Free Crossing the Line by Annabelle Eaton Page B

bothers
me.
    Thankfully I’m close enough to hear what
they’re saying so I tilt my head, take the low road, and listen to their
conversation. Isabel asks him a question about his company, sounding a lot more
interested than what she actually is – which is not at all.
    “So you built that all up by yourself?” she
asks, widening her eyes as if she’s really impressed. She can probably see
pound signs flashing in front of her face. I want to chime in and tell her that
although he’s done amazingly well building it up from very little he’s still
having an investor to grow the company quicker. Yes, I want to take the lowest
road.
    I grip my glass and take a huge swig,
draining the remainder of my drink and wincing. “Can I have another one?” I ask
the bartender. “Three shots of vodka this time too, please.” His eyebrows shoot
up, but he says nothing.
    “I hope you’re taking it easy,” Dad
whispers in my ear, making me jump a little. Do they all just fucking appear?
“We don’t want a repeat of the Christmas party now, do we.”
    “Of course,” I reply, smiling sweetly. He
nods and walks off. I wonder how often one of them is going to check up on me?
    “So do you plan on having children in the
future?” she asks Aden. I almost choke and turn to face them. There is no way
I’m missing the expression on his face. His mouth falls open very slightly, but
it’s still enough to give me satisfaction, and he scratches the back of his
neck.
    I feel a little thrill shoot through me at
watching him squirm until I realise how much I want to know. Does he want
children? I’ve never really wanted any, but then I’ve only been around Oliver’s
devil, draw over your clothes and pour juice in your shoes, children and
they’re walking contraception adverts.
    God I can barely take care of myself so how
the hell would I look after a tiny person? Maybe when I get out of here I’ll
learn, but would that mean I’ll one day be capable of keeping a child alive?
You don’t get many chances at that. It’s not as if you can just pop to the pet
shop to replace it.
    Aden gulps. “I haven’t thought about it
much, but I’d like to have children, one day.” I didn’t expect that at all. He
seems like the kind of guy that enjoys his freedom too much. What does that
mean for us? Whoa I’m getting ahead of myself. We’re not together.
    Isabel smiles and flutters her eyelashes at
him. “I want children too. At least three.
    Don’t
laugh. Do not laugh. As hard as I try to keep a
straight face, my lips pull up at the sides. She sounds like she’s interviewing
him. I actually feel embarrassed for her. What’s wrong with dating and seeing
who is right for you? And why such a fucking rush?
    Wait. My blood turns cold. Aden wants
children in the future. What if he wants three? I gulp. This would actually be
the worst thing in the world. I would have to move to America. I should have
just gone with Christie when she moved home after Uni. At least it’s an option
if Aden proposes to my sister.
    I frown to myself and down my Cosmo the
second it’s placed on the bar. Stupid Isabel, Aden and their three children.
She’ll be a great mum and wife too. She’s more maternal than Mum is and I know
she’d do more with her children that what our parents did with us.
    Is Aden really looking for someone like
her, though? He eventually wants children so am I just a bit of fun until he’s
ready to settle down with someone like Isabel? I groan in frustration.
Eventually, I won’t be what he wants.
    Once Aden escapes I hold my breath, hoping
he’ll come back and speak to me, but he is immediately cornered by three men I
don’t know. He clearly does, though; they chat and laugh. I need him to
take me upstairs now and then tell me he doesn’t want to marry my sister.
    I stumble off the stool, beyond pissed off
and frustrated. “Shit,” I mumble to myself as I grab the bar for support. The
world wobbles and that gives the room way to