“Listen. I’m signed up for a surrogacy arrangement.” It was just a little white lie and more importantly it was one I could live with. “And I matched with someone.”
“Since when do you have a burning desire to have someone else’s baby?” With his arms folded and a petulant expression on his face, Jacob’s opinion was clear.
But I didn’t appreciate his tone or his insinuation. “Since we’re looking at hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of medical bills.”
“Fuck that, April. I’m not letting you sacrifice your body and a year of your life for me.”
“Well too bad because it’s a done deal. And also you can’tletme do anything. Got it?” I loved my brother, I swear but sometimes he thinks he’s the boss. I stuck out my tongue to take the edge off my words. “It’s my body and I’ll do what I want.”
“Don’t do this just for me April. Please.”
My face twisted into a frown. “What the hell else would I do it for Jacob? You’re my brother, my family and there is no fucking way that I’m letting something as stupid as money get in my way of keeping you around to annoy me for many decades to come.”
“Amen,” Kelsie added and waved one hand in the air. She placed the other hand on Jacob’s thigh in a comforting gesture,at least I thought it was. “Are you sure this is something you want to do honey? Is this something you can handle?” Her sympathetic expression almost brought tears to my eyes.
But instead, I sigh and nodded, trying to project a strength I didn’t feel yet. “It’s difficult, sure but the contract is signed, the money is in the bank, and I’m already knocked up. This is a done deal.” I turned to Jacob, silently pleading with him to understand. “This means we don’t have to stress about your medical bills and that lack of stress should lessen the intensity of your symptoms.” That was my hope anyway.
“Do you know the couple? Have you met them? What are they like?” I knew Kelsie would have tons of questions.
“It’s not a couple actually. It’s a single businessman and I haven’t met him yet, but we’ve texted a bit.” Roman was a lot more down to earth than I expected him to be, at least during our limited interactions.
“Wait. Hold up.” Kelsie’s eyes were wide, and her smile was even wider. “You’ve beentextingwith your baby daddy? Like flirt-texting or what?”
“No, just updates on the pregnancy. That’s all.” I kept my gaze fixed on both of them, but it was Jacob who worried me. He could play the role of protective older brother when he wanted to and now it seemed like he was gearing up for just that.
“You’re okay with not knowing him?” Kelsie’s concern was expected but her question was not.
I shrugged. “Not completely okay, no. But the agency has done their due diligence and what does it matter? He paid for all the procedures to get me ready to get pregnant so he must want a baby. His check cleared so what else is there to know?”I wouldn’t admit that I was curious about the man who I hadn’t met. Yet. I would even if it was just in the delivery room.
“What if he’s some kind of freak or sicko?” Jacob growled the question. “You’re just going to hand over a baby to him?”
“Yeah Jacob, that’s the plan. It’s how contracts work. And if we’ve spent the money on your treatments, I’ll just give you to him if I have to keep the baby.”
Kelsie snorted into her wine glass.
“I’m being serious.”
“So am I. This is done, Jacob. You say you don’t want me to do this, but it’s already done, and we both know I’ll pay the damn bill the next time it needs to be paid, so what’s this really about?” I folded my arms and shook my head, suddenly angry. I didn’t expect him to be happy, but I guess I thought he’d be a little grateful.
“I just don’t like it,” he sighed.
A knock sounded outside Jacob’s unit and went to open the door, certain it was one of Roman’s employees dropping off my dinner. It was Maxim. “Thank you.”
“Of course,” he responded in his low baritone before he turned and left, slipping behind the wheel of a black luxury vehicle.
I turned and saw two puzzled expressions staring back at me. “It’s dinner. He has arranged meals for me to make sure me and the baby are getting all the necessary vitamins and nutrients without having to take too many additional supplements.”
“Damn, I might get knocked up if someone is delivering meals three times a day.”
“Anyway, it’s done. If you don’t like it then, well then you need to find a way to learn to like it. Dinner’s ready,” I snarled and took my food into the kitchen because focusing on feeding myself was better than focusing on my temperamental brother.
“I guess I’m taking care of this wine all on my own. Fine by me.”
At least someone was having a good night.
Chapter Twelve
Igor
