It has been a whole month since I’ve seen Olivia. One month! My right hand is about ready to fall off from the amount of jerking off I have been doing during our Skype sessions, which is most nights. I’m not going to lie and say that this transcontinental relationship is all sunshine and rainbows because it’s not, it sucks. I hate coming home to my place after work and not finding her here. I hate the damn time zones as well. I hate that she is so fucking busy all the time. But none of that matters now that she is here with me, wrapped in my arms and in my bed where she belongs. I will say it was a surprise that she turned up with her sister at the airport and that she would be staying in my, or should I say, our home. I want to trust her like Olivia does, but it’s hard, I can’t forget that she tried to tear us apart, and it worked for a while. But it means the world to Olivia if I give her sister a chance and because I love that woman more than life, I’ll try and be nice to her. She invited Penny because she’s been having a horrible time since her annulment from Eddie went public, especially with the tabloids digging around about it. She thought bringing her to the other side of the world would help keep her mind off of the gossip back in London, maybe a little retail therapy would keep her busy, she’s just in time for the Grand Opening of Sienna and Derrick’s newest boutique, Wyld. I think it’s pretty cool Sienna has expanded and opened up a children’s boutique, Ryder is one fashionable little dude. Plus, with the way the Dirty Texas family keeps expanding with little ones, it’s going to keep them in business for a long time.
“Thank you for letting me stay here.” Penny surprises me in the kitchen as I make breakfast for Olivia, who’s sleeping off her jet lag.
“It’s not a problem at all,” flipping the pancakes.
“I know you don’t like me, Axel.” Her comment grabs my attention. I start to disagree with her but she cuts me off. “What I did to you and Olivia, I don’t expect you to ever forgive me.” I flip another pancake, not sure how to respond, an uncomfortable silence settles between us.
“Penny, I don’t not like you, but I’m protective over Olivia. I just don’t want her to get hurt again. She’s so happy finally having her sister in her life.” I flip the pancakes again. “It’s good you’re trying to make amends, but I also saw how you destroyed her and that image is hard to get rid of.” They say honesty is the best policy. Penny is silent, I’m guessing mulling over my statement.
“You’re right. I wanted to destroy her, and for what? Because I was jealous. I don’t even know why. I just always felt that way. It probably started over something so trivial when we were younger, and at the time it felt big to me. I guess it just manifested over the years into something really ugly. All I can do now is hopefully show you that I am changing. She’s all I’ve got in the world, and after everything I put her through, when I needed her the most she was there for me.” I notice the tears falling down Penny’s cheeks as she speaks. “Ugh, sorry, stupid hormones,” she grumbles, wiping her face. “I want to be a better person, especially a better person than the one I was before. My child deserves a good mother. I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life and this whole Eddie situation is one big mess, but I guess it’s my karma.” Last I heard, Eddie had announced that the baby isn’t his and is now playing the victim all across London. Penny, on the other hand, has kept her mouth quiet on the situation which I am guessing is pretty hard for her to do. “But it’s probably lucky I messed up otherwise Liv would now be married to Eddie.” I stiffen at her comment. “In all honesty, I don’t think she would have done it. I saw her during that time, she hated it, she hated him, she hated the whole situation. I am kind of glad that I was able to give her an out, it’s probably the least I could have done.” Penny shrugs as she bites an apple.
“What are you going to do?” I ask, piling the pancakes onto two separate plates and pushing one in front of Penny. As much as I don’t trust the woman she is pregnant and needs to eat.
“Thanks,” as she digs into them. “Liv is pushing me to tell the baby’s father about the baby, but…” She pauses as she shovels pancake into her mouth. “But I’m scared.”
“Why? Because he wouldn’t be happy?”
She finishes what is in her mouth and answers me, “No, because he’s married.” I stop what I’m doing and stare at her. Of course he is. “It would be a huge scandal.” Well fuck me, Penny sure knows how to create drama.
“Fuck…well…um…” I say awkwardly.
“I know, I know. I haven’t added to the great picture you already have of me.” I shrug because it’s the truth. “But it’s not what you think. At first Olivia thought the same way as you, but she kind of gets it now.”
“Olivia knows?”
