Players, Bumps and Cocktail Sausages (Silence #3)(48)

Licking my dry lips, I nodded. “Thank you.”

“It’s my pleasure. I’ll print out some dos and don’ts, and we’ll arrange that scan. I’ll request you’re seen this week and also book you an appointment with the midwife.”

The local midwife was also the one that delivered me. Mum still spoke to her about my ‘interesting’ birth whenever she saw her. It was times like this I wished I lived in a big town rather than a small village.

“Okay,” she said after she’d given me pages of printed-paper and gone over any questions I had. “Make another appointment if there’s anything else you need but if not I’m sure I’ll see you back here at some point. Perhaps when I check over the baby.”

I smiled. “Thank you.”

Standing up, I shook her hand and walked out. In the next few days, I would hear when my scan appointment was. A very big part of me hoped it was in a couple weeks time so I could prepare myself.



Armed with my scan picture, proving Jasper was the dad; I knocked on his door and waited. My heart was racing, and I felt nauseous. I had absolutely no idea how he was going to react, not even an inkling.

He opened the door, and before I could chicken out and ask to borrow sugar or something lame like that I walked past him and into his flat.

“What is it, Holly?” he said, grabbing my arm as I rushed through the living room.

“Holly?” someone’s voice I didn’t recognise came from the kitchen, and I froze.

He had a woman here.

A beautiful brunette with legs up to her armpits appeared from the kitchen. I was dumbstruck. Here I was about to announce to Jasper I was having a baby, and he was shacked up with a one-night stand.

“Um, Holly this is Leanne. We met last night,” Jasper said.

I managed a weak smile. “Hi, Leanne.”

“Holly, hi. Lovely to meet you. Do you want to join us for bacon rolls?”

My stomach turned. “No thanks.”

If I did I would definitely be seeing them again later.

“Everything okay?” Jasper asked. His discomfort was blindingly clear.

I blinked a few times, desperately trying to think of something to say.

“I was just passing on the way to pick up something I left at work. I wanted to know if you need a lift tonight? We’re sharing a taxi but couldn’t get hold of you to ask and if you want to share we’ll book a bigger car,” I rambled. “I would’ve called, but I was driving and your place is on the way so…”

I pinched the scan photo between my fingers in my pocket as I spoke, gripping it for dear life. This was awkward for everyone but Leanne it seemed, she stood leaning against the doorframe grinning.

“Sharing a taxi will be great,” Jasper replied. “How come Brad didn’t call?”

“Ah!” Leanne exclaimed. “Brad the friend and Holly the sister!”

Jasper winced as I glared up at him. He told her that?

“Hey,” he said. “I was drunk, and it’s not like she’s going to tell.”

“That’s not the point,” I hissed. I didn’t want him going around telling people our business. The thought of people knowing who I’d slept with filled me with horror.

“All right, sorry,” he replied, holding his hands up. “I won’t mention it to anyone again, but it wasn’t like I was bragging about it. I’m not proud of going behind my mate’s back.”

I felt like crying. This wasn’t how it was supposed to happen. I expected him to rant, tug on his hair and throw the occasional swear word but not this. He slept around; that wasn’t a secret, but seeing it with my own eyes hurt like hell. I should’ve known I couldn’t have no strings sex. And he wasn’t supposed to regret what happened between us.

“Forget it. It’s fine. I’ll get Brad to let you know when the taxi is picking you up.”

Turning on my heel, I made a quick exit. Jasper called my name, but I ignored him. I couldn’t see him with her again. I sprinted out of the door and towards my car, wiping the tears which had started streaming from my eyes.





Chapter Twenty


Jasper




I hopped in the taxi. Cole and Oakley sat at the back of the seven-seater talking to each other with doe eyes. It made me want to gag. Brad was on the middle row of two and Holly the front row of two. Brad’s legs hung over where I wanted to sit so it would have to be near Holly.

After the awkward situation earlier, I didn’t want to be trapped beside her for twenty minutes. I really had to stop talking about her to the random women I slept with. Not only could it get back to Brad but it annoyed me how much my drunken mind was on her.

“Hi,” I said as I sat down.

She looked up briefly. “Hi.”

“You okay?”

“Yes. You?” she replied, barely meeting my eye.

And I thought this would be awkward…

“Yep,” I replied and lowered my voice to add, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” she mouthed.

“Bullshit.”

“Man, if I can walk at the end of the night, punch me,” Brad said, poking his head between the seats.

I forced a laugh. “Yeah, deal. What’re you forgetting tonight then?”