Nothing like and kiss and make up scene
“Some questions aren’t answered in words, but in choices we’re afraid to make.” By Unknown.April shifted against Noah’s chest, her breath still unsteady as his fingers traced slow, featherlight circles along the length of her spine. They were tangled together in the warm cocoon of her sheets, limbs draped over each other, surrounded by the kind of silence that only followed a high so intense, it left your bones loose and your heart exposed.She let herself breathe. Just for a second.Then she said it again. “Did you hear me? You forgot to use a condom. This is becoming a really bad habit.”He stilled, his hand pausing mid-stroke against her back. “Shit. I know. I’m sorry.” He sighed. “But I’d just like to point out, there are two of us in this. You could have reminded me as well.”She didn’t argue. She wasn’t angry exactly, but concern churned low in her stomach. They couldn’t keep rolling the dice. This was the third time. “I’ll make birth control my problem, then,” she murmured. “I’
“We carry the weight of our what-ifs like glitter on skin—beautiful and impossible to ignore.” By Unknown.Three weeks laterApril stared at her reflection in the floor-length mirror, absently adjusting one of her diamond earrings for the fourth time.From behind, Noah’s reflection appeared in the mirror. “You look like a goddess, but if you twist that earring again, it might surrender.”She rolled her eyes, but the small laugh she gave wasn’t quite as full as it normally would’ve been. “Just making sure it’s secure.”“You’ve made sure three times.” Noah stepped closer, slipping his hands around her waist. “Is something bothering you?”April leaned back against him, grateful for his warmth, his steady presence. “Not really. It’s just that tonight will be the first time I will be reprocessing Harrington’s.”He lowered his lips to her shoulder, pressing a soft kiss against her exposed skin. “Auctions, it’s just a fancy excuse for rich people to buy overpriced things they don’t need and p
“You don’t need money to lead a rich life, good friends and a loving family are worth their weight in gold.” By Susan GaleThe soft clink of glassware and low hum of polite chatter filled the room as servers moved between tables in crisp uniforms, offering desserts and refills. They had finished their meals. It was now time for everyone to mingle and look at the overpriced artwork.April glanced over at the artwork in question, displayed along the walls: some abstract, some breathtaking, most of it out of her taste range entirely. But Harringtons sponsored events like this. The money went to a good cause, but the work would only hang at the office, never in her home. That’s why tonight wasn’t about her preferences.It was about being seen. About proving she belonged here. So many times in the past, she had hidden behind her father, hoping not to be seen. Noah had been nice to her then.Across from her, Tally rubbed her belly, her face glowing beneath the warm light of the chandeliers.
“Sometimes the past doesn’t knock. It kicks the damn door open.” By Unknown.The noise of the auction faded as the four of them, Noah, April, Ryan, and Tally drifted out onto the veranda. The lighting was softer here. It was a rare moment of peace in a room otherwise humming with chatter and clinking glasses.Tally eased into a cast iron chair, her hand resting on the top of her belly. Ryan hovered protectively beside her, his eyes flicking over the crowd through the doors leading back inside.April reached for a canapé from a passing tray, her fingers trembling slightly before she pulled back.“You know,” Ryan said, looking at her with a fond smile, “the girl I knew four years ago wouldn’t have handled what you just did back there.” His voice was quiet but admiring. “She would’ve hidden behind her father and not said anything.”April raised an eyebrow. “Thanks?”“It’s a compliment,” he added. “You’re not that girl anymore.”She smiled, small but sincere. “No. I’m not.”Noah wrapped an
The door clicked shut behind them, the echo of it falling heavily into the quiet of the brownstone. April leaned back against it, heels still on, lips slightly parted, her breath uneven.The public takedown of David. Willow’s touchy little display. The buzz of eyes watching her as she walked away like her father had taught her to.Noah turned the lock and looked at her, his jaw tight. His hands were shoved into his pockets like he was holding something back.“You didn’t push her away,” April said quietly.Noah exhaled, stepping in closer but not touching her yet. “I thought about it. Believe me, I wanted to. She makes my skin crawl. But if I’d made a scene after you’d already shut David down, it would’ve been chaos. Press was there. Your board was there. It would’ve made it look like you lost control of your personal life.”April’s eyes flicked up to meet his. “You were thinking about optics?”“I was thinking about you.” He paused, the heat between them sharpening. “And I’m sorry if it
“The longer you carry a secret, the heavier it becomes.” By Unknown.April sat in the small, warmly lit exam room, her fingers clasped tightly in her lap. She hadn’t realized she’d been holding her breath until the doctor gave her a gentle smile and set the clipboard aside.“Well,” the doctor said softly, “you’re definitely pregnant. Eight weeks along, based on your last cycle.”April exhaled slowly, her body tipping slightly forward as though the words physically pushed into her.Eight weeks.Which meant it had happened the third time Noah hadn’t used a condom. She should have known she couldn’t get lucky three times running.Her fingers moved to her stomach, flat still, but not for long.“Are you alright?” the doctor asked kindly.April nodded. “Yes. Just… processing.”She wasn’t surprised, not really. She’d known. Subtle but undeniable changes had occurred: morning sickness, tender breasts, and exhaustion that no amount of coffee could cure. She’d quit coffee the moment she suspecte
