Page 65 of The Boss's Secret

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It’s going to be tough going, Angel. Raising a child alone isn’t for sissies. Are you sure you want to write Max off just yet?

The voice in my head was giving me indigestion. I wasn’t naive. I knew that having this child alone and raising it without Max wasn’t ideal. I didn’t want to think about it, actually. It scared the shit out of me. But how could I entrust my son to a man whose moral compass was so askew?

I knew, firsthand, what it was like having a father in prison. That’s no life for a young child–hanging around jailbirds once a month while Daddy had nothing to talk about except prison life. Fuck no! That wasn’t going to be my child’s fate. Not while I had breath in my body.

What would become of my child if the feds didn’t believe me that I had nothing to do with the whole sordid business?

“Fuck you, Max!” I shouted out loud, as my newest and scariest thought to date sank in.

I saw the woman in prison when I visited Peter. Some of them were pregnant and then a few months later, a family member would hand a tiny baby to them during visiting hours. No way in hell was that going to be me and my son.

I wanted to call my mom. I wanted to hug her and pour out my heart to her and Dad. But that wasn’t an option. Firstly, it would destroy the new relationship between my folks and Max, and I wasn’t ready for that.

Then, my dad was the kind of guy who loved me fiercely and would more than likely want to talk to the authorities so he could explain to them that I had no knowledge of the drugs.

I was as stuck as Max seemed to be. I ate my dinner and stared out at the pier where couples walked hand in hand, and kids rollerbladed across the smooth walkways. I felt calmer with a full stomach. I checked my watch–8 pm.

My cell phone rang. It was Josie. I couldn’t ignore her, so I answered.

“Hi, Josie.”

“Hello, you. How’s my bestie and her bump?”

Oh, good. Max hadn’t spoken to her, so she was unaware of the unfolding disaster that had suddenly become my life.

“Okay, thanks.”

“Are you home? I bought the cutest little outfit today for his highness, Prince Bump. I’d like to pop around and bring it to you. I hope you have wine. I’ve had a cracker of a day!”

“Uhm, no, sorry. I’m not at home right now.”

“Are you okay, Angel? You sound off.”

And there it was. The question I didn’t know how to respond to. If I told her she’d be banging down my door in a shot. Or, worse, Max’s door. Damn it. What to do?

“I’m okay, thanks, Josie. Just a little tired. It’s been a long day at work. I’m gonna crash the minute I get home. Can I call you tomorrow? Please?”

She was silent for a bit. I could almost hear the cogs turning in her head.

“Sure. I get it. Little Prince Bump is heavy. We’ll chat tomorrow. Sleep tight, babes.”

“Thanks, Josie. You too. Chat soon.”

My heart was racing. I hated lying to my best friend, but I had no other option. It was safer this way. Josie was a doer–a fixer–and I didn’t have the strength to pull her off Max.

“Okay, Prince Bump, it’s bedtime. Mama is paste.”

I grabbed my phone and got into bed. The sheets were soft and welcoming. As if I didn’t have enough shit going on in my head, I decided to torture myself a bit more by scrolling through the photos in my phone’s gallery.

That was when the waterworks came in earnest.

“Tomorrow will be a better day, my angel,” I whispered to my baby.

I eventually fell asleep in the fetal position, cradling my little bump.

26

MAX


Tags: Lydia Hall Billionaire Romance