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

“Is everything okay?” he asks, kissing the top of my head. Andy towers over me, so it isn’t unusual for him to do that. “You’re kind of not letting go of me.”

I shake my head without a word, then pull away slowly.

“Can we talk?”

Andy draws his eyebrows together, extending his arm to motion for me to come in. “Always available for you.”

There’s something about Andy’s studio that feels like home. The exposed brick wall is the feature of the small space, rustic yet appealing to the eyes. Hanging on the wall are framed black and white photos which Andy has taken over the years. Beneath it sits a tanned leather sofa with a plush white rug and a coffee table with a stack of books. Andy has always been a reader, his love for books inherited from Uncle Julian.

The color palette is earth tones with an artistic vibe which sums up Andy perfectly.

I take a seat on the sofa, allowing my body to sink in while I grab a cushion and hug it for comfort.

Andy sits beside me, watching with a curious gaze. For my entire life, Andy has been a big brother to me. Our families did everything together, and there isn’t one memory without him being a part of it. Dad has a special bond with him, treating Andy like his own son. It’s why I consider him a brother more so than a cousin.

When he moved to Manhattan along with Millie, it felt like I lost my entire world. I’m two years younger than them, always falling behind as they moved on with life. Yet over the years, the tides shifted. Millie moved back to LA, and Andy stayed in Manhattan. After graduating from NYU, he began traveling the world. I admire him for following his passion, and just like his father, he’s always trying to do good in the world.

Andy Evans-Baker isn’t like any other man I know. It’s one of the many reasons why girls have always lusted over him. He is a good-looking man who is just happy doing his thing and doesn’t get caught up in the drama.

“How have you been?” I ask, caressing the faux fur of the cushion with my palm.

“Good. Great, actually. I’ve got an assignment in London which I’m excited about.”

“Photographing the Queen’s Corgis?”

Andy’s mouth curves upward, a loose chuckle escaping him. “Close, but not quite. It does involve a celebrity.”

“Hmm, nice. You going to visit Jessa?”

Andy shuffles uncomfortably, making it obvious I’ve struck a nerve.

“Not likely…”

I shift my gaze back onto Andy, knowing the last time they spoke was months ago before she moved to London. With everything going on in my life, I haven’t had the chance to catch up with her either.

“What’s going on? I haven’t spoken to her in months.”

“Nothing’s going on, Ava,” he tells me firmly. “She’s in London living her life.”

I sense more, but Andy being a typical guy, doesn’t give me much.

“So, why aren’t you there with her? Cut the bullshit, Andy. You’re in love with her. You have been for years.”

“You cut the crap, Ava. What the hell is wrong with you?”

“I’m pregnant,” I blurt out.

I almost feel relieved as it leaves my mouth, my shoulders falling as I let out a breath and throw my head back against the sofa.

“Congratulations?” Andy quips, unsure. “Is that what I’m supposed to say?”

“You might want to reconsider when you know the whole story,” I profess, sucking my stomach in then exhaling. “I need you to not judge me.”

“When have I ever judged you? I’m not Millie.”

I nod in agreement, then fall quiet.

“Ava, c’mon, it’s me. You can’t do anything wrong in my eyes.”