31 Days of Summer (31 Days #2) (43 page)

‘I’m just … I’m not feeling in a getting bladdered
mood that’s all, I can still have fun without it.’

‘O my God, I so know when you’re hiding something.
You’re pregnant aren’t you?’ She fixed me with a gaze that would have the most
hardened prisoner of war wilt.

‘No,’ I mumbled, as I tucked my hair behind my
ear.

‘You big fat liar, Ellie Baxter. You are, aren’t
you?’ she squealed as she bounced up and down on the spot, clapping her hands.
‘I’m going to be an auntie again.’

‘
Sssshhhh
,’ I warned, knowing there was no
way I could keep up the pretence any longer. ‘Dan doesn’t even know, I wanted
to tell him first, so please don’t say anything to Molly.’

‘O. M. G. This is
awesome.
How far gone are
you?’

‘About three weeks, I’ll see the Doctor sometime
next week to confirm it.’ I laughed as she flung her arms around me and
squeezed me tightly, then danced around the room singing The Pointer Sisters
I’m
so excited.

‘Someone really does like her dress,’ smiled Trish,
as she came back in with a fresh orange juice for me. ‘Molly’s arrived, can I
show her in?’

‘No telling her anything about my dress, ok?’
warned Brooke.

‘I won’t tell if you don’t,’ I reminded her.

‘I’ll go shopping for some underwear, call me when
you’re done and we can go and eat.’

‘Sounds good,’ I replied with a kiss to her cheek
and chuckled as she winked at Claire on her way out, making her go even redder.
I took a seat as I waited for Molly and sent Luiza a text asking how Oliver was
doing.

‘So how did it go?’ Molly asked as she came in.

‘Really well, Brooke has a gorgeous dress and I
have a potential bridesmaid’s one set aside, dependant on what you go for.’

‘I’m a classic girl, well with clothes anyway,’
she laughed as she kissed me and gave me a hug.

‘So all white and long?’

‘Yes, I’m not into lots of fuss either. Is Dan
better?’

‘Much,’ I smiled.

‘Looking forward to your night alone, or are you
thinking of dragging Maisie out of retirement and going to pick Oliver up as
soon as we’re done here?’

‘Am I that transparent? I miss him so much. Come
on, I’m starving already, let’s get dress shopping.’

We ended up choosing a white strapless draping
column dress in Chantilly lace, with a waist sash with white protruding rose
buds. With her dark hair and pale skin she looked stunning in it. I showed her
the green bridesmaid dress for me and she was happy with it too, so we arranged
to have all three dresses shipped up to the hotel, where they’d be stored in
Dan’s suite ready for the day. I was already running through a checklist in my
mind of all the things I needed to sort, like the flowers, cake and menu. If
there was one thing I’d learned from Dan, it was that with the right amount of
money you could get anything done, in a seemingly impossible timeframe.

After checking in on Oliver again, to be reassured
by Luiza that he’d spent the afternoon haring around their large house and had
finally collapsed on the sofa and was snoring, I got a text from Dan to say he
was with Logan, waiting outside the cocktail bar. I kissed them both goodbye
and left them in giggling heaps in the private booth, tucked into the far
corner. They were completely wrecked, but what was worse, I couldn’t even
imagine having enjoyed getting in such a state, it had been so long. As I
worked my way up towards the exit I suddenly felt a hand on my arm.

‘Ellie? Is that you?’ a voice slurred. I looked
around and frowned at the stocky dark haired guy leering at me, trying to place
him.

‘Alec?’ I queried, wondering if it really was one
of Zac’s best friends from the stockbroking firm he’d worked at. He’d lived in
the same building as us in Canary Wharf and had often come around for drinks
and parties.

‘You remembered,’ he chuckled, as he yanked me
closer. ‘I always knew you had a thing for me.’ I pulled my head back and
wrinkled my nose in disgust. The smell of beer on his breath, mingled with
stale cigarette smoke was revolting enough on a normal day, but while I was
still in the early sickness phase it was far worse.

‘No, I was just being nice as you were Zac’s
friend. It’s really good to see you, but I need to go, someone’s waiting for me
outside,’ I advised with a polite smile, as I tried to pull my arm out of his
grasp.

‘Stay, have a drink with me. You can’t deny there
was always this chemistry between us, serious chemistry,’ he nodded as his eyes
lingered on my breasts and his grip around my forearm tightened.

