DATING MY BEST FRIEND

TWO WEEKS LATER

MEADOWS

"Congratulations, Meadows Potter. The test is positive. You're pregnant.”

I stumbled backwards, hitting my kitchen island as my doctor announced the news over the phone. I had gone for a test earlier today.

"Based on your last cycle, I'd estimate you're about four weeks along. We should schedule—" I ended the call, my body trembling

 I took off my glasses, rested my elbows on the island, and grabbed my hair. I had only had sex once. He had used protection, how could I be pregnant?

God, I had been trying so hard to forget about William. Why the hell did this have to happen? Telling William about this was not an option; he wouldn’t agree to it. I hadn’t even told my parents we had broken up.

What would they think when they found out their only daughter was pregnant? Their very worst fears had finally come true.

"This just can’t be happening." I wept into my palms.

Just then, my cellphone rang. I wiped my tears and looked over at the screen. My heart sank to my stomach.

Mother.

I sucked in my tears and forced myself to sound normal. "Hello, mother."

"My baby, it had been so long since I heard your voice!" she cooed excitedly. "You didn’t even call home anymore since we moved to Los Angeles."

I blinked back more tears. "I’m sorry, mother."

"Come on, you know I was just pulling your leg. What was wrong? You sounded like you had been crying."

"I just... finished watching the end of Harry Potter and couldn’t help it."

I knew if I told her I wasn’t crying, she would question me more. She always picked up lies easily.

"How has Los Angeles been? I always thought of visiting but work kept me busy most of the time."

"I know, I had seen your posts on I*******m. I’m so proud of you, my baby. Now those trolls wouldn’t dare say you are only wealthy because of your family’s fortune."

She sighed. "I had also seen your posts with Cody. Haven't you outgrown him yet?"

I rolled my eyes, grabbed my phone, and headed for my bedroom. "It’s a best-friends-for-life thing, mother. I could never outgrow him."

"Don’t tell me you two are already having sex?"

I grimaced instantly. "Ew, gross, why would you even think that?"

"Come on, you are both adults. Everyone knows males and females can't stay that intertwined forever. Either you like him, he likes you, or — worst of all — you are copulating."

"Cody and I are just friends, mother. We love each other, but only as friends."

She sighed again, and I knew she was ready to give me that lecture on why he was bad for me.

"Just be careful around him. We don’t want anything ruining our family’s reputation. He looks like the kind of guy who would get you pregnant and run away."

My hand froze as I was about to put my folded clothing into the compartment.

"Yes, now the reason I called! Your grandparents would be visiting next month and they’d want you here throughout their stay. It was just for two months."

"But, mother—"

"Don’t ‘mother’ me. LA has a lot of beautiful places for you to make your I*******m reels and whatever stuff you do."

I dropped the clothes and ran my hand through my hair. I couldn’t. I just couldn’t. They would find out I am pregnant if I were there.

"But, mother I—"

"And bring William with you too. Your grandparents really want to see the man you are dating, and Vogue wants to feature you both for their new fashion line. Tell me he has proposed already?"

My throat went dry. What could I tell her? William had broken up with me and was already married?

"Mum... William and I... we are no longer together."

" What!!" She gasped. " You are lying to me, aren't you?"

My heart thudded in my chest. I can't carry a pregnancy to Seattle without the father of the child. I have to think of something, anything.

"You were right about Cody and I." I shut my eyes. Don't say it Meadows please. " Cody and I have been dating for a year now.”

The line went silent for a suffocating second. I am so sorry, Cody.

"You were dating a biker? Have you lost your mind?!"

"Mother, I love him—"

"Love is not enough, damn it! He has tattoos, piercings, probably takes drugs too, and he is... he is middle class."

"William was once poor, mother."

"But he had a promising future!" she breathed. "Oh, Meadows, you had made a huge mistake. Just come over to LA with him and I will find out what to do, just make sure none of the relatives found out who he is!"

She ended the call.

All I heard was the sound of my heart racing in my chest. Cody wouldn’t like this. Why couldn’t I come up with a better excuse? His whole life was here; there was no way I could make him move to LA with me.

I grabbed my hair and released a loud groan. A thought flashed through my head.

William had always suspected something between me and Cody. If... if he saw us together in magazines, he would be pained — maybe not entirely, but part of him.

I would come up with anything I could to convince Cody.

I put on my glasses and drive my car to the outskirts of Seattle. Cody normally worked late at the base doing God knows what.

I wrapped my arms around myself as I walked through the abandoned containers, trying to retrace our steps. I only come here with Cody, never alone.

I looked down when I spotted a man limping towards me. I glanced carefully at him as he passed by, his bloodshot eyes firmly fixed on mine.

His footsteps echoed behind me, filling the hollow space. I walked faster and he quickened his pace. Just when I was about to start running, a hand grabbed mine and pushed me to his chest.

Cody. He pointed a pistol at the man.

"I wouldn’t, if I were you," he growled.

"Son of a b*tch," the guy muttered, then stumbled away.

Cody let go of me and stared me down with wide annoyed eyes. "Why the hell are you here all alone?"

"I needed to see you."

"What did I tell you about coming to this place alone? For hell’s sake, you could have been killed or raped!"

I didn’t say a word but stared down at my feet. For the first time, I had no words to defend myself.

He exhaled sharply, grabbed my hand, and took me underground.

Dante, who passed by, winked at me. "What did Antonio say about no babes at the base?"

Cody shot him the middle finger. He finally stopped when we were in what looked like a training room, and it was just us.

"What was so important you couldn’t text me?"

My throat suddenly went dry again. I shook my head, unable to find the words.

He gritted his teeth, his eyes worried. "Did William reach out to you?"

"No," I shook my head and finally met his gaze. "I just needed a favor from you, Cody. I swear I would do anything for you if you did this."

"I am not hiring anyone to assassinate William, although it was tempting."

"That isn’t it, jerk." I slapped his shoulder.

He finally stopped frowning and smiled.

"I... I just need you to follow me to LA for a few months." His brow furrowed. "And pretend to be my boyfriend."

This time his expression morphed into a scowl.