“You never really know how heavy a secret is until you try to let someone help you carry it.” By Unknown.April didn’t know how long she sat in the car before her breathing evened out. At some point, the trembling stopped. Her hands were still clamped tight around the steering wheel, but her mind had gone eerily quiet.Not numb. Just... still.The kind of stillness that came after the worst of the crying, when your body stopped trying to pretend it could hold everything together.Kayla’s voice was still there, though. A broken record scraping her insides.She had to get out of here.The drive back to Harrington HQ passed in a blur. April didn’t remember the turns, the lights, the people. She just... arrived.She walked toward her office, her body moving on autopilot. She kept her eyes low, hoping no one would stop her, praying she wouldn’t run into anyone…“Jesus, April.”April halted, startled at the voice.Poppy.She stood outside the copy room holding a takeaway salad, brow furrowi
“A real man can’t stand seeing his woman hurt.” By UnknownApril was asleep. Or pretending to be. Either way, she hadn’t moved from the couch in nearly an hour, her face turned into the cushion, her knees drawn up like she was trying to disappear.Poppy had covered her with a blanket, fetched her a glass of water, and then sat beside her, pretending to scroll on her phone while her mind reeled.Pregnant.April was pregnant.And she was falling apart over some batshit receptionist who had the nerve to lie to her face and twist the knife deep. Poppy didn’t need to meet Kayla to know exactly what kind of woman she was. They were a dime a dozen—pretty, venomous, and always sniffing around power like it was a perfume they could bottle for themselves.But Noah? Poppy didn’t know him that well, but she knew the way he looked at April. She’d seen it every time he was around her. Like he wanted to get her alone so he could strip her naked. No way in hell that man was screwing his receptionist
“Sometimes the past knocks on your door when you least expect it—and this time, it wants answers.” By Unknown.The doorbell rang.Poppy froze mid-step, holding Jade’s pink jumper in one hand and a storybook in the other. She had only just put Jade to bed. The house had been calm for all of two minutes.Another chime echoed through the townhouse.She hissed under her breath, tossing the jumper and book over the arm of the couch. “For the love of God…”Her bare feet padded quickly across the floor. She didn’t look through the peephole, something she never forgot to do. Except tonight. Her only focus was on making sure the doorbell didn’t ring a third time and wake her daughter.She unlatched the door and pulled it open in one swift motion.And then she couldn’t breathe.Max stood on her front step.All six feet and stupid-handsome inches of him. Broad shoulders under a charcoal coat, dark jeans hugging long legs. His hair was tousled like he’d run his fingers through it too many times. H
“Sometimes the damage isn’t done when they leave. It’s when they come back and expect nothing’s changed.” By Unknown.Dinner was quiet, but not uncomfortable. They ate on the couch with the news muted in the background, both of them poking at their stir-fry that had gone a little soft from the delay. April didn’t seem to care. She’d curled one leg under herself, hair falling out of the tie she’d thrown in, chopsticks in one hand, the bowl in the other.Noah watched her as he chewed, setting his bowl down after a few bites. His appetite had disappeared somewhere between the first bite and the weight of what was still unresolved.She glanced at him. “You’re not eating.”“I’m trying,” he said.She didn’t push.Another few minutes passed before April set her bowl on the coffee table and leaned back, rubbing her hand over her stomach absently, her thoughts clearly elsewhere.“So…” she said eventually, her voice tentative. “What do we do now?”Noah looked at her, unsure. “About Max?”“About
“It’s not the lie that breaks you. It’s the part where you realize they didn’t trust you with the truth.” By Unknown.Noah pulled up outside her office just as the sun was dipping out of sight. The streetlights had just flickered on. April stood on the steps like she had been waiting a while, her heels dangling from one hand, a paper coffee cup in the other… he would guess tea, probably cold. Her other arm was crossed tightly over her middle, like she was holding herself together after a long day.He would get his driver to drive her to and from work. She didn’t need the stress of traffic every day but she also didn’t need to be waiting for him.She smiled when she saw him. That little smile, the one that managed to hit him like a punch every damn time.He got out of the car without saying anything, just walked around to open the passenger door for her.“Such a gentleman,” she teased lightly as she climbed in, brushing her shoulder against his as she passed.He kissed her cheek before