‘Chemistry? I’m sorry I think you’re sadly
mistaken, there was never any chemistry. Please let go of my arm.’

‘El, have you had your tits done? They’re
seriously fuckable now. Zac will kick himself if he sees you looking like
this.’

‘I’d happily pay to see Zac kick himself,
preferably right in the testicles, as hard as possible, you too if you don’t
let me go.’

‘Fighting talk, I like a girl with a bit of
spirit,’ he laughed and his friend next to him joined in, as his eyes fixated
on my breasts and he leered.

‘Alec, I won’t ask again, let me go please.’ I
tried to step backwards and pull my arm out of his, but he pulled me right up
against him, his erection pressing against my stomach. My stomach with Dan’s
baby inside. I suddenly felt even more sick than I had a few minutes ago. ‘Get
off me,’ I hissed, as I whacked him with my clutch bag, but he just laughed and
grabbed my free hand and anchored it behind my back.

‘Got a bit of spunk in you now haven’t you? Zac
always said you were a fantastic fuck, seriously tight, but too prim and proper
and not down enough with the dirty stuff for his liking. He kept hoping you’d
loosen up. Do you know how many women he fucked trying to satisfy his urge for
pure filth while he was with you? He was a fool, women like you can be trained
to be dirty, to be a whore in the bedroom. I’d be happy to break you in,’ he
chuckled, as he tried to kiss my neck.

‘I’d be happy to break your fucking fingers,’ came
a growl behind me. Alec yelled in pain, as his grip on me was suddenly
released. I quickly stepped back, automatically placing a protective hand over my
stomach as I saw Dan holding him in a wrist lock, bending it so far back it was
on the verge of snapping. He had a look of complete fury on his face.
‘Apologise for being disrespectful to my girlfriend right now, or I’ll show you
what breaking in really looks like.’

‘Dan,’ I warned, as I saw Alec’s free fist come
flying at him. He staggered as it struck his jaw and he let go of Alec, who
lurched to his feet and took advantage of Dan’s surprise to throw another swing
at him. The noise in the bar suddenly died as people backed away, me included.
Who would be mad enough to take Dan on? Then again Alec was pissed. Dan lay a
couple of pummels to Alec’s stomach making him stagger back against the wall.

‘Apologise, now,’ barked Dan.

‘Look at you playing the big man. I think you’re overcompensating
for a tiny dick. Maybe if you fucked her more often, or better, she wouldn’t
still be so uptight,’ Alec chuckled. I groaned and covered my eyes, saying that
to Dan would be like a red rag to a bull. I heard the sound of the punch
cracking against bone, as a gasp went through the crowd. I peeked through my
fingers to see Alec with blood pouring out of his nose, with his head securely
fastened in a head lock under Dan’s arm as they wrestled and he tried to
repeatedly punch Dan’s side.

‘Apologise and I’ll walk away before you get
really hurt,’ warned Dan, as he let him go and shoved him back.

‘Fuck you and your prissy bitch of a girlfriend,’
laughed Alec, as he wiped his bloody nose on his sleeve. I cried out as I saw
him grab a glass off a table and stepped forwards to try and get it off him,
before he hurt Dan with it, but thankfully his friend prised it out of his
hands just in time, as Dan grasped Alec by the shirt collar and threw him up
against the wall, leaving his feet dangling as he thrashed to get out of the
choke hold.

‘Stop!’ I yelled. ‘Just stop.’

‘Did you hear what he said about you?’ Dan
growled, never taking his eyes of Alec who’d suddenly recognised he was out of
his league and had a look of fear in his eyes. ‘No one talks about you like
that.’

‘I don’t care what he said Dan, it’s just words. I
don’t want you getting into trouble and I just want to go home,
please
,’
I pleaded.

‘I won’t have
anyone
talk about the woman I
love like that,’ he shot back. Alec was turning bright red and gasping for air,
I was terrified Dan was going to kill him if he held him up there any longer.

‘Dan, please,’ I cried.

‘Respect for women, look it up you jerk. With
manners like that no wonder you have to resort to fucking prostitutes, like
your arsehole of a best friend,’ Dan spat, as he released his grip and Alec
dropped to the ground coughing. I screamed as Alec’s friend rushed at Dan and
punched him in the back of the head and Dan went down onto his knees. I smacked
the guy over the head with my bag, trying to give Dan some time to get up,
wondering where the hell the bouncers were, but he turned around and shoved me
and I fell into a table behind me, glasses rattling as I landed on the floor.
He raised his hand, open palmed as if he was going to slap me and I quickly closed
my eyes.

