Page 90 of The Betrayal
“Amora,” I stand a little taller, my eyes falling to her round stomach and my heart skips a beat.
“Your dad is just parking the car, we have an appointment...” and her words are like a warning, giving me the heads up to get the fuck out of this clinic before he walks through the door.
“Hear you loud and clear,” I give her a weak smile and step forward, “thank you,” I whisper just as I pass her and disappear out onto the streets before I bump into my dad. I don’t want to have to explain that not only did I marry Keaton, I was pregnant with his babies. Maybe. I hoped.
Fuck.
Walking onto the sidewalk, my mind was occupied with everything and anything to do with the baby, but there wasn't just a baby. There were two. Twins. Identical twins. And I wish that it would have made it official that the babies were Keaton's by being twins, but identical twins are not genetic. Keaton and Kaleb were not identical. They were a genetic set of twins. I just got lucky, or unlucky, I suppose it's how you look at it. Cup half full, cup half empty and at the moment I was feeling more like a cup half empty kind of girl. And I shouldn't. I should be elated that I have two healthy babies inside of me and growing, but I just feel dread and fear. I want these babies to be Keaton's and not the mystery guy’s. Keaton says he doesn't mind, but will he once the babies are born and they look nothing like him? Will he reject me and them? Maybe he would feel like he has bitten off more than he can chew when he finally comes to the realisation that this is really happening. That I am having a baby, sorry, two babies and that he may or may not be ready for this huge change in his life. Because let’s face it, everything is going to change once these kids are in the world. He never wanted kids from my understanding and from what I eavesdropped when he and my dad used to speak about him and Satan.
Sighing when I walk onto Hamilton Heights, my head lifts from the floor and my eyes settle on the light outside Keaton's house. My heart feels heavy, and my chest aches with an unbearable weight that I can't seem to shift. I stall for just a moment, the fine rain beginning to dampen my dry skin and I try and figure out what I am going to say to him, figure out how I can tell him that he doesn't have to be here if this is not what he really wants. Even though we're married, even though he probably feels he needs to be by my side throughout just because we got drunkenly married in Vegas. My legs begin to move, and I know once I am inside the front door, all of this becomes a little more real and I will be on countdown until he gets home.
Until I tell him I am moving out. Until I tell him that this isn't going to work and I don't care how much he begs and pleads, I need to do this for me. I was moving out before Vegas, nothing has changed on that part. We needed this. We never discussed an us. I don't think there would have been an us if it wasn't for Vegas and now my pregnancy. This was the right thing to do, I knew that deep down and so did he. And once my head was straight and I was settled in a new apartment, I was going to make a new appointment with Doctor Kyra and see if I can find out who the dad is. I knew this could be done, I had seen it done at hospital when I was shadowing and learning for my internship, but for some reason, I felt like I was doubting myself.
Pushing through the front door, my clothes felt heavy and the water from my hair dripped down my face, running down my nose and off the tip. I hang my wet coat up, slipping my shoes off before I carry myself upstairs and climb into the shower, letting the hot water wash the day off of my tired body. Wrapped in a fluffy towel, I walk into my room and my eyes find my laptop that has collected dust over the last month. Guilt pangs through me for some reason and I have no idea why, but it makes me feel uneasy, my stomach knotting and swirling with apprehension. Moving forward, I grab my laptop and place it on charge, leaving it for ten whilst I get changed and towel dry my hair.
Dressed in leggings and an oversized tee of Keaton's, I bring it to my nose and inhale deeply. I will never tire of his smell. Falling onto my bed with a sigh, I reach for my laptop and open the lid. I wait for it to load then pop my password in and open my cam page. Nerves drum in my chest, my stomach swirling at the thought of signing back in and that's when I see a message from TallDarkandHandsome.
I hope you enjoyed Vegas... seems I have more of a hold on you now than I did before... you might run Vixen, but you can't hide. I'm coming for you.
My blood runs cold and sickness swarms in my stomach, goosebumps prickle at my skin and my palms are damp. I delete my account before slamming down the lid of my laptop. I am up and moving across the floor to the bathroom where I fall to my knees and hurl the contents of my stomach up and now, I am not sure if this is pregnancy sickness or sickness out of dread and fear. What the fuck did the cryptic message mean? I can't tell anyone. Just need to keep my head down and my wits about me. I can't run from work, I needed this and truthfully, I needed the money more. Wiping my mouth, I stand and splash my face with cool water. This was not happening.
I hear the front door close, followed by Keaton's voice travelling down the narrow, long hallway.
“Baby?” he calls out and I run to the top of the stairs, his eyes on mine in an instant and he looks frantic. Worry is etched all over his face and all I can do is run to him, letting his arms envelope and fold me into his chest, my head against his racing heart. “Are you okay? I never heard from you after your appointment.”
Realisation smacks me in the face at his words. I was meant to message him and let him know that everything was okay, but I was so focused on myself that I forgot.
“I'm so sorry,” I whispered, clinging onto him like he was my lifeline.
“Is everything okay Ari?” he asks me, and I lift my head to look at him, wide eyes blinking as I do.
I nod, tears pricking my eyes but I'm not sure if they're happy or sad tears. Mixed emotions swirl deep inside of me, and I can't decipher what’s what.
“Let me show you,” I whisper, because he deserves to know, and I want to feel some of the excitement that he will feel once I show him the ultrasound. I reach for my bag and slip out the ultrasound before lacing my fingers with Keaton's and leading him towards the living room. He looks at me confused, brows furrowed as his beautiful green eyes settle on mine, bouncing back and forth with anticipation.
I hand him the ultrasound and his large hands reach forward, his long fingers gently taking the corner of the picture and I watch as he studies it, and then the crease lines that were deeply dug into his skin slowly start to fade, softening within seconds before his eyes are back on mine.
“Twins?” he blinks at me, and my eyes are streaming, nose running as tears roll down my cheeks. I nod my head yes, hands clasped together and pressed to my lips like I am praying. He stands, wrapping his arms around my waist and lifting my feet off the floor, his face buried in the crook of my neck, and I feel wetness on my skin.
He's crying. Oh be still my heart.
“Baby this is...” he whispers, placing me down and pressing his forehead against mine.
“Scary,”
“It's amazing,” his lips press against mine and my heart soars like a phoenix rising from the ashes.
“They're identical,” and I feel him stiffen against me only slightly before his smile creeps onto his lips.
“Ari,” his tone a little edgier, “these babies are mine, blood or not. You're mine, this, us... we're a thing. It's real. You're my wife and I am your husband. I know you probably think I won't love these babies if they aren't mine, but that's where you're wrong. I will love them with all I have, I love you with all I have...” and that's the first time he has ever said the words out loud and my heart crumbles in my chest.
I love you too.
CHAPTER THIRTY
KEATON
I hated that I had to go to work today but we had a big meeting with Killian, Xavier, Kaleb and Nate. Titus was meant to be in on it, but he bailed last minute, said he had some appointment that he couldn't miss but kept very vague.