Chapter 173 Happy for you
I smile at Amelia and Alonso cutting the cake at their baby shower. She looks radiant, and I know how much they wanted this baby.
Our parents are probably having whiplash what with three babies on the way only months apart. It makes me feel happy though, now I know my kid will grow up with people that will love him. It's kind of awesome.
It's also kind of shitty and sad because while my cousins are doting on their pregnant wives, I don't even know where Miguel is.
I've called Valentina, but she only picked up once to tell me that Miguel is in a safe place and that I shouldn't worry.
How the fuck could I not worry?
He's clearly unwell, and I think it might be because of Ben, but I'm not really sure. All that I hope is, is that Valentina doesn't cut me off. I am carrying Miguel's baby, and I'm standing on his promise that we will be together one day.
Ben's death is not trending anymore, either, maybe it will flare up again once Jeffrey's trial starts.
"I think I just ate a two-hundred-dollar canape." Simon whispers when he walks over to me from the snack table. "What was the budget for this do?"
I smile. I love that T.J. invited him as his plus one. And I also love it that nobody even raised an eyebrow when T.J. introduced Simon as his boyfriend.
The same guy who has never brought someone over before.
"You and T.J. look really cute together." I nudge him in the side playfully.
"Yeah, well, he's really good at sucking dick for someone who claims he's never done it before."
I spit the juice I was drinking back up into my glass, coughing as Simon lightly thumps me on the back.
"You good?" He asks, genuinely concerned.
"Jesus, Simon." I cough some more. "Give a girl more of a warning before you say some shit like that."
He smiles smugly. "This is all because of you, you know that right? I would have never met T.J. otherwise."
He's probably right, but stupid me believes that if people are meant to be together, they will always find their way back to one another.
That's what I hope for Miguel and me. Somehow, some way, we will be together again.
"So this is real between you two?" I want to know. "No running, hiding. You're his boyfriend? You gonna take care of my brother?"
Because that's what's T.J. always been for me. My big brother always looking out for me, I'd be happy if he was happy too for once.
"Since you ask so nicely." He winks at me and throws his arm over my shoulder, his other hand resting on my stomach. "Now what is our own little baby doing in there? I think she also wants a lavish baby shower, and we will get her all the gifts."
"What if it's a boy?" I laugh.
"No! We want ribbons and frills!" Simon pulls his face. "Boys are so boring!"
I laugh, happy that he's integrated into my family and for my cousin and his wife who deserves all of this. Sad, because I wish I had Miguel here who would dote on me too.
That night, I'm already dozing off, but jump when my phone rings, thinking it might be Miguel or Valentina with an update. Instead, it's Amelia.
"Hey." I switch on my bedside lamp. "Is everything okay?"
"Madison, I'm so sorry! We are trying to find out who the hell took that picture that was at the shower."
I frown. "What are you talking about?"
"Oh, you don't know?" She sighs on the other side. "There's a picture of you on that sleazy gossip site. The public knows you're pregnant, Madz."
Shit.
"I'm gonna check it out, bye."
I don't wait for her to say goodbye, instead I end the call abruptly and type my name into the searchbar on Instagram.
My heart sinks when all the damn tabloid articles pop up.
Madison Smith knocked up.
Carrying the enemy's baby.
The list goes on. The picture is actually very pretty, with Simon's hand my stomach. The problem is, is that it was clearly taken at the baby shower, so someone there decided to take this photo and most likely sold it.
The speculation on who the father is, is crazy. Most people seem to think it's Ben's baby.
Imagine if that was true.
What will they say if they find out the father was Miguel instead? The media is going to have a field day with that one.
Just when I thought the hiding was over, I'm back out into the spotlight.
I'm right back at the place I was in before I left for California. But I can't keep on running away.
This time I'm staying, hoping Miguel will run to me instead.