Page 74 of Sexting His Son's Ex
“I know, you’re right. I know. I need some time to wrap my own mind around it first. I’m still shocked even though, I shouldn’t be. This pregnancy is an accident? I mean—kind of? It wasn’t planned but it wasn’t not planned given we didn’t have a conversation about having children. I don’t know.” I groan, sliding a hand over my face. “I’m overwhelmed.”
“And you have every right to be. You need to talk to him. He can get you the best care for this pregnancy, Jovie. You deserve that. Just… don’t wait too long to tell him or a secret will be turning into a lie. You aren’t a liar, Jovie.”
A sharp twist of guilt stabs me in the chest. “I didn’t used to be,” I mumble, disappointed in myself. “I started my relationship with Santino because of a lie.”
“But you told him the truth. That doesn’t make you a liar. Plus, Luca deserved a good kick in the crotch after what he did and who knows how many other women he has cheated on. He needed a wake-up call.”
“Luca scares me,” I admit, my mind wandering to horrid scenarios about him finding out about the pregnancy. “You should have seen him, Marlowe. It’s like there was nothing but rage behind his eyes. Nothing else. He was beyond furious.”
“Santino won’t let Luca touch you, Jovie.”
“It isn’t me I’m worried about anymore.” I rub my stomach, wishing I had more ways to protect my child. “Luca has a wild glint in his eyes now. Something untrustworthy. Like he’s turned off any empathy he once had and is waiting to have his chance to kill. It’s unsettling, Marlowe. I… I don’t know if I even want to go back to Santino’s. I feel watched there. Like Luca is in the shadows waiting for his turn to get back at me for what I’ve done.”
Marlowe pushes herself off the bed, standing tall in her black platform boots. “How about what he did? What you did was out of hurt. Was it right? No, but you owned up to it. Santino forgave you. You’re happy. You’re in love. You’re with who you need to be with and if Luca tries anything, I have no doubt Santino would kill his own son.”
I sit up and the only way I know how to explain my stomachache is that it feels dizzy, rolling in space, like I can’t seem to find gravity. “What? No. Santino loves his sons. He would never do that.”
She lifts one of her perfectly pencil-thin drawn on eyebrows. “No? You don’t think he would do everything he could to protect the woman carrying his child? You’re out of your mind. Santino has killed forsomuch less.”
“Jovie! Sweet Girl!” Santino’s voice booms from downstairs.
I stand fast. “Oh my God, the test. Hide it. Hide the test!” I whisper in panic, darting to the sink where the test is.
The steps groan as he climbs the steps.
“Why did I give him permission to change the locks and security system? He has access to the entire building.” I spin around, looking for a place to stash the test.
Right as Santino enters the room, I toss the test in the cup that holds my toothbrush. It blends in. Kind of. If someone isn’t looking for a pregnancy test, no one will see it.
I pretend to put on blush while Marlowe hides in the bathroom, snickering with her hand covering her mouth.
Santino creeps around the corner, the smile stretching across his face almost seems out of place. I can tell happiness isn’t a luxury he has been able to afford. Happiness and power don’t usually go hand in hand.
The smile fades. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?” He’s at my side in an instant. “You seem sick. You’ve lost some of your color, Jovie.” His hand is cool against my forehead as he checks my temperature.
The bathroom door swings open to reveal Marlowe.
“Marlowe, has Jovie been okay? Has she been ill?”
Marlowe isn’t going to lie. She doesn’t want to become fish food.
“Actually, she isn’t well, Mr. Salvati. She threw up her smoothie about twenty minutes ago. I think she caught a stomach bug.”
“Marlowe,” I warn her to stop talking.
Santino’s touch is filled with love and care as his fingertips brush across my warm cheek. “We’ll close the shop today so you can rest and I can take care of you.”
“Santino, I can’t just close the store because I don’t feel good. I have a business to run.”
He kisses the middle of my forehead, cupping my face with his large hands. “I’ll cover any expenses lost, Sweet Girl.”
“I love that you want to do that for me, but I’m not comfortable with it. This is my livelihood, Santino. I’m proud of what I do and of my business. I don’t like closing the store. My dream is to grow it and maybe if I’m lucky, I can open another store, then another.”
“And she will since she is going to that flower conference! She wins that money, everything will change.” Marlowe realizes her mistake and rolls her lips together. She bends down, snagging her purse. “I’m going to go,” she winces with a frown.
Santino crosses his arms as he stares at me.
“I see you two have a few things to figure out.”
