I craned my neck to listen to their conversation, frowning when she mentioned our one-night stand so casually as if he was already aware.
I frowned again as he laughed—what were these two playing at? I wanted to listen more, but then she uttered that word that felt like a lead weight in my stomach.
Pregnant?
I hadn’t even realized I’d spoken out loud until both of them turned briskly toward the door. She was as pale as a ghost and Ethan was frowning, clearly annoyed by either my presence or my interruption. I wasn’t sure.
“Care to tell me what that’s all about?” I asked, walking into the office uninvited. Ava’s mouth fell open, clearly not knowing what to say.
“What do you want, Hugo?”
I ignored his question, as I’d finally started to get over the shock of the pregnancy and started to comprehend other things that they had said.
“What are you?” I asked, looking from Ethan to Ava, who looked like she was having an internal meltdown.
“What am I?” Ethan frowned. “A podiatrist? A man? Your half-brother?”
I snorted; he had decided to play stupid. “Are you two in an open relationship? Or is she helping you hide what I always knew you were?”
She looked down and I knew I had been spot on—what I didn’t really understand was the wave of relief I felt knowing she’d never been with my brother.
“Why would it even matter to you?” Ethan asked challengingly. “Are you trying to get some dirt on me so you can blackmail me to tell our father?” I grinned, imagining the look on his face when he realized that I’d fucked up his little lie so much more than he could ever anticipate.
“Blackmail you for what? You have nothing.” I looked down at how her hand was clutching his.Except her, my mind chimed in like I needed the fucking reminder.
“That’s not true, Ethan has a lot of things!” she piped in defensively, which also grated me a lot more than it should have.
I rested my hand on my chest. “Ah, that’s cute. You’ve got your own little cheerleader?”
I locked eyes with Ava challengingly as I sat on the sofa in the corner, showing them that I was not going anywhere. “Why would it matter to me, you ask?” I nodded before jerking my head toward Ava. “You want to tell him or would you like me to?”
Her eyes narrowed as she pursed her lips. My dick twitched at the glint of fire she was showing.
I was one sick fucker.
She sighed before breaking eye contact and looking at Ethan again.
“Ethan, there’s something I haven't told you about that night.”
He frowned, reaching for her hand again and I couldn’t help but be annoyed at how easily he was touching her, how entitled he seemed and how easily she was responding to his gesture.
“What is it?”
She chewed at the corner of her plump lip and my dick stirred once more. I quickly glanced down at my zipper, making sure the effect she had on me was still inconspicuous.
“The guy I slept with that night.” She pointed a finger toward me and I couldn’t help but grin with a certain pride at being the man who apparently was the source of so many discussions between these two.
Ethan looked back and forth from her finger to me a couple of times.
“You said his name was Colton and he was American.”
Her eyes narrowed. “I guess it’s his way to avoid a callback.”
“That’s right,Mary.”
“Mary?” Ethan grimaced. “That’s the pseudonym you chose? I told you to go with something exotic.”
She shrugged and looked down at her lap.