"I can run to the bank. Is cash alright?"
She smiled at me. I was about to give her quite a commission.
"She's a very lucky girl."
"I'm the lucky one. I'll be right back."
I wasn't back quite as quickly as I thought. Even if it was my own money, they made me jump through quite a few hoops to withdraw fifty thousand dollars of it.
I smiled through the entire ordeal. I was going to marry Lexi. I would have a family. A wife, a child, a sister-in-law.
At last.
I would never be alone again.
I drove at exactly the speed limit on my way back to the jewelers. It was a new habit I'd developed, especially when Lexi was in the car. I was also looking into a new SUV for each of us. Her car wasn't safe enough. And my convertible was a squeeze with three of us. Never mind the dogs.
The shop girl looked thrilled to see me. She smiled flirtatiously as I counted out the money.
"I need something else. Maybe a bracelet. Or a locket."
"For a child?"
"A young woman."
"You have two?"
I laughed. She looked intrigued. I knew I could have whatever I wanted from her. Either she recognized me, or she was just responding to my sheer male magnetism. It didn't matter.
I wasn't the slightest bit interested.
"Yes, a fiancé and a sister."
She nodded, pointing out a few simple gold pieces. In the end I bought a whole set. A locket with room for a photo inside. A bracelet with a simple heart charm. And a gold ring with a small diamond in it.
I didn't want Charlotte to feel left out.
Lexi
I peeled another banana, practically shoving it into my mouth. I was watching the news, drinking decaf tea and stuffing my face. I couldn't get enough fresh fruits and veggies at the moment.
I wasn't even seven weeks pregnant yet.
I couldn't imagine how I would feel at seven months!
The banana was delicious. Organic, ripe, just exactly what I wanted.
Except I wanted about twelve more of them.
Giggling caught my attention.
Someone was outside, by the pool. I heard a splash. Correction: not by the pool. In the pool.
Slowly, I walked towards the sliding glass doors, afraid of what I would see.
Two scantily clad girls were cavorting in the pool. They were both sexy. Very, very sexy.
Professionally sexy.
I leaned my head against the glass. It wasn't what I thought. They weren't here to fuck him at his invitation. I shouldn't jump to conclusions. Even if Trent's old life was catching up to him, it didn't mean he had lied to me.
It just meant there were two insanely gorgeous women frolicking half naked in his swimming pool. I watched as they splashed each other, giggling. Then the brunette pulled the blond into a kiss and started easing her top off.
I closed my eyes. I had two choices. I could introduce myself. Or I could leave.
No one else was home so they weren't really bothering anyone. Char was at the market with Olivia. Trent was running errands. It was just me.
I decided to be brave. I pushed open the glass door and walked toward the pool. The girls stopped kissing and smiled at me. They were very friendly.
"Hi, you must be Lexi!"
I blinked. They knew who I was? So they weren't here to party with Trent?
"I'm January. This is my girlfriend Briana."
"It's-nice to meet you."
The blond gave her friend a conspiratorial look.
"He didn't tell you, did he?"
"Tell me what?"
January hopped out of the pool, retying her top. She was absolutely stunning. She gestured me over to the lounge chairs.
"Trent and Joss saved me. From a really bad guy in Miami. I've been here about six months. Living in the guesthouse. That's until I met Bri."
My jaw dropped. I had no idea any of this had happened.
"Trent is literally the kindest man I have ever known."
I felt my cheeks get warm. Of course she would be grateful to him. How grateful, I didn't want to know.
"I am so thrilled that he has found someone to love. He needed that, more than anything."
She hugged me, and I felt her fake breasts press against my shirt.
"I want us to be friends, okay?"
I nodded. I was a bit taken aback by all of this. Even if they had been together, that was before right? It shouldn't matter.
"Anyway, most of my stuff is already at Bri's. I guess I sort of just made myself at home here."
"Of course."
Who was I to tell her not too?
"Just, if you see my sister, keep it under wraps. She's very young."
"Oh God, I'm sorry. I'm so used to anything goes. I promise, I will be a good girl."
She smiled and walked back to the pool.
"Want to swim with us?"
I stood up, shaking my head. A strange sense of disconnecting with reality came over me.
"I-I have to go."
I needed to go someplace and think.
I got into the car, driving on autopilot. I didn't even realize where I was going until I was almost there.
I was going home.
Chapter Twenty-Three Trent
"What do you mean she left? Did she say where she was going?"
Jan and Bri exchanged glances.