Nico burst into laughter and stepped aside. “I’ve heard that threat enough from Irish women to take it seriously. Have a nice day, bed bunny.”
I shook my head. “Bloody eejit.”
He continued to laugh from behind me.
I walked forward, opened the front door and stepped outside. I reached in, grabbed the door handle and pulled the door shut after me. I shivered from the cold for a moment before I wrapped my arms around myself and walked out of the Slater’s garden.
I slept with Kane Slater. I groaned to myself as I started my mile-long walk of shame.
“Stupid, stupid, stupid!” I snapped to myself.
How could I have possibly slept with Kane of all people?
I hated Kane and he hated me.
I really was stupid.
I didn’t know why I let my guard down. Alcohol. I was blaming it on alcohol. One thing was for sure, what happened last night with Kane—and what almost happened this morning—could never happen again.
I’d never live it down otherwise.
“Oh. My. God,” Keela said after a long period of silence.
I sighed, hung my head, and nodded. “You said you wanted every dirty detail.”
“I did, but holy fuck. I didn’t think it’d be so hot. Can you tell me that again, but this time while I’m takin’ notes?”
Excuse me?
I snapped my head up and glared at Keela. “You’re not puttin’ the events of that night in your book. I forbid it.”
Keela’s small frame slumped. “Why not? It will be me characters, not you and Kane.”
Was this bitch fucking with me?
I angrily shook my head. “I don’t care. You aren’t cashin’ in on me fuck up. Me literal fuck up.”
Keela huffed and grumbled, “Yeah, okay.”
Damn right.
When that potential nightmare was crushed, I looked back down to my feet and groaned, “This doesn’t feel real.”
“Well, it is. You’re pregnant for Kane,” Keela stated.
Smartarse.
“Stop!” I moaned and covered my face with my hands. “You’re makin’ me feel ill.”
Keela reached out and rubbed my back while she chuckled a little. “Babe, this is an incredible thing. You’re goin’ to have a baby. How amazin’ is that?”
Not amazing, just terrifying.
“I can barely take care of meself, Keela. How can I take care of a baby?” I asked, my voice tight with emotion.
“That’s what you have me for. I’ll help you with everythin’ and so will the girls,” Keela assured me then snickered. “You’re also forgettin’ who the baby daddy is—Kane won’t let your child want for anythin’.”
I didn’t know why, but that notion bothered me.
I balled my hands into fists and looked up. “I don’t need to rely on Kane Slater. I can provide for another person, I just don’t know if I’m ready to. I’m not even in a relationship with Kane. We can barely stand the sight of one another. How we had sex is still mind-bogglin’ to me.”
Keela’s hand touched my shoulder. “You aren’t the first woman to have a baby whilst being single, and you won’t be the last. I love Kane, and you know he will actively help in every way he can, but you can do this with or without anyone’s help. You helped raise Gavin, you’re practically already a mother.”
Yeah, Mother Aideen, that’s me.
I snorted, “And what a good job I’ve done with him; workin’ for your uncle tryin’ to be somethin’ he’s not.”
“Aideen,” Keela sighed, her face sullen. “Gavin’s choices don’t reflect your part in raisin’ him. Smart people make dumb decisions every day—we’re only human. Gavin will realise his mistake in his own time.”
His own time wasn’t quick enough for me.
“Even if he realises his mistake, he is in Brandon’s circle now. He can’t be jumped out. Once you’re in his circle, the only way you get out is by dyin’. You know that, and so do I.”
Keela’s hand squeezed my shoulder. “Brandon is me uncle, he loves me. If Gavin wants out, I’ll get him out. Trust me on that.”
That reassured me a little.
“I can’t even think of Gavin right now, me head is a mess,” I admitted and sniffled when a sudden lump formed in my throat.
Keela wrapped her arms around me. “It’s goin’ to be okay, you’ll see.”
I hugged Keela back. “How can I tell him?”
Keela pulled back and looked at me. I didn’t need to verbalise the name, she knew I was talking about Kane.
“I don’t know. Kane is a closed book; it’s hard to read him.”
“Really?” I asked, surprised. “I think it’s easy to understand what he is feelin’ or thinkin’. You just have to pay attention to him.”
Keela raised an eyebrow. “And you pay attention to him?”
I deadpanned, “I’m pregnant with his child, what do you think?”
Keela laughed, “He does act differently around you. He clearly likes you and more than just sexually. You’re the only person he lets give him his insulin when he clearly has a problem with needles.”
Kane didn’t like me. The only thing he liked to do was piss me off, even when I was helping him. Judging from our past, he possibly liked it when I got naked too.
I gnawed on my inner cheek. “Maybe because he knows I won’t take his bullshit and that’s why he lets me jab him?”
“Could be.” Keela smiled.
I smiled a little until Keela spoke again.
“Have you been takin’ care of yourself?” she asked me.
I shook my head when images of nights out over the past three months flashed through my mind. “No, I’ve been drinkin’ and eatin’ badly over the past few weeks. What if I’ve done somethin’ wrong and it hurts the baby?”
My heart constricted with pain. I might not be ready to have this baby, but there was no way in Hell I wanted to harm it.
“Calm down,” Keela said and placed her hands on my shoulders. “We can go to the Coombe now and find out if everythin’ is okay. The emergency room never closes, I heard Branna say it before.”
I gasped when I thought of Branna.
“What if Branna sees us?”
“She works in the delivery suite, not the emergency room—we’ll be fine.”
“Are you sure?”
“Very sure. Let’s go.”
I swallowed. “Just the two of us?”
Keela nodded. “Just you and I.”
The melody of “Just The Two of Us” flowed through my mind and it caused me to lightly chuckle and shake my head.
“Okay, let’s go before I change me mind,” I said and stood up.
Keela jumped to her feet and grabbed her phone and keys. “I’m textin’ Alec and tellin’ him we’re goin’ to get petrol and some sweets and that we might be awhile. He won’t suspect a thing.”
Uh-oh.
I winced. “Do you think lyin’ to him is a good idea? Especially after everythin’ that happened between you both on movin’ day. That’s all still very fresh; it was only nine days ago after all.”
Keela hesitated as she pressed on her phone then shook her head and gave the screen one final tap. “It’s not a good idea, but he will understand why I’m doin’ it. Kane should know about the baby before his brothers.”
I huffed. “When he does find out he is goin’ to rip me a new one for tellin’ you before him.”
Keela rolled her eyes. “Please, you can barely stand him, and I’m your best friend. If he has anythin’ to say, I’ll kindly tell him to kiss me arse.”
I laughed. It felt good—for a moment I was calm and relaxed, then I remembered the situation I was in and where I was about to go.