Keep Her (38 page)

“Prove it.” Was all he said back, barely even blinking.

Where was
my
Beck? The Beck who was so happy and satisfied yesterday. The Beck that promised me a forever full of love and togetherness. Surely, the person who’d fed him this bullshit was only out to get me. And that person could only be one of two people. Marissa or Griffin. But Griffin had no motive—Marissa, on the other hand…

“Who told you these lies? Was it Marissa?” I finally asked.

“What does it matter?” He gave himself away by looking down.

“Don’t fucking defend her, Beck!
I
am the one carrying your child.
I
am the one you love. Now, tell me, was it her lies that forced you to come in here and accuse me of all this shit?”

Visibly broken, his shoulders slumped and he released a deep breath as he spoke. “Yes, it was Marissa, but she had a reliable source. She said she saw you two together with her own eyes. At his apartment. All over each other. Is she lying about that?” Of course she was lying about that. She was misconstruing the truth in her favor. I needed to get Griffin on the phone. He would explain everything to Beck. He would certainly do that for me. Right?

This was where I wanted to shoot myself in the foot for not taking Fallon’s advice to tell Beck about Griffin. Had I gotten it all out in the open, like he told me to, I wouldn’t have to defend myself now against a bunch of lies. It was Marissa’s word against mine. It was a matter of who Beck believed more. It should be me, but who the fuck knew at this point. I could tell he was desperate. He didn’t want to believe her, but there was a definite part of him that did anyway.

I owed him an explanation. It was time to lay it all out there. And thick. “Yes, B. She’s lying. Not about me being at the apartment or dating Griffin, but this baby is
not
his. I never slept with him. I swear to you. We went on a few dates, we kissed
once
, but when I found out she was his sister… Beck, that’s the night I came to you. That’s the night I ran into her. When she told me you were still talking. See how she was lying to me about getting back together with you? She’s lying to you now. She’s still hung up on you. She’s only trying to break us up. You have to believe me.”

His expression softened just the teensiest bit, but the doubt had been planted and true or not, it was still there. It was up to me to make sure that seed never sprouted into anything. Especially not the pesky ugly weed that would keep popping up when you thought it was gone for good.

“Say something, Beck. You believe me don’t you? Don’t you know me better than that? I would never lie about something like this. I would never hurt you that way. I love you. I love this baby. Please don’t let Marissa ruin that.” Now it was me who was desperate because I didn’t see him budging any time soon.

“Why didn’t you tell me about Griffin in the first place?” He pinched the bridge of his nose, scratching his head. This was far from over.

“I tried. The morning after we got back together. I was going to tell you, but you told me you didn’t want to know details about what I’d done while we weren’t together. I should have told you, especially since he’s still a client, but I just—I didn’t think it mattered.”

“You had to know this would eventually get back to me, Riles. It’s a small fucking world. People talk. I’m not sure how Marissa put two and two together, but I’m sure it wasn’t that difficult.”

“I know
exactly
how she found out about us.
Griffin.
At our last meeting I slipped about you and me. I never wanted it to get out because I had a feeling he would go and tell Marissa. But I never imagined it would turn into this. I knew she’d be jealous, but this—her lies could have ruined everything for us. I can tell you’re still not convinced and I fucking blame those two for this. As a matter of fact, if you don’t mind, I’m about to give him a call right now and give him a piece of my—”

Stopping me from picking up the conference room phone, he sighed. “Don’t bother. I tried myself. He’s out of the country for a job he took in Malaysia. Some big break from
Time
or something. I didn’t really give a shit about listening to Marissa babble about Griffin’s career. All I know is he’s unreachable.”

Fuck!
If he’d tried to contact Griffin that meant—“Does that mean you still don’t believe me? Do you… do you want me to get a paternity test to prove it?”

It looked as though he was contemplating that very thought. Fucking Marissa had just turned my life into the Maury Povich talk show! I wanted to kill her, but my hatred for that conniving, jealous twit might land me on Jerry Springer.

I felt so helpless. There was nothing I could say or do to make Beck believe me. The tears ran down my face, unrelenting. I felt my body weaken and I leaned against one of the chairs for support. “Everything was perfect yesterday. So beautiful… and happy and…
perfect
. How the hell did this happen?
Why
is this happening?” I clutched my middle, trying hard to protect my baby from the fears that overcame me. Loss, loneliness, defeat. But when Beck’s arms wrapped around me and brought me close to his warmth, I knew I’d made a breakthrough.

“I believe you, Riley and I’m sorry. You just have to understand… please don’t ever lie to me again. Please don’t keep secrets. There’s no reason to. It will only hurt us in the end. Nothing but our lies can tear us apart.”

“What do you think of this one?” Marcus was perched over a glass display of engagement rings, soliciting my advice on the proper cut, carat, and clarity.

“Dude, she’s your girl. How am
I
supposed to know what she’ll like?” I came along for moral support and because my best friend had asked me to, but my heart wasn’t in this. Had this ring shopping taken place say, three days ago, I’d be gawking over the monstrous diamonds right along with him. But ever since Marissa put a snag in my trust in Riley—I hated to admit it, but things were different.

