Doctor's Baby (The Billionaire's Secret Book 8)
By: R. S. ElliotI was grateful for both of my parents, and even if I wouldn’t admit it out loud, I liked these family dinners. They were the only source of family that I had right now, which I was mostly fine with. I just hadn’t felt surrounded by people since all of my friends left. When they left, it made me realize how bare my life was.
“That’s why you still love us,” Dean replied before clapping his hands together. “So, can we eat? I’m starving, and I need some carbs.”
“Have at it,” Mom said, smiling as she watched us fight over the spatula to get the first slice of lasagna. She shared a smile with her husband, reaching out to give his hand a gentle squeeze.
After driving for half of the day and working for the other half, I was relieved to finally eat something that wasn’t from a cafeteria or a vending machine. I ate away at my large slice of lasagna as Dad talked about one of our cousins getting married. I wasn’t that in tune with the rest of my family. I just cared about my parents and my brothers. It wasn’t like I had a lot of extra time to visit random cousins or whatever.
“She’s finally settled down and happy. I’m hoping that’ll happen for the three of you. How have none of you found a nice girl to settle down with yet?” Dad asked us.
I glanced around the table at Dean and Jared. We were all single, and I had a feeling that had a lot to do with our jobs. We focused so much on our work that we put relationships on the back burner. Who knew when or if we would settle down?
Jared and Dean laughed at Dad’s question, shaking their heads. “The gym is my girlfriend,” Dean replied.
I forced a chuckle as my mind automatically shifted to Jenna, wondering where and how she met the father of her kid, who was admittedly cute. She had the brightest golden hair and the sweetest smile. I hated seeing sick or hurt kids, but she at least had some spirit left.
“I’m too busy enlightening the minds of hungover college students,” Jared replied.
I picked at my lasagna as their voices faded into the back of my thoughts. I wondered if Jenna was as happy with her guy as my friends were with each other. Sawyer and Amelia were living in their fancy place in Italy, enjoying life in luxury. Charlotte and Harrison were building their careers and their family. They all seemed so happy.
I was happy too. I supposed that I was a different kind of happy that wasn’t as intense and vibrant as their kind of happy. I was satisfied for now like my brothers. I just had to stay busy, whether that meant going to work, clubs, or my parents’ house for dinner. That was the rotation of my life.
Once everyone finished off Mom’s infamous coconut chocolate pie, I got ready to head home so that I could get some sleep before my next shift. I hugged my parents goodbye, exchanged more insults and quips with my brothers, and then headed home. My mind was still racing, so I wasn’t sure how restful my sleep was going to be tonight.
I drove into my neighborhood, turning into my cement driveway to park in front of my house. I had a nice brick house in an upscale neighborhood with a trimmed front yard and a front porch made out of white-painted wood.
I got out of my car, beginning to make my way up the driveway when a voice caught my attention. I stopped and looked at the house next to mine, my eyes widening slightly in shock when I saw a car parked in the driveway. That house had been on the market not too long ago. I guessed whoever bought it moved in while I was away at the conference.
The voice sounded again, drawing my eyes to the open kitchen window that faced my house. I didn’t mean to be nosy, but I couldn’t help but look when I saw a person move in front of the window. Shock struck me like lightning when I recognized the person as Jenna.
I blinked my eyes a few times, feeling convinced that my eyes were playing tricks on me. She couldn’t possibly be my new neighbor. I watched the window until she moved in front of it again with her phone held against her ear. She was indeed my new neighbor somehow.
I didn’t know what weird trick the universe was playing on me right now, but I had no idea how to react to it. I didn’t know whether to be happy or uneasy that Jenna was living right next to me. We had a bit of history together, so it would be odd seeing her nearly every day. I wondered if her husband was home.