‘Stop,’ screamed Brooke’s voice from behind me.
‘She’s pregnant you arsehole.’

‘What?’ came Dan’s voice, stunned. I opened my
eyes in time to see Alec’s friend abandon me and launch himself at Dan, tackling
him back to the ground, just as the two burly bouncers elbowed their way
through the gathered circle around us all. I felt my eyes fill with tears.

‘Ellie,’ came a voice deep, gravelly and sexy
enough to almost rival Dan’s. I looked up to see Logan with a serious look on
his face and felt some of the tears I was trying to hold back roll down my
face. I didn’t need this, not today, that wasn’t how I wanted Dan to find out.
Logan crouched down and gave me his hands and hauled me up, then pulled me into
a hug and kissed the top of my head. ‘You need to get out of here, Dan would
hate himself if you got hurt, especially now, so I don’t want you in the way if
they kick off again. My car’s outside, you know it don’t you?’

‘Yes,’ I nodded.

‘Here’s the keys go and get in it and wait for us,
we won’t be long, ok?’

‘Thanks, Logan,’ I whispered, as he gave me one of
his stunning smiles. If I hadn’t already fallen for Dan, Logan would have been
just my type, in fact I seriously doubted the two of them wouldn’t be any
woman’s type. I squeezed my way through the crowds gathered at the door and
quickly bolted into the ladies and just made it to the toilet in time to be
sick. That punch Dan took to his jaw and the back of his head had looked nasty,
I really hoped he was ok. I freshened up and found Logan’s flash car parked
outside with a few admirers looking at it, and got an impressed murmur as I
activated the remote and the doors swung upwards. I got into the passenger seat,
shutting myself in, and kept my eyes fixed on the door to the bar, hoping that
they’d both be out soon, that there hadn’t been more trouble. What was Alec
thinking? I’d never liked him and the thought of his hands on me made me
shudder. I quickly pulled my phone out as it buzzed.

Babe, you ok? I can’t get out for the crowds.

I’m fine Brooke, I’m in Logan’s car. Is Dan ok?

He’s fine, though he keeps rubbing his jaw.
Logan’s doing his suave act from what I can see and calming the situation down
with the bouncers. What the hell happened?

Alec, Zac’s best friend making some lewd
comments, before putting his hands on me

Always hated that creep. I’m so sorry about
screaming your news, I was worried that other jerk was going to hit you, can
you forgive me?

You did the right thing, though it’s not
exactly the calm controlled way I planned on telling him!

Calm and controlled is over rated. I hope it
goes ok when he gets out. Have I said thank you for today? For the whole
wedding thing? I’m so happy and love you so much for doing this for us <3
<3 <3

Three hearts? I do feel special. You both
deserve it, you were so good with me and Oliver x

Looks like Logan’s worked his magic, on their
way out. Update me tomorrow x

Will do x

I looked back up at the door and saw the bouncers throw
Alec out of the door, where he lurched over to a lamp post and hung on for dear
life as he shouted abuse at them, before the other guy was hurled out, sporting
a bleeding cut on his eye and lip. Logan and Dan stepped out next and shook
hands with the bouncers, as I tried to work out how to open the car door. By
the time I’d got out they’d made it over to the car anyway and I flung myself
at Dan and held onto him tightly.

‘Are you ok?’ I asked, as he hugged me tightly.

‘I’m fine, baby. I’m sorry you had to see that,
but I can’t abide men who talk about women like that, especially my woman. Are
you ok? Did he hurt you,’ he asked.

‘I’m ok, I promise,’ I replied. He pulled me off
him and held me at arm’s length, his eyes still burning with anger as he
checked my arms and wrists.

‘You look pale.’

‘I’m fine honestly, I was worried about what you’d
do to him, that you’d get into trouble. He’s not worth it, he was always a
sleaze bag. ’

‘Quite,’ Dan agreed, as he clasped my face and
kissed my forehead. ‘Is it true? You’re really pregnant?’

‘Yes,’ I whispered, as I searched his eyes for a
clue as to how he was feeling.

‘Really?’ he asked again, and I nodded. I gulped
as I saw his eyes fill up with tears and I was suddenly enveloped by his big
strong body.

‘O my God, Ellie. I’m going to be a dad again?’