It’s not that I didn’t believe Riley about the baby, but the fact that she’d kept from me that she dated my ex’s brother was enough to make me doubt the rest of her sincerity. I didn’t want to fuck up Marcus’s happy moment, but I needed to talk to him. He was the only person who knew Riley better than I did. Maybe he could help.

“Hey,” I nudged him as his face nearly pressed up against the glass. “Can I ask you something about your sister?”

Standing at attention and ignoring the impatient saleswoman, Marcus looked me up and down with a smirk. “I thought you already got the old man’s blessing? Want mine too? How
proper
of you to ask, bro.”

“I’m not asking for your blessing, dick. I already know I have it. Your pops gave me your mom’s ring and told me you were okay with it. That’s the only reason I’m not draining my own savings account today for one of these.” I pointed to the showcase full of sparkle with a pit in my gut. Having Claire’s ring wasn’t the only reason I wasn’t making my own purchase today. Doubt had a lot to do with it too.

“Okay, then, what gives?”

“Marissa.”

Marcus’s happy demeanor switched to anger immediately. “You’re fucking kidding, right? Don’t even tell me you’re screwing around on my sister, Beck. She’s pregnant. With your baby. I’ll fucking—” His fists balled at his side, probably by instinct. And that tattoo on his neck started pulsing over his pounding vein.

Raising my hands in defense, I motioned for him to quiet down and calm it. “No, you animal. It’s nothing like that. Actually it’s Riley I’m wondering about.”

“How so?” His breathing calmed, but his fists were still white at the knuckles.

I took a breath and prayed that my friend could be loyal to me instead of his blood long enough to put me at ease. “Do you think she’d lie to get what she wants? Is she like that, Marcus? I know she’s your sister and I don’t want to tread on shaky ground with you, but you were my best friend before she was my girl. I need to know that I can trust her.”

Eyeing the saleswoman, Marcus raised a finger. “Can you give us a minute? We’ll be right back. Just gonna grab a coffee next door. Would you ladies like anything?” He offered the staff the chance to place an order, but they politely declined.

Ushering me toward the door, he gave me the game plan. “I need a break from all the bling. And some caffeine. Let’s grab a cup of joe so you can tell me what the fuck is going on.” It was the most rational I’d ever seen Marcus in my life. Tessa had done quite a number on him.
Way to go, Tess!

After ordering two coffees and half a sub each, we took a seat on the upper level of the deli shop. Cracking his knuckles before he shoved the overflowing hero into his face, he spoke with lettuce sticking out of his mouth. “So? What did my sister do now?”

I unwrapped my sandwich and took a bite. After chewing and swallowing like a civilized human being, I pled my case. “You remember Marissa’s brother?”

“Griffin? Yeah, nice dude. Why?”

“Nice dude, my ass. Seems Riley was seeing him a little while back. In between the first time she and I got together and since we made it official.”

“No joke? He’s a good looking guy. Right up Riley’s alley. Wonder why it didn’t work out.” He continued chomping away on his food and I wanted to slap the damn sub right out of his hands.

“It didn’t work out because
we
did, asshole. I thought you were over this shit. I thought you were happy for us? I am the father of your niece, you know? At least I think I am.” I trailed off, hoping he’d take the bait.

“What the hell’s that supposed to mean?” Bait taken.

“Marissa made it like Riley was sleeping with Griffin. Riley swears it never got that far, and I believe her, I really do, but—

“Let me guess, you’re not a hundred percent sure? Bro, Riley would
never
lie to you about the baby. Even if she
did
sleep with Griffin, she would know who the father was. I hate thinking of this shit and my sister, but she’s always been so organized and by the book. I doubt she would sleep with the two of you at the same time. That’s not her MO. And not for nothing, but what makes you think Marissa isn’t lying just to make you run back to her? She’s always been a little off her rocker, if you ask me. I wouldn’t put it past her to make something like this up.”

He had an excellent point, but Marissa did have some validity to her story. “That’s the thing. It’s not a total lie. Marissa saw them together. Riley didn’t deny that. And she actually kept it from me. She should have told me she was with Griffin as soon as she found out he was Marissa’s brother. If she could keep that a secret—I just don’t know, man. You know what it’s like. We’ve all told a lie or two to cover our asses.”

Wiping the mayo from his mouth, he tilted his head and narrowed his eyes on me. “Our lies didn’t involve babies, Beck. Riley would never stoop that low. She’s a good girl. She’s the girl you told me you wanted to marry, so give her some credit and forget what Marissa told you. Marissa’s trouble.
Talking
to her is trouble. Past, be gone!”

If it were only that easy. I wanted it to be, but my whole attitude about all of this was distorted now. I wished there was a way to get ahold of Griffin. I didn’t want to go behind Riley’s back to check her story, but hearing the truth from the horse’s mouth would set me at ease and make all of this go away. Things needed to go back to normal. To when I was as happy as a pig in shit because I was in love and starting a family and ready to give my all to Riley and our daughter. The slightest thought that that little girl growing inside Riley wasn’t mine—it made my stomach turn. I had to get rid of this feeling.