Chapter 64 :
Chapter 64 :
\-ZOEY ASHFORD-
A MONTH LATER
I moved on from the trauma Chase put me in. I didn't let it affect me. In fact, I stopped being curious.
It's been a month and I stopped wanting to know more.
Wes had been coming around a lot lately. A little too much, if I’m being honest.
It’s been a month of random visits.
“just checking in,” as he liked to call it, but I knew better.
Every time he showed up, it was with something new in his hands—a bouquet, a box of snacks, sometimes even baby clothes that were way too early to be buying.
Chase came around too, though not as often. His visits were quieter, colder. He rarely said much, just hovered for a few minutes, asked if I needed anything, then left.
I couldn’t tell which of the two was worse—Wes, who acted like we were building a future, or Chase, who acted like there’d never been a past.
That morning, the bell rang again, and I already had a feeling who it was.
I dragged myself off the couch, hand resting instinctively on my small but growing bump, and went to open the door.
“Wes,” I muttered, not even surprised.
He grinned, holding up two big shopping bags and a couple of colorful toys. “Surprise.”
I blinked. “You really don’t get tired, do you?”
“Not when it comes to my baby,” he said with a laugh and brushed past me before I could stop him.
“Wes..” I tried to block his way, but he’d already gone straight to my room.
By the time I followed him in, he was busy unloading the bags. A pink teddy bear here, a stuffed bunny there, and what looked like another cradle accessory. My room already looked like a mini daycare center.
“Don’t you think this is getting… excessive?” I asked, crossing my arms.
He turned to me, unfazed. “You can never be too prepared. And besides, I’m convinced it’s going to be a girl.”
I raised a brow. “And if it’s a boy?”
“Then I’ll return everything and start over,” he said with a shrug. “But I really want a girl..one who looks just like you. Same eyes. Same smile. Same pretty face.”
I rolled my eyes so hard I thought they might stay that way. “You’re ridiculous.”
He just smiled and kept arranging the toys. “You’ll thank me later.”
“Sure,” I muttered under my breath before turning and walking out.
Wes is trying to get in my sift side. Not too hard and not too little as well. He's just trying to be there and if I'm right, he's getting back on my soft spot.
Sometimes, he becomes over dramatic and says things he shouldn't be saying.
But, I'm in to say, he's the only one who openly and genuinely cares about me.
Mariah was in the living room, sitting cross-legged on the couch with her laptop. The moment she saw my expression, she smirked.
“Wes again?” she asked without looking up.
I dropped beside her with a sigh.
“He’s turning my room into a toy store. I swear, if I see one more stuffed animal, I’m going to scream.”
Mariah chuckled. “He’s trying.”
“Trying too hard,” I said, rubbing my forehead. “He’s been talking about second chances, and I’m just… I don’t know. I can’t keep doing this. Not when Chase is acting like I don’t even exist.”
Mariah closed her laptop and gave me her full attention. “Still the same with him?”
I nodded. “Yeah. He comes around, says a few words, stares at me like I’m a stranger, and leaves. It’s like he’s made peace with not caring. And somehow that’s worse than if he yelled at me.”
“Maybe that’s his way of dealing with things,” she offered.
I snorted. “Dealing with things? By pretending I’m invisible?”
She laughed lightly. “Well, it’s better than him losing his mind like Wes.”
“Barely,” I muttered. “Honestly, I just want both of them to stop coming. Can you please tell them that? Because if I do, I’ll sound like the ungrateful pregnant woman.”
Mariah grinned and leaned back. “Too late for that.”
I frowned. “What do you mean?”
"You agreed to them taking responsibility.. if I do that now, it will mean breaching of contract. This is to last until you give birth.. So, there is no way I'm stopping the guys from doing what they know how to do best"
I let out a soft childish cry, grumbling some inaudible and meaningless words.
Mariah laughed.. Of course it's so funny because this is hell for me. They are both making me go crazy.
"Chase is good, Wes is good. From the look of things, I think you will eventually turn out to being the first woman to get married to two guys. What if your baby ends up getting both DNAs.."
I let out a sarcastic laugh.
"Is that supposed to be a joke?"
She smiled and shrugged.
"By the way, I think Wes is hitting the jackpot. He'd make a good father don't you think? Do you still have feelings for either of them?" She asked.
"Don't start, Mariah. Don't even start" I said to her, grabbing the remote control and turning on the channel.
"I'm being serious, Zoey and I want you to answer me. You might try to deny it, but I know that they still have an effect on you. I mean, You have only known Chase and Wes, it's impossible to kill your feelings for them. So tell me, who is it this time?"
Before I could answer, the doorbell rang again.
"Excuse me, it could be the delivery guy"
"Can't wait to have my way around the pizza" I said excitedly.
Mariah got up to check, and I followed her with a small groan.
She opened the door..and there he was.
Chase.
He stood there, hands shoved in his pockets, expression unreadable.
“Chase?” Mariah blinked. “What are you doing here?”
He glanced past her, eyes briefly landing on me before returning to her.
“Wes texted me. Said I should come.”
Mariah’s brows furrowed. “He what?”
I looked from her to Chase, completely lost.
“Wait… Wes texted you?”
Chase nodded slowly.
“Yeah. Said it was important.”
We all stared at one another for a few seconds. Mariah still holding the door, me halfway between confusion and irritation, and Chase standing there like this was the last place he wanted to be.
Something about the whole thing didn’t sit right. He has never been in good terms with Wes? Why would Wes call him over? For what reason and without informing us first.
What is it he wants to talk about? What is so important?