Harlequin E New Adult Romance Box Set Volume 1: Burning Moon\Girls' Guide to Getting It Together\Rookie in Love (42 page)

Scarlett sets down the half-eaten roll and gives us both a serious look. “Rebecca came to see me.”

“Rebecca? Jesus, do you mean his wife?” Helen, who has now been filled in on the situation, turns to me open-mouthed before looking back at Scarlett with her eyes wide, eager for more gossip.

“It gets better,” Scarlett says, and I can practically see Helen rubbing her hands together with glee. “You’ll never believe what she asked me.”

“Threesome? Husband share?” Helen throws out suggestions like she’s competing on a quiz show.

“No,” Scarlett answers, her expression disdainful. “She wants me to give her the baby.”

There’s a silence that even Helen can’t fill.

“What do you mean ‘give her the baby’?” I finally ask.

“They haven’t got any kids, and she kept going on about how they’d be able to give the child a stable home and responsible parenting.”

“What about Charlie?” asks Helen.

Scarlett shrugs and wraps up her uneaten food, putting it back on the tray. “I haven’t heard from him.”

“D’you think he knows?” I ask.

Helen takes a sip of her tea and gives me a sideways glance. “Of course he knows! She’s not just going to come home with a baby in nine months, is she?”

“More like six months now,” Scarlett mutters, patting her stomach.

“So what did you say to her?” I query.

“I told her to fuck off.”

Helen nods in approval. “Are you definitely keeping it, then?”

I study Scarlett’s reaction, keen to know the answer to the question I too have asked.

She avoids making eye contact with either of us, but there’s a small, almost hopeful smile on her face. “Screw it. Who says I won’t be a good mum?”

When we arrive at the HR office, Nora is talking to someone. It takes me a few seconds to realise that it’s Charlie.

Helen pushes the glass door open and stares expectantly at our boss, waiting for an explanation.

Scarlett is lingering in the doorway behind me when Nora greets us and tells Scarlett that Charlie wishes to speak with her.

I think of the storage room where Liam said he heard the two of them arguing. How many times had they spoken about this? What else could he possibly need to say to her?

Instinctively, I take a step forwards, blocking Charlie. Helen moves by my side like a barrier.

The two of us must look pretty intimidating right now as he hesitates before making his next move.

“Scarlett.” He lifts his head above my shoulders. “Could we talk in private?”

I’ve still got my back to her, but I can picture Scar chewing on her bottom lip as she considers what to do.

“Okay.” Her voice coming out as nothing more than a hoarse whisper.

Helen whips her head around to face Scarlett. “Be careful,” she warns.

Nodding once in acknowledgement, Scarlett steps forwards, breaking through our barrier. “How private does it have to be, Charlie? Nobody will be able to hear us in the copier room.”

Charlie turns to stare at the glass box room at the back of the office. He fiddles with his tie. “I don’t think I’d like our colleagues watching us.”

“Whatever it is had best be quick, then.” She glances at Nora.

Nora doesn’t say anything for a moment after they’ve left the office. Then she looks at me and Helen and claps her hands. “Get to work, ladies.”

The next fifteen minutes pass with only the sound of typing and shuffling papers.

When Scarlett eventually returns, she slips into her seat and turns her computer on without looking at anyone.

Helen rotates her chair to face Scarlett. “What’s happened?”

Scarlett slumps in her seat. “Nothing. He wanted to apologise.”

Helen snorts. “Apologise for what? Knocking you up in the first place or his crazy wife wanting to steal your baby?”

Nora lifts her head and scrutinizes the three of us from the other side of the office.

“Keep your voice down,” Scarlett urges.

Helen gives her a casual shrug in response. “So which was it?”

“I suppose the second one.” She sighs. “But he says that he didn’t put her up to it or anything. He had no idea until this morning.”

“Well of course he’s going to say that!” Helen jabs her pen at her desk, earning her another curious glance from Nora.

“Is there something going on that I should know about?” our boss asks.

“I don’t think so.” Helen shoots her a polite smile. She turns briefly back to Scarlett. “We’ll talk about this at lunch.”

All three of us focus on our work until Nora leaves the office just before lunchtime.

“I thought she was never going to leave,” says Helen. “I swear she’s only in the office when we have important gossip to discuss.”

