Chapter 27

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JOANNA

"Gabe."

The sound of a woman's voice floats in the air, making me halt by his side.

As his eyes widen, I can see the shock ripple through his body and his muscles tense up. As I glance in her direction, my heart sinks as I take in her icy-blue eyes, brimming with emotion as she gazes at him.

Because I know that look.

She's in love with Gabe. She's very much pregnant and in love with the man who has just told me he loved me for the first time.

My eyes quickly scan her from head to toe.

Damn! She's stunning!

Her glossy black hair cascades down her back in beautiful waves. Her big blue eyes frame her face, creating a stunning effect. She stands tall and slender, her stomach protruding with unmistakable roundness. She is very much pregnant, as the way she tenderly cradles her belly as she stares at Gabe shows.

I glance back and forth between the two of them. They seem to be engaged in a silent conversation as if nobody else was in the room. A chill runs up my spine as the hair on the nape of my neck rises and my muscles tighten.

"Nora," he rasps, as if for a moment he's forgotten I was there.

She takes a step towards him but hesitates as her eyes meet mine. She obviously didn't expect he had someone over. But she quickly composes herself, masking her surprise.

"Jo..." He sounds like he's about to throw up. "This is Nora. Nora, Jo."

She sizes me up; her gaze lingering on me longer than necessary. "Hello," she says, twisting her attention back to Gabe. "I was hoping we could talk."

He flinches, his eyes closing for a moment before meeting my gaze. There's an apology in there and it catches me off guard.

My eyes move to Nora and I take in her swollen belly. No! He wouldn't have the heart to do this to me.

"Come on in," I hear the words leaving my mouth. She's awkwardly standing outside, clearly expecting to be invited in.

"Jo..." Gabe straightens as if coming out of a fog.

"What?" I hold his gaze and when he shakes his head, I look away.

"Make yourself comfortable, Nora," I say, grabbing my purse and keys from the hall console. "Let me just get my phone." I jog to the kitchen, a headache forming in the back of my skull.

I was hoping to make an escape through the back door, but Gabe soon caught up with me in the kitchen.

"You don't have to leave." He grabs my arm, turning me to him.

"Is the baby yours?" I feel my voice shake as I look at him.

The apology in his eyes breaks my heart. "It could be."

My mouth falls open, and my vision gets blurred with tears. "What does that mean?"

"I don't know if I'm the father or not." His eyes search mine. "We slept together some time ago, and she later called me saying she was pregnant, but..."

"She looks like she knows you," I whisper. "Like you had more than just a one-night stand."

He lets go of my arms. "We've known each other for a while, but what we had was not serious."

His words hit me like a bullet in my heart. I heard them not so long ago. "Right. Only now she's carrying your baby."

"Jo, I don't know if it's mine." He cups my cheeks. "We were not exclusive. Hell, we were not even in a relationship."

"What if the baby is yours?" I say, the tears I was bravely trying to hold inside now fall freely over my cheeks.

The shocked expression on his face shows me he hadn't really thought this through. A baby changes everything.

"You guys should talk." I look at him before heading to the back door.

"Jo." He panics, both of his hands circling my waist from behind me. "I love you. I can't lose you."

A snort leaves my lips. "Let me go, Gabe."

"I can't." He pulls me closer to him. "You're the best thing that has happened to me."

I turn, so I'm facing him. "You hid this from me. You knew she was pregnant and not once it crossed your mind to mention something?"

"Every single day." His eyes plea. "But you already had an idea about me formed in your head. I wanted you to see the real me."

"And who's the real you?" I shake my head. "The guy who's about to be a parent?"

"You know me." His eyes shine with emotion. "You've always known me."

"Have I?" I whisper.

"We're doing a paternity test." He closes his eyes for a moment. "I'll figure this out"

"Let me go, Gabe." I shake my head, trying to detangle myself from his hold.

"Jo, please," he breathes, his voice filled with pain.

"I don't have the emotional strength to be with you right now," I say, and something in my eyes makes him release me.

******

I drive around for hours, my mind and heart at war. The truth of what Gabe said earlier was undeniable. I've always loved him. But at some point, I fell in love with him. I tried in vain to look for him in other men. I tried to keep going because I had convinced myself we couldn't be together.

