Chapter 565

• “I just found out that she’s pregnant.” Ben is pushing fingers through his hair, rubbing his face in complete agitation. “I’ve been away for a while on business … London. I only got back yesterday.” He seems so overwhelmed and completely rattled. We’re sitting in the quiet booth of a bar near the one we came from. It’s almost deserted, and both men cradle neat gin while I hold a glass of coke. I’m too wired and awake to contemplate sleep now. Ben’s revelation has all sorts of crazy plots swimming through my overemotional brain, and Jake seems far too calm and in control from this revelation, to be good for him.
• “So … The baby could be either of ours, yet she failed to mention it?” Jake appears pensive. He’s been in closed-off thoughtful mode since Ben’s disclosure, with his dark looks and scowling tone, and I want to know what’s going on in his brain. He’s not someone to hide a temper flare-up unless something more sinister is brewing in his clever head. This is very much business brain mode and usually means a lot of trouble brewing in its calculated depths.
• “She came to me after the awards show. The after party you and her apparently hooked up at.” Ben downs his gin and slides the glass away while Jake cradles and warms his. “Told me she wanted to give us another go and proceeded to fuck me stupid for three days with no protection because she was on the pill. Then I never heard from her again.” Ben’s face tightens, anger on show, now obvious to the game of manipulation he’s been duped into.