Twisted Reality (Blind Reality #2) (24 page)

“Not my place anymore. I don’t want to interrupt anything.” Stepping in, I close the door behind me. I wish I could say the place has changed, but nothing has. I think if Rob had moved out I’d rearrange or buy something new.

“You’re always welcome.”

“Unless you’re getting laid. I don’t want to walk in on that shit.”

Rob laughs and offers me something to drink. “Something mellow. I’m driving.” He returns and hands me a bottle of water, while he kicks back with a beer. I do miss hanging out with him and need to make sure our friendship doesn’t suffer because I’m married and changing my path. He’s still my best friend and I don’t want to lose sight of that.

“How’s married life? Is it worth it?”

“Is it worth what?”

“Giving up the unlimited amount of free pussy?”

I try to laugh it off, but that’s who Rob is. He uses his status as an aspiring and upcoming actor to get laid. He scores more when he’s with me, though, because he’s not afraid to mention who his best friend is.

“Definitely, as long as it’s Joey.”

“And Jules?”

Fiddling with the label on my water, I meet his gaze. “That’s why I’m here. What’s going on with you guys?”

He looks at me and shakes his head. “Nothing, man. I wouldn’t do that to you.”

“She’s not mine.”

“And I’m not hers.”

“The day Joey and I bought the house, she was here. It looked like she was sitting close to you. It makes me wonder. She’s a beautiful woman, so I wouldn’t blame you.”

“Except she’s hung up on you and pregnant. Besides, that day you showed up, she had been waiting here for hours. Every single day she was coming over to see if you were here. Jules was crying and thought my shoulder was the place to seek solace. I didn’t touch her. Never have and never will.” Rob heads back to the kitchen and returns with another beer. “How’s Joey taking that anyway?”

Twisting the cap on my bottle, I down about half the contents before setting it down on my knee. “Jules is hung on anyone who wants to give her attention. As far as Joey and the Jules situation it’s complicated, but Joey’s a strong woman and knows that I love her.”

“I think the best decision you ever made was staying with Joey. She seems nice. I’d like to get to know her.” Any doubt I had about Rob being interested in Jules, or hooking up with her is long forgotten. He’s my best friend and they don’t do that shit to friends. He knows I’d never do that to him.

“Well that’s why I’m here. In six weeks we’re getting married, or renewing our vows, and I’d like to know if you’d be my best man?”

“Hell yeah,” he says, standing. I do the same and we hug. “Are you pissed she wants a wedding?”

“It’s not her, it’s me, man. I’m so in love with her that I want to watch her walk down the aisle. I want to see her face when she says her vows to me. The first time was a joke.” I shrug. “I mean, we’re married, but her ring was tiny and there was no emotion in our vows. I want the real thing.”

“Dude, you’re pussy whipped.”

We both sit back down and I start laughing. “You know it, and I’ll fucking admit it. She’s the best damn thing that has ever happened to me.”

“What do your parents think of her?”

I glance at him and shake my head. “I don’t even know if they know I’m married. Neither of them has called for money lately, and I really have no reason to call them. I should, though. Maybe we’ll video chat with them later.”

“Better warn them first because I’m sure they’ll have a few negative things to say.”

He’s right, and that is the main reason I haven’t told them. Their lives are screwed up. I have no doubt my mom will see her money tree slipping away, and that will be Joey’s fault, and knowing my father he’d probably try to hit on her with me sitting right next to her. Hell, they don’t even know about the possibility of me becoming a father. Not that it would matter—they’ll never have anything to do with any of my children.

“You should come over for dinner,” I offer to Rob. “Come see the house, go for a swim.”

Laughing, he pulls at his shorts. “Yeah, I think I’ll do that.”

I finish the rest of my water and take my empty bottle into the kitchen. “I gotta run. I have to pick up Joey and we’re meeting with my lawyer about Jules.”

“What’d she do?”

“Court ordered paternity test. I wasn’t going to push the issue because she said it wasn’t safe for the baby, but she somehow broke in and planted a bunch of pictures and shit, and destroyed Joey’s wedding dress. I’m done with her, man.”

“See what I’m talking about,” he replies, standing. “Love makes you crazy.”

I don’t want to call what Jules has done love. You don’t hurt the people you love. I get that she feels scorned and that’s my fault for giving her false hope. When we broke up I should’ve stopped sleeping with her, answering her calls, and hanging out with her. I led her on and that has proven to come back and bite me in the ass.

“Are you nervous?” Joey asks, leaning her head on my shoulder. We’re in the office of our new lawyer, waiting to find out if Jules’ baby is mine. If it’s mine, I’ll deal, but I’m praying that it isn’t. Not because I don’t want to be a dad, but because I want Joey to be the one who gives me my first child and I really want Jules to be out of our lives once and for all. I know I created the way she is by my actions and if I could change it I would, but I can’t. I made stupid choices and I’m hoping they stop coming back to bite me in the ass.

“Yes and no.”

“Why the no?”

“Because of what Bronx told me. He’s pretty sure that I’m not the father and even questioned if she’s truly pregnant.”