“Good to know that I provide such a great source of entertainment for you,” Scarlett says scornfully.

“Oh, I didn’t mean…” Helen trails off, looking at me for help.

“What else did Charlie say to you?” I ask. “He can’t have spent all that time apologising.”

“He wants to know what I intend to do.”

I stare at her. “Intend doing about what? The
baby?
”

“I think I should get the kettle on.” Helen picks up her empty mug.

When she returns from the kitchen with three hot cups of tea, Scarlett has explained the gist of their conversation.

“I can’t believe he said that to you.” I shake my head in disgust. “Did he actually say he wanted you to have an abortion, or was it more an implication?”

“He said
what?
” Helen almost spills the tea she’s holding.

“He told me that he’s not leaving his wife and said that I should make a serious decision about my future.”

“That little creep! Who does he think he is?” Helen balls her hands into fists.

“He’s the baby’s father,” Scarlett says.

I study her solemn expression. “You’re not thinking about it, are you, Scar?”

She lets out a deep sigh and stares into her tea. “I don’t know. I guess I
have
got to think about my future.”

“What about all that stuff you said in McDonald’s?” Helen cries. “I thought you were going to embrace yummy mummyhood.”

Scarlett spreads her fingers out in front of her. “I’m twenty-three. I’m single. I can’t even think about what I’m going to tell Nora. Or my parents. Don’t you think it would be easier?”

“
Easier?
Scarlett, this is a baby we’re talking about. It’s never going to be bloody convenient, is it?” I say.

“I need time to think.” She stares blankly at her computer screen.

“Don’t listen to Charlie,” Helen advises. “If he wants to stick with his psycho wife and ignore his child, then that’s up to him. But he can’t influence what you decide.”

“Can’t we talk about something else? Hey, Helen, your holiday’s not long off now, is it?”

I’m not in the mood for gushing over bikinis, considering what’s happened with Charlie, but I force myself to join in when Helen starts asking for my opinion on what clothing to take.

“I’m not sure it’s bikini weather in December,” Scarlett says.

“Oh.” Helen’s expression drops slightly. “Will it be really cold? I just bought these gorgeous fur-trimmed gloves.”

“No.” I laugh. “It won’t be that cold. Just don’t expect to come back with much of a tan.”

“I’ll book a spray tan,” says Helen, jotting it down in her notebook.

“You might get some nice days,” Scarlett says. “But it just isn’t going to be a lie-by-the-pool-all-day sort of holiday.”

“But I’m sure there are plenty of other things to do,” I tell her.

Helen shrugs. “There are loads of bars and shops, right?”

Scarlett smiles. “I think you’re going to love it.”

“And Spanish men,” Helen adds. “Sure you don’t want to come, Meg? I think the flight’s still the same price.”

“Don’t lead Megan astray. She’s already spoken for.” Scarlett claps her hand over her mouth as soon as the words have escaped her lips.

“What?” I stare at her, the blush creeping up my cheeks.

“I’m sorry,” she says. “I’m not supposed to know. I spoke to Liam yesterday.”

“And?” I press.

As much as I like the idea of being “spoken for,” it’s not exactly true. Liam and I have only been on one date. Not even a proper date where you dress up in posh clothes and visit an expensive restaurant. It was only a drink at the pub.

“He told me you’d finally succumbed to his charms.”

I roll my eyes. “I’m sure that’s exactly what he told you.”

“Don’t be like that. We think it’s great, don’t we, Helen?” Scarlett looks encouragingly at the other woman.

“Fantastic news!” Helen agrees.

“And it was me who set it all up!” Scarlett clasps her hands together and beams at me.

“Yeah, but he was acting like an idiot back then,” I point out. “I don’t think he liked you interfering.”

Scarlett frowns. “No, not then. I meant on Friday. It was me who told him to ask you out. Since I know you didn’t do your end of the deal.” She wags a finger at me.

“On Friday?” I blink a few times, confused.

It was Friday night when I saw him in town after my fallout with Zara. It was Friday night when he suggested I go for a drink with him (which he made clear was not a date), and then he went to see Scarlett.

And then the next day he’s suddenly interested in me and wants to take me out.

Oh, God. Oh, God. I am such an idiot. How could I be so stupid?