Penny nods. “I’m guessing my sister kept her word to not share my secret.” I know I shouldn’t be pissed about Olivia keeping this secret from me, but I kind of am. “Hey.” Penny pulls me from my thoughts. “Please don’t be upset with Liv. I asked her to keep my confidence and she did, but I can tell you the story if you want.” What the hell am I meant to say to that. “It might make it easier for my sister to have someone else to talk to about it. I know she would be killing herself over keeping this secret. She’s a good person.” So Penny proceeds to tell me how she got knocked up by the President of France, and for the first time in my life I have no advice for someone. Penny is right. If this ever got out it would be a big scandal.
***
“Hey, are you okay?” Olivia asks as I enter the bedroom with cold pancakes. I think I am walking on instinct, my mind still processing the bombshell Penny just dropped on me.
“The President of France,” was all I could mutter. Olivia is motionless.
“What did you say?”
“The President of France is Penny’s baby’s father.”
“How did…?”
“Penny told me. She didn’t want you to keep secrets from your fiancé, but I am not sure if I really needed to know this one.” Yep, I am still in shock.
“I’m sorry, babe. I didn’t mean to keep it from you, but I promised her and she’s my sister. I know you two don’t get on but she is trying to change and be a better person. I want to give her a chance,” Olivia quickly states.
“Hey, it’s okay.” I sit down on the bed and pull her against me, kissing the top of her head. “I understand it now. Shit, Liv, this is kind of huge. The President of France is a swinger.” This makes her laugh.
“I know.” She smiles. “She has to tell him though, then it’s up to him how he wants to deal with it.”
“It could get messy.”
“I know, and I’m not sure if my father’s heart will take it if she’s involved in another scandal so soon after Eddie. He didn’t take it very well at all, especially the press and tabloids. They have gone to their home in the Caribbean to get away from all the stress it has caused.”
“Good idea.” I hug her tightly. “She’s lucky to have you, Liv. You have a big heart, especially when it comes to her.” Olivia looks up at me, those big brown eyes devouring me.
“She’s family, and as much as I want to hate her, I just can’t. She is going through something pretty brutal at the moment, plus she is pregnant with my little niece. I can’t abandon her.” I look down at her and bring our lips together.
“Like I said, you are an extraordinary woman and I am so proud to call you mine.” She smiles against my lips.
“Want me to give you a blow job to erase the conversation?” the saucy little minx asks.
“You never have to ask me twice.”
***
“You made it,” Sienna greets Olivia warmly, her big belly getting in the way as she tries to hug her.
“Look how big you have gotten.” Olivia rubs Sienna’s belly.
“I know! This kid is a bloody monster. I feel like I am double the size I was with Ryder.”
“This is my sister, Penny.” The two women shake hands and I can see Sienna being polite to her, but it might take a while for Sienna to accept her into the group.
“Your shop is so beautiful.” Penny smiles warmly.
“Thank you so much. Now, Liv tells me you just found out you’re having a little girl. Come, I have to show you the most gorgeous little dresses. You are going to die when you see them. I think I might have to have a third so I can have a little girl to dress up.” And with that the girls disappear through the crowd.
“Hey, brother.” Christian slaps me on the back.
“Hey, how are you doing?”
Christian grumbles, “Sienna better give us family discount because Ness is going crazy. Why the hell do my kids need bedazzled pacifiers? Can’t we get one for like five dollars from Target?” Christian’s seriously confused face makes me laugh.
“Man, you are so screwed. Those girls are going to want bedazzled everything.”
“Fuck you, man. I can’t wait until Olivia’s knocked up and you are in my place. I bet you won’t be laughing then.” Yeah, probably not, but in all honesty I can’t wait to be in his place. “Ha, ha. I can see those wheels turning, brother. You are thinking about knocking her up, aren’t you?” Twin stuff sucks sometimes.
“It’s going to be a while before any of that happens. I mean we need to get married first.”
“And live in the same country,” he adds.
“Yeah, that too.”
“So, when’s the wedding? If you are in a hurry to knock her up, you need to lock her down. I’m pretty sure Olivia is the kind of girl that needs to be married before she pops out any babies.”
“All I know is she wants to get married in France, that’s as far as we have gotten.”
“Well, maybe you need a quick trip to Vegas before she goes back.” I frown at my brother, but the idea doesn’t sound that crazy anymore. He bursts out laughing. “Dude, I was joking. Seriously, don’t do it, Mom will kill you. You’re supposed to be the responsible one.”