The Trouble With Him: A Secret Pregnancy Romance (The Forbidden Love 3)

“So what? It’s one fucking article.”

Lane drops her head. “It’s not one, Austin. It’s all over social media. I’m sorry.”

I kick the bucket in front of me, rage pouring through me at this absolute nonsense. Why the fuck can’t people leave us alone? The moment Ava and I are in a good place, people need to destroy it with their greed and jealousy.

“I need to call Ava.”

I open the door, but Lane calls my name. “I know they’re just rumors, but maybe you should reconsider this. You know, take a break from Ava.”

My head tilts, confusion setting in. “Excuse me? You don’t just take a break from someone you’re in love with. It doesn’t work that way, Lane.”

Her odd stare is unfamiliar, not like the usual loving and friendly Lane I’ve grown accustomed to.

“I forgot, Ava Edwards is the rich girl who gets whatever she wants, includ

ing someone else’s boyfriend,” Lane insults, her tone laced with malice.

As I glance at the woman who I once admired, all I can see now is the scales of her slithering skin, and the hiss of her snake-like tongue. Ava was right in questioning my association with her.

“I’d hate to think, Lane, you had anything to do with this,” I tell her coldly. “Jealousy is an ugly disease, and it doesn’t look good on you.”

Walking out of the room, I lift my gaze to see Ava standing a few feet away. She is dressed in sweats, her hair in a messy bun. Her worried eyes twist in sympathy, and then they shift the moment Lane walks out of the closet as well.

“Ava,” I call.

The fire in her eyes burns with a molten rage. I move closer, but she raises her hand.

“Don’t you dare,” she warns me.

“It’s not what you think. None of this is what you think.”

“I think you just walked out of the storage closet with your ex. I think it’s too hard for you to admit the truth when you’re around me because maybe there is a truth to this article, that maybe your feelings for my sister never disappeared.”

“You’re ridiculous, Ava,” I accuse, running my hand through my hair with frustration.

“Maybe I am. That’s what happens when you’re in love. You don’t think straight, and when you see with your own eyes what you’ve been assuming all along…it only reiterates how stupid I am to think I’m all you’ll ever need.”

I open my mouth to say something, but she swiftly turns around and runs out down the corridor. My feet don’t move, frozen in this one spot.

I should have told her I love her, and she’s all I need.

But I’m just as angry, wondering why I’m the god damn villain here when I’ve done nothing wrong besides love Ava and not push her. I know she’s always been quick to run away when the going gets tough, and forgive me for doing the right thing by her.

I desperately want to leave with only an hour left in my shift, but a pregnant woman is admitted at thirty-four weeks, just like Ava, almost fully dilated.

Uncanny timing, of course.

Just another reminder of the Universe playing its fucked-up game.

When my shift is over, my first reaction is to go talk to Ava. But I stop outside on the pavement, knowing Ava is angry and will not calm down enough to talk to me. She’s hot-headed, stubborn, and I need a better way to approach this.

So, I take a cab to see the one person I know can help.

I don’t expect to see Lex and Romano in the same office.

Just my luck.

Judging by Lex's sympathetic gaze and Romano's arctic glare, it’s obvious to see the fake news has been brought to their attention.