Billionaire Stepbrother: Spring(5)

As she came into view, I saw her eyes go as wide as the wheel that steered the yacht. But when I looked closer underneath all that amazement, her eyes were sore, red–rimmed, and she looked positively drained.

I quickly closed the distance between us and took her in my arms in a hug and held on tight as Lex moved off to one side to give us some privacy.

“It’ll be ok,” I whispered into her ear.

A tiny sob escaped her but she quickly gained control over it; forcing it back down to where it came from.

I stepped back and released her. She was no longer her usual bubbly self but a paler version in comparison, and it looked like she’d lost a few pounds from all the worrying. God, I knew exactly how that felt.

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner? I would’ve come home,” I said and led her to one of the plush sofas.

Phoebe shrugged and her head bowed as shame washed over her face. Her eyes darted from me to Lex, who stood over in the corner.

“Stop that,” I said and took hold of her chin. “You have nothing to be ashamed of.”

“I know,” Phoebe said quietly as she shook her head.

“Oh my god! I thought you’d gone mute for a second, too!”

“Fat chance of that!” She grinned at me and we held onto each other as we fell into a fit of quiet giggles.

We quickly recovered, remembering the seriousness of the situation, and Phoebe looked over towards where Lex was now standing.

“Have you told him?”

I shook my head. “No, but I think we should. He might be able to help.”

“How on earth would he be able to help?” A quick scowl flashed across her face.

“You underestimate him… give him a chance?” I asked and she nodded an OK.

“Lex?” I called. He’d obviously been listening – the yacht was only so big – but ever the gentleman, he pretended that he hadn’t, and I had to shout a bit louder to get his full attention. “Join us, will you?”

He turned and walked over to us. He was dressed in some new white shorts – the others, of course, had never been recovered, drifting to the bottom of the Mediterranean I imagined – and a simple sky–blue t–shirt that made his tan seem darker than it actually was.

“How was your flight?” he asked, doing his best to make friendly conversation. I caught his eye and smiled at him for making the effort.

“Amazing, I’ve never flown first class before.” After a beat Phoebe took in her surroundings and said more softly, “and I’ve never been on a yacht before, either. Thank you for this, Lex.”

“No problem. Anything for a friend of Aimee’s.” A hint of awkwardness filled the cabin, but it was quickly dispersed by Lex’s full smile.

“How about I get us all a drink and we can figure this thing out, whatever it is, together?” he said and got up.

“I can’t,” Phoebe said, interrupting his stride towards the mini–bar, “that’s the problem… I’m pregnant, and I think I’m about to get kicked out of Oxford.”

Lex fixed her a glance and arched his eyebrow and said, “More for me then,” as he filled his glass.

His lack of a response, no sudden gasp, seemed to calm the room, and I watched as Phoebe visibly relaxed. With a few simple words he’d told her that she was not in enemy territory.

“Aimee? You want anything?”

I shook my head, and he quickly re–joined us.

I didn’t know where to start. How could I help Phoebe? I wanted so badly to make everything OK for her. She’d been there by my side when I needed her, but now that the tables had turned, I felt I had little to offer her – no words of wisdom, no proper course that I could guide her onto.

So instead I just took her hand and waited for her to open up.

“Well, at least we all know it’s not mine, ‘cause that would’ve been awkward,” Lex said, breaking the silence. He lifted his glass in the air. “So, cheers to that!”

I smacked him hard on his upper arm, causing his drink to slosh over the sides of the glass.

“Too soon?” he asked, grinning like a man who’d just gotten away with murder. Phoebe’s mouth dropped open into a wide circle, but suddenly her eyes creased with glee, and she started laughing. It was just what we all needed, and I sat looking at them both and rolling my eyes.

“So, OK. You’re up the duff… who’s the father?”

“Lex!” I interrupted. He really did not have any tact.

He put his hand up, “Look, you know I don’t beat around the bush. Phoebe can get all the sympathy she needs from you. But I’m sure if I leave you two to come up with a solution to prevent her from getting kicked out of school, nothing will get done. Plus, I can be a straightforward sounding board… no bullshit tolerated. I solve billion pound problems for a living remember.”