Page 30 of Twins with Daddy’s Bestie

“As much as it pains me to do this, I think sleeping together right now might not be wise,” Drake slowly says as if the words are being forced from his mouth. “I would like nothing more than to make love to you all night long, but right now, I think we need to take it slow.”

My cheeks heat up, and I see the reluctant look on Drake's face. It's embarrassing to be rejected, but I understand what he's saying. We were pretty hasty sleeping together last time, and look where that got us.

“You're right,” I say, sitting on the couch next to him. I have to look away from him for a moment to collect myself.

“I just think that we need to really think about the best decision for our baby, and if we have to take things a little slower to do that, we should,” Drake continues, wrapping an arm around my shoulder to pull me closer. He kisses the side of my head, and I giggle. “Maybe we can go on a real date and get to know each other a little better?”

I'm surprised by the request, but that doesn't stop me from nodding and smiling. “I'd like that.”

“There's a fundraising gala at Griffith Observatory next weekend, and I don't have a date,” Drake says with a gentle laugh, tucking some of my hair behind my ear. “I would love it if you'd join me.”

“A gala?” I laugh at how fancy that sounds. I've never been to anything like it, though when I did an apprenticeship in my final semester of culinary school, the restaurant I worked at catered one. It feels far too out of my comfort zone. But at the same time, I would like to see the other side of Drake. I know he's incredibly wealthy, and that he has status in the city, and I've avoided the idea of that as much as possible. This could be a good way to see more about his life.

“It's not as stuffy as it sounds,” Drake says, trying to sway my decision. “Okay, maybe that's a lie. These things can be pretty stuffy. But it would be a lot more fun if you were there with me.”

“Okay,” I say, grinning. I stand up, and he looks at me with surprise. I shrug and back toward the front door. “If we're going to take it slow, we both know it's dangerous for me to be here right now.”

He laughs and nods his agreement, standing to walk me to the door. “If you need anything, give me a call. You don't have to go through this alone, Olivia.”

“Thank you.” I linger in the doorway for a moment before he leans down and kisses me one last time. I laugh as he pulls away, and I walk to my car with him watching from the doorway.

I drive home feeling significantly better than I did on the way to his house. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that the conversation would go the way it did. I was planning to go there, tell him I was pregnant, and then leave, and possibly put in my two weeks’ notice. Now, Drake and I have a public outing next week.

It's exciting. Part of it feels like a fairy tale. Sure, things are happening a little backward. I've never read a fairy tale where the princess gets knocked up before the ball, but this is the 21st century, and if Cinderella had met Prince Charming on Tinder, things might’ve gone a little differently.

Callie is sitting in the living room when I get home. She turns off the TV and turns to me cautiously, expecting me to be emotional about the conversation. When I smile and shrug, she's visibly confused.

“We’re going on a date next weekend,” I admit, not knowing how she'll take it.

“Not that I'm not happy for you, but do you think that's a good idea?” She's apprehensive about it, and I understand why. “He's not going to want to marry you just because you're pregnant with his kid, right? That's a pretty archaic way to view this situation.”

I shake my head. “We talked about everything, and he brought up a good point. It's a decision we need to make together. Before we do that, he just wants to spend a little more time with me.”

She nods but doesn't say anything. She’s protective of me, and I love that about her. The one person I've slept with is someone off-limits. She already didn’t trust him because of his reputation.

I tell her goodnight and go to my room, showering and slipping into a pair of pajamas before climbing into bed. A part of me is happy that I'm going on a date with Drake. I like him. A lot. He's not the man I thought he was, and there's more to him than most people know. The fact that he's let me see his more vulnerable sides tells me that Callie is wrong about him.

I also can't stop myself from looking more at his social media. There are countless articles about him and the models and influencers he's dated. I see perfect women standing beside him on red carpets and wonder if I’ll ever measure up.

I'm not the prim and proper, glamorous woman he typically goes for. I don't know what's trendy fashion-wise, and I don't carry myself the way they do. They have an aura of confidence that can only come from a combination of generational wealth and growing up ridiculously attractive.

The women in these pictures look like they belong in fairy tales. They're supposed to be the ones who get Prince Charming at the end of the book, not the cook making the hors d'oeuvres at the ball.

As I close my eyes and go to sleep, my excitement vanishes, and all I can think about is how bad it'll hurt if Drake proves me wrong and ends up being the man everyone thinks he is.

20

Drake

Even though Olivia and I are going to the gala this weekend, we've been keeping things quiet at work. That doesn't stop us from making eyes at each other every time we have the chance. As badly as I wish I could have slept with her again when she was at my house on Friday, I'm glad I didn't.

I have to make sure my connection with her is more than just physical. There's almost no doubt in my mind that it is, but when I'm around her, I have such a hard time controlling myself. Adding a baby into the mix with us is going to complicate things, but I find myself entertaining the idea of being a father for the first time in my life.

All weekend, I've replayed my conversation with Olivia. I've also been thinking about my childhood and the reservations I have about starting a family. My decision has teetered on the edge of excitement and panic since she told me. That's what I'm hoping to figure out at the fundraiser. Can I see myself being a father? Is there a future for me, Olivia, and a baby in the picture?

Olivia knocks on my office door and comes in, closing it behind her as she stands in front of my desk. She smiles, and I have to fight every urge in my body to stand and kiss her.

“Is there anything I can help you with, Miss Porter?” Olivia laughs and rolls her eyes as she takes a seat across from me.