“Sometimes the people you trust the most are the ones holding the knife.” By Unknown.Max couldn’t work and stormed off the set without waiting for anyone’s permission.The sound guy shouted something about ADR. The director yelled about continuity. Jenny was already on his heels, stilettos snapping against the concrete floor like gunshots.“Max!” she snapped. “You can’t just leave mid-day. This isn’t some indie shoot you can walk out of. We have two more scenes to get through before this day is wrapped up.”“I don’t give a shit about the film right now,” Max bit out, pulling the baseball cap lower over his brow as he shoved open the door to the production lot.The midday sun hit him hard, like a slap to the face. He pulled his sunglasses from his back pocket.Jenny followed him into the parking area, heels wobbling slightly on uneven gravel. He didn’t slow down. “You’re under contract.”“I’ll eat the penalty.” Nothing was going to stop him from leaving.Jenny yelled at him. “You’re ac
“Some things don’t destroy you right away. They wait—then hit you where you’re softest.” By Unknown.April woke to warmth.Not just the physical heat of the man beside her, but something deeper. Softer. Her head was tucked under Noah’s chin, his hand still resting gently over her belly. Protective. Anchoring.For a moment, she didn’t move. She just listened to the slow, even rhythm of his heart and let herself pretend the world outside didn’t exist.He stirred before she did, his arm tightening instinctively around her.“You awake?” he murmured, voice still sleep-rough and low.April nodded against his chest, nuzzling in slightly. “Mmhmm.”He kissed her hair. “I could lie here all day.”“We can’t.”“I know.” A beat. “But I want to.”They didn’t talk about the day or the night before. There was nothing left to say…not right now. They would have to work on what they had. The silence between them felt earned, like something sacred.When she finally stretched, limbs heavy and warm beneath
Noah drove them home after dinner. Poppy had made pasta, and the five of them. They sat around her small table like they were just a normal little family. Jade had insisted he help her grate the cheese. All the while, April had grinned at him.The kitchen had been warm and golden, smelling like garlic and home cooking.Now the brownstone was quiet, dimly lit with only a few lamps on. April had gone to change into pajamas. Noah waited downstairs, still half-stunned by everything that had unfolded over the last twelve hours. His body was heavy with exhaustion, but his mind was wide awake.She came down in one of his old t-shirts and a pair of soft sleep shorts, her hair loose around her shoulders. She looked young and tired and heartbreakingly beautiful.They didn’t speak at first. They just moved around each other with a new kind of understanding. She handed him a glass of water. He brushed his fingers against hers. Nothing loud. Nothing rushed. He knew he needed to talk and tell her ab
“Some truths don’t hurt because they’re lies. They hurt because they were hidden.” By Unknown.Noah was still holding April’s hand when he heard the front door open.April stirred slightly, lifting her head from where it rested lightly against his shoulder. But she didn’t let go.Footsteps followed, along with the sound of a little girl’s voice giggling and asking for snacks.Noah glanced toward the door just as Poppy stepped into the living room, one hand gripping a reusable grocery bag, the other resting protectively on the head of a small girl with bright eyes and dark blonde curls that framed her face like a halo.Jade.He’d heard the name mentioned in passing before. But he hadn’t met her.Until now.The girl looked up, curious and cautious, her tiny hand still gripping Poppy’s fingers.She was maybe three, maybe four—he couldn’t quite tell—but there was something familiar about her. The shape of her chin. The slope of her nose.And then it hit him.Max.Jade’s little face was pra
“Sometimes the silence says more than the words we’re too afraid to speak.” By Unknown.Noah stared at his phone, thumb hovering over the screen for longer than he wanted to admit. The message he’d typed was simple:Hey Poppy, Can you send me your address? Please. I need to see her. — NoahIt took less than a minute for the three dots to appear.Poppy: She’s still asleep. I’ll meet you out front so you don’t wake her. 27 Grafton. Just come.Noah was already moving.Traffic blurred past his windows as he made the drive, but he couldn’t focus on any of it. He was too busy replaying the look on Kayla’s face when he’d fired her. Too busy wondering how much April had believed. How deep the damage ran.And whether he could repair it at all.When he pulled up in front of the modest townhouse, Poppy was already standing at the edge of the porch, arms crossed, eyes sharp.He parked, cut the engine, and stepped out quietly.“Hey,” he said as he approached.Poppy nodded, her voice low. “She’s ins
“A real man can’t stand seeing his woman hurt.” By UnknownApril was asleep. Or pretending to be. Either way, she hadn’t moved from the couch in nearly an hour, her face turned into the cushion, her knees drawn up like she was trying to disappear.Poppy had covered her with a blanket, fetched her a glass of water, and then sat beside her, pretending to scroll on her phone while her mind reeled.Pregnant.April was pregnant.And she was falling apart over some batshit receptionist who had the nerve to lie to her face and twist the knife deep. Poppy didn’t need to meet Kayla to know exactly what kind of woman she was. They were a dime a dozen—pretty, venomous, and always sniffing around power like it was a perfume they could bottle for themselves.But Noah? Poppy didn’t know him that well, but she knew the way he looked at April. She’d seen it every time he was around her. Like he wanted to get her alone so he could strip her naked. No way in hell that man was screwing his receptionist