that if you didn’t like him?” Tara chortles, tossing a shoe at me. “Look, I'm not saying he was right to say what he did, but this is big, Liv. This is his company. You owe it to him to at least let him explain.”
“If he was stupid enough to make the bet in the first place, then he's getting what he deserves.” My voice shakes as I speak, because this isn’t me.
I’m not the malicious girl who hurts the people she loves on purpose…
My heart thumps in my chest.
Did I just say love? Is that what this is?
Oh my God, I’m falling in love with him.
I bow my head, feeling sick. I can’t do this to him. I don't want Ben to lose his company. I don't want to be the reason he loses everything, but I can't marry him either. So, what the fuck do I do? I need to figure out a way to get out of this mess in a way that means no one gets hurt—well, except maybe Jake.
But there is no way out of this. Ben needs to marry someone and there's no one who's willing to do it but me. Except…
Tara.
She can marry him.
I look at Tara, who frowns at me, eyes narrowing.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asks.
“Because you're right,” I reply, my heart jumping in my throat. “I can't leave him in the lurch, but I can't marry him either. I don't want him to lose everything, especially to Jake…”
I hesitate, sucking in a deep breath, and try not to let the guilt eat me alive from the inside. I don't like the idea of Ben marrying Tara, but I don't see any other way.
“What is it?” Tara presses.
“I have an idea,” I swallow down the nausea rising up my chest. “You should marry him.”
“Me?”
“Please, Tara,” I beg. “I’m sure he’ll be fine with it. And you can always get divorced.”
Tara laughs. “You make it sound so insignificant,” she replies, rolling her eyes. “Like it means nothing. I’ll be twenty and divorced!” Then she smiles, nodding her head. “Actually, older men love that shit, right?”
“Totally,” I nod. Anything to get her to agree.
“I guess it would make a fun icebreaker for the future. Women with baggage always have the wildest time, right?” She looks at me and nods. “Okay, fine. On one condition.”
I blink at her.
“You need to tell him how you feel. How you really feel,” Tara says. “After all this is over, you need to give him a chance to explain and let him know exactly what he's losing. If he doesn't care, and he's desperate enough to marry me, you'll have your answer.”
I bite my lower lip and look down at my phone, where a text message from Ben flashes up.
Ben: Meet me at Poulson’s for dinner at seven? Everything else is booked for after. Can’t wait to see you.
“I hate it when you have a point,” I mutter.
Tara pulls me in for a hug. “Will this make us sisters in some weird way? You know, if you marry him after I do?” She dissolves into giggles at the look on my face. “Relax, I’m joking. So, what are you going to do now? I feel bad leaving you all alone. Especially since tomorrow is your birthday.”
I wince. I’d actually forgotten about that. There’d been so much going on these last few weeks that my birthday has been the last thing on my mind.
“No, it’s okay.” I force a smile. “I’ll be fine. I need to go home anyway.”
Tara nods. “Okay. If you’re sure?”
“Go,” I urge her, fighting back tears. “I’ll lock up when I leave.”
I push her out the door and lean against it, fighting back tears. I can’t think about Tara or Ben and what they’re about to do, because it hurts too much. Why does it have to be so Goddamned hard?
I call a cab and head back to Mom’s, texting both her and Jake along the way. I ask them to meet me, because there’s something I need to tell them.
I’m waiting in the living room when they walk in. First Mom, then a few minutes later, Jake. I must look a mess, because they glance at each other nervously, and then sit down. After a few more seconds of silence, Mom jumps up.
“Oh, God. You’re pregnant, aren’t you?”
“That’s what this is about?” Jake curses and gets to his feet, pacing the room. “I’m going to kill that fucking—”
“What? No. Sit