my prince charming that night. A senior paying attention to me. We went upstairs and one thing led to another...”

“You don't need to go into detail about that part,” I quickly interjected.

“I thought I was in love.” She sighed and I could just see her in my head, fidgeting with a strand of her dark hair and looking guilty. “But, then he never called me back.”

“He did that to a lot of girls,” I said slowly.

“Yeah, but I didn't think it was going to happen to me. I thought I was in love,” she scoffed. “I thought he'd at least give me the time of day, but he refused to even acknowledge my presence for the rest of the year. It was humiliating.”

“I'm sorry, Tessa.” The antagonism between her and James suddenly made so much more sense now. I had often wondered why James ignored her whenever he walked into a room and she was there. Now I knew. It also explained why she would say he was hot one minute, but then hate on him the next second. It even made sense as to why she was so hung up on the idea of James being the father of Audrey's baby. After her experience, she must think that he was a real love 'em and leave 'em kind of guy.

All the pieces came together perfectly. James had been a real jerk in high school. He was an ass and a player, and I had no doubt that Tessa's story was true. I'd heard similar stories from plenty of other girls throughout the years. There was a good reason why all his ex's hated him.

“I just don't want that to happen to you,” Tessa said after a moment. “You're my friend, and I just don't want you to get hurt.”

“I really appreciate that, Tessa.” I looked over at James. He was smiling down at the beautiful baby on his chest with such softness and sweetness in his eyes that my heart ached. I touched my own belly, knowing that soon he would be looking that way at our child. “He won't hurt me, though.”

“I hope you're right.” I heard her take a deep breath. “Anyway, when I saw that in the paper this morning, I thought you should know. I feel like we've been keeping a lot of secrets from one another.”

I nodded, even though she couldn't see me. I had been keeping what James and I were doing a secret. I was keeping the baby a secret. I thought about telling her about the pregnancy, but decided not to. At least not right now, not today.

“Tessa, I'd love to meet up with you tomorrow,” I said instead of telling her everything. “I'm in town, but James is making a statement tonight and I have to get ready for it. Can I see you tomorrow? I'll tell you everything then.”

I held my breath waiting for her answer. Tomorrow, I could tell her that James and I were a couple because it would be out in the public. Today, until the statement went out, that information was still covered under the non-disclosure agreement I had signed. I didn't think that James would really hold me to it, but I didn't want to jeopardize his trust in me either.

“Okay,” she said after a moment. “I just wanted to get his off my chest. Thank you for not being mad.”

I laughed. It would be pretty petty of me to be angry at her for sleeping with my brother four years ago. I could even understand why she hadn't told me. She, more than anyone, knew that I had the hots for James. How awkward must it have been for her to keep that secret for that long?

“I'm glad we're friends, Tessa.” I meant it too. “I have a feeling that I'm going to need friends soon.”

“We'll always be friends, Allie,” Tessa assured me. “I'll see you tomorrow, okay?”

“Okay. See you later.”

I slowly brought the phone down from my ear and stared at Tessa's picture. I certainly hadn't seen that coming. I looked over at James and shook my head. He was making silly faces at the baby. I loved him with all my heart, even if he had slept with my best friend years ago.

I looked down at my watch and groaned. It was time to get ready. It was time for James to make a statement for the press.

We were about to go public.

Chapter Forty-Six

“You look great,” James said, kissing my cheek.