“I’ve said the same thing.” Her fingers dance along my arm, roaming up and down. Her touch is soothing and something I crave daily. Joey is like my own personal source of oxygen. I don’t know how I ever considered myself to be living before I met her.

“I know, but she’s big.”

“And never touches her belly. When skin stretches it hurts, and when she was at our house she never asked you to feel the baby moving. I found that odd.”

“And that is something I didn’t even notice.”

We’re not the only ones waiting in the office. I’m trying to avoid looking around the room, not wanting to make eye contact with anyone, but it’s too late. As soon as I glance to my right there’s a woman staring and checking her phone. When she starts to stand, I sit up, causing Joey to move her head.

“Are you Josh Wilson?”

When they ask like that I’ve been tempted to say no, to see what they’d say, but I don’t want to be rude.

“I am.”

“Oh my God. I can’t believe this. Here I am waiting to file for divorce and you’re sitting right here. You’re my favorite actor.”

Joey snickers beside me and I give her a knowing look.

“Thank you.”

“And you’re Joey?”

Now it’s me laughing. She’s always joked that no one will ever recognize her so she doesn’t need a disguise when she goes out. Not that I have one on aside from a baseball hat.

“I am,” she replies, beaming. I’m smiling too because I believe this is her first fan encounter and it’s a positive one.

“Can I get a photo with the both of you?”

“Absolutely,” I say, speaking for Joey as well. “Excuse me, can you take our photo?” I ask the man sitting across from us. He seems bothered by my question, but stands anyway. The fan hands him her phone.

I stand and her arm comes around me instantly. I try to put a little separation between us, but she moves closer, clearly needing to be inside my bubble.

“What side do you want me on?” Joey asks. The fan holds her other arm out, showing Joey where she wants her.

We stand for a few seconds smiling until the man hands her the phone back.

“Wow, thank you so much.” She starts to walk away and as we’re sitting back down she turns. “Wait, you guys aren’t getting a divorce, are you?”

“No, just signing some paperwork.”

“Oh phew. You guys were my favorite couple on
Married Blind
.”

“Thanks. And hey, if you’re interested, we start filming a new show next week. It’ll be live for the most part as we get ready to renew our vows.”

“I’ll be front row and center,” she exclaims, sitting back down. Her attention is solely on her phone now.

“She’s happy,” Joey says, leaning into me again.

“Even though she’s here to get a divorce, we made her day.”

Within seconds both our phones go off with notifications. We laugh as we check and find that she’s posted our picture on Instagram.

“I’m commenting,” Joey says, much to my surprise. I’m smiling when her comment on how excited she was to meet the woman today shows up, and a quick glance across the room tells me that Joey has made her day even brighter.

“That was nice of you.” I kiss her on her forehead instead of the lips. As much as I want to do the latter I don’t want that picture out there.

Joey shrugs. “She wanted me in her photo, it’s the least I could do.”

“Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, if you’ll follow me.”

Joey and I wave at our fan and head through the door, following our attorney’s secretary. She shows us into his office where we take a seat, joining hands immediately. Regardless of the outcome, we’re in this together. And if the baby is mine, we’re filing for custody and asking the judge to take into consideration Jules’ mental state and her actions inside our home.

“I bet you’re anxious.” Dan Woodstock came highly recommended by Blaze, making my decision to sign with him easy. Since then, Joey and I have changed all of my necessary paperwork and added her name. Before, my estate—for it’s worth—was going to my parents and the community center. Now everything will go to Joey. The community center will still benefit, but it will be at her discretion in the event she’s supporting our children. I’m planning ahead, even if she isn’t yet.

Dan opens the large manila envelope, causing my heart to start racing. I’ve never been more nervous than I am now. Even when I married Joey my body didn’t shake with anticipation like this.

“I feel like I should be on the Maury Povich show,” I blurt out, squeezing Joey’s hand. Both she and Dan laugh, but I don’t find it funny. My life hangs in the balance of what that piece of paper says.

“The alleged father, Joshua Wilson, can be excluded as the biological father of the fetus here by referred to as Baby Maxwell.”

“Holy shit, she is pregnant,” Joey says.

“I’m sorry, what?” I ask, swallowing hard. I don’t think I heard him correctly.

“You’re not the father, Josh,” Joey says with tears in her eyes.

“I’m not?”

She shakes her head, biting her lower lip. “You’re not.”

I sit back in the chair, letting the words sink in.

“Holy shit.”

“Yeah, your wife already said that. I think this is cause for celebration?” Dan asks.

“Fuck yeah it is.”

We both stand and I shake his hand, probably too aggressively, but I don’t care. I’m fucking happy. And before I leave the room, I pick Joey up and spin her around.

“The baby … it’s not mine.”

“I know.” I gently let her down, and she cups my face with her hands, smiling. “No lies here, Josh, but I’m really happy.”

“Me too, babe. Now we can make our own.”

There’s a sparkle in her eye telling me that yes, we’re going to start trying. Not that we haven’t been trying this whole time, but she’s still on the pill. Maybe when we get home we can have a ceremony for getting rid of those tiny pills that keep blocking my sperm from knocking her up.