But then this little getaway happened and my heart remembered how much I've always loved this man.

The thing is that it has also shown me we can't go back from this. We can't go back to him being just my best friend's brother. We crossed that invisible line.

I wanted to call Maria as soon as I left the house. I didn't, though, wanting to cool off a little. She said she'd always have my back, but I don't want her to hear me badmouthing her brother.

Now that I've had time to process, I drive to the café where I know she's working. I find her concentrated in front of her computer, her fingers tapping furiously as she talks to someone on the phone.

After a moment, she seems to sense my presence and looks up. Walking to her, I plop on the chair by her side.

"What did he do?" she asks, and a small chuckle slips out of my mouth involuntarily. Only to be followed by fresh tears. God, I'm a mess.

"I'm sorry." A few sniffles escape me and I quickly grab a tissue from the table to dab the tears away from my eyes.

"Jo, what happened?" The pity in her eyes makes me look away. Because even though she's too polite to say it out loud, the 'I told you so' is clear on her face.

"A woman showed up at the house." I look down, trying not to cause a scene. "A very pregnant woman."

She gasps. "What?"

"He doesn't know if he's the father." I hiccup. "But there's a chance he could be."

"But... Jo... I..." she stutters, making me frown. A silent Maria speaks more than a thousand words ever could.

"He says they'll do a paternity test, but..."

"She could have it done already," Maria says, her face hard. "She doesn't need to wait until the baby is born."

"Exactly." I give her a sad smile. "With the money and influence Gabe has, they could've figured this out the moment he discovered she was pregnant."

"You think she's after his money?" She leans forward, her hands reaching for mine. "Because her refusing to take the test raises a lot of suspicious that maybe Gabe isn't the father."

"It's worse than that..." I shake my head. "They've known each. She's in love with him."

"Jesus..." Maria leans back in her chair. "What did Gabe say? What is he planning to do?"

"He was completely shocked when she showed up at the house." I shrug. "He said he loves me and doesn't want to lose me, but..."

"But?"

I let out a loud, long sigh. "It's like life is constantly trying to show me I'll always be second best, you know? First my father, then Jaxon, and now... Now, Gabe."

"I've never seen him so in love." Maria gives me a sad smile. "Yesterday... God, he was so scared you wouldn't believe him."

"But that's the point, you know?" I hold her gaze. "He has a lot going on, and not once he mentioned anything until I found out by myself."

"I don't want to defend him..." She gives me a pointed look. "But you guys just got together. You two went in deep, and life is now giving you an opportunity to slow down a bit."

"I told him I don't have the emotional capacity to be with him right now," I whisper.

"And I get it." She nods. "God, do I get it..." She looks away, and my eyes narrow.

"Maria?"

"I slept with Josh." She pinches her lips, a frustrated look in her eyes.

"Oh?"

"Stupid, I know." She rolls her eyes. "You and Gabe had gone out to write one evening and... We started talking and one thing led to the other..."

"I see the way he looks at you," I say, making her snort.

"Our lives are way too different. It was only a one-time thing." She shrugs. "Besides, this scandal with the band will definitely taint their image. And I'm working hard to build a pristine reputation as a lawyer."

"Do you think it could affect you somehow since you're Gabe's sister?"

"I'm afraid it could... Not now, though. But someone could use it against me in the future."

"God..." I reach for her hand. "I'm so sorry."

"Me too." She squeezes my hand. "When I suggested you stayed at my parents' house, I had no idea things would turn out so upside down."

"Do you think your parents have seen the news about the scandal with the band?"

"I didn't want them to get blindsided so I've video called with them earlier to explain everything," she says. "They're obviously disappointed and said they'll call Gabe so they can talk."

"That makes sense..." I nod, holding her gaze. "I think I'm going to go back to my place today. I need to finish this book I committed myself to and I..."

"Of course." She gives me a small smile. "What about, Gabe?"

"I'll talk to him today, but..."

"I understand." She nods. "I'm here for you, anyway."

"Me too." I feel my eyes watering again. "Whatever you need. Always."

______

A/N: *sighs*  What should Jo do?

Thanks so much for your support! <3

XOXO

Celeste


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