Of course he did it because of something Scarlett said. Of course it wasn’t because he’s actually interested in me.

“If you get married, can I be a bridesmaid?” Scarlett asks. “Hey, you’re not getting married anytime soon, are you?” She looks down at her stomach in horror.

“What did you tell him?” I ask in desperation. “What exactly did you say?”

She stares back at me. “Did I do something wrong?”

Okay. I can’t get upset about this. Not at work.

“No, I just wasn’t aware that you’d put him up to it.”

“I told him it was part of your confidence list thing, but I said you were too scared to ask him out yourself.”

Oh, no. That was the night I told him about Zara and the stupid bloody article.

But I kept those things from him. The embarrassing bits. He didn’t need to know, did he?

But he does now.

Because Scarlett told him. And then she told him to ask me out.

And I fell for it.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Okay. I can do this. I can go to Mum’s winter wonderland garden party and pretend it’s perfectly normal. I bet people attend parties celebrating a union that’s no longer happening all the time.

And let’s not even think about the whole outdoor in December aspect.

“It’s not going to be
that
cold outside,” Zara says, seeing that I’m layered up in almost every piece of warm clothing I own.

I glance of her outfit of a lilac turtleneck jumper with a cream suede skirt, thick tights and a huge white fur coat that makes her look a bit like a polar bear.

“Not all of us are used to braving the elements for recreational reasons.”

“Another joke about my winter fitness regime. How original of you.” She yawns.

“Actually, it was a joke about Gary.”

Zara’s eyes widen. “A joke about Gary that didn’t involve an axe. Impressive.”

Gary and Zara officially started dating during the week. I may have missed the signs of that, being busy wondering why I hadn’t seen Liam at work, or why he hadn’t called me.

I’ve invited them both along tonight to help me get through the awkwardness.

“You haven’t asked anyone to come with you tonight, then?” Zara enquires as she tries to sort out a winter-appropriate outfit from under my layers.

“I’ve asked you, and you’re bringing Gary.”

“You know what I mean.” She faces me with a serious look. “You should be okay for the weather now.”

I glance down at my new outfit. “Are you sure I won’t be cold?” I tug my coat down as far as it will go.

She shrugs. “We’re not staying long, are we?”

“You remember my twenty-first?”

Zara nods. “Your mum threw that princess-themed party for you.”

I shudder at the memory. “This is going to be so much worse.”

* * *

Why do I still feel like I’m at Bryony and Jeremy’s engagement party?

Okay, there’s no specific engagement paraphernalia—Mum’s done a good job of replacing those with Christmas decorations.

The exterior of the house and the larger-than-average garden are completely covered with twinkling lights, and bells, and baubles, and snowflakes and almost anything else remotely festive.

But Jeremy is here. At the remains of his own relationship. He’s wrapped in a big duffle coat, his gloved hands cupping a bottle of beer.

And there’s Tim chatting to some neighbour of my mother’s.

And Auntie Wendy adjusting the volume of “Mistletoe and Wine” playing from the portable CD player.

I spot a group huddled by a giant inflatable Santa Claus.

Well, at least there are other people I can talk to who don’t have anything to do with the Hudson family.

Until a man breaks off from the group, and I recognise him as Bryony’s cousin.

Surely Mum didn’t utilise the original guest list?

I spin around, expecting to see Bryony and Nick smooching under the mistletoe, but there’s the hostess herself.

“Megan, darling!” She hurries over to us, holding out a silver tray. “Mulled wine, anyone?”

“Mum.” I grab her arm and steer her off to one side. “Do you think it was a good idea, inviting all the engagement party guests? You might as well have asked Bryony and Nick to come along.”

“Oh, they couldn’t make it.” She slides a glass off the tray and hands it to me. “Would your friends like one?”

Zara and Gary accept their mulled wine, and I sigh after my mother as she heads off to mingles with her party guests.

From anybody else, I would have assumed she was joking about asking Bryony to come.

But not my mother.

She’s probably read it in one of her lifestyle magazines, about how to be the gracious hostess or something.

“Is that Tim over there?” Zara lifts her glass in the direction of my mum’s Japanese lilac tree.

I squint as though I can’t quite see. “Uh…yes, I think so.”