�Hey, Antoinette,� Valondra said grinning.
�Sorry to bother ya while you�re studying, but can we talk?�
�Uh, sure. What�s up?�
�A lot.� Antoinette walked in and closed the door.
�Oh, you just missed Justin.�
�Yeah; Storm said.�
Valondra nodded. �So what�s up? I should start charging from my time and advice.� She laughed, but Antoinette just gave a slight chuckle. �Ok, so what is it? What has you coming for my expertise?�
�Something big.�
�Like what?� Antoinette just looked at her. �I can�t help ya if ya don�t tell me the situation.�
�Right.�
�Something�s got ya all worked up. Something happen at work?�
�No.�
�Something with Justin?�
�It involves him.�
�So we�re getting somewhere then. What is it?�
�Um�I�m pregnant.�
�Oh. Ok, but I thought you and Justin haven�t had sex for awhile.�
�We haven�t.�
�Oh.� She just looked at her as she thought about what she said. �Oh!�
�Yeah.�
�So, um, who?�
�Doug from NYPD.�
�Right.� Valondra sighed. �I don�t know why I always get myself in these situations.�
�If ya don�t want to help I understand. I just thought�� She went to open the door.
�T, I�ll help ya. Well the best I can.� Antoinette looked at her. �How far along are you?�
�Almost a month and a half.�
�Alright�um�so apparently Justin has no idea.�
�Not a clue.�
�I thought you loved Justin?�
�I did. I do. I don�t know anymore.�
�Well Justin loves you so why Doug and not JT?�
�I just couldn�t give myself to him anymore. I guess I just don�t love him that way like he thinks I do.�
�How do you love him?�
�The way you two learned to love each other�just as a friend.�
�Ok; nothing less and nothing more.�
�No.�
�How did Doug come into the picture?�
�Before Rachel�s wedding.�
�Wow!�
�Justin was out of town; we went out partying, got drunk and ended up in bed.�
�And ya kept it going for two years?�
�Yeah.�
�I don�t�I don�t know. If ya plan on keeping this baby that belongs to Doug ya can�t keep it a secret from Justin. He�s going to get suspicious when ya start packing on the pounds.�
�I plan on keeping it. I�ve always wanted a baby.�
�I�m glad you�re keeping it.�
�Yeah.� She sighed. �I never thought it would happen.�
�I thought the same thing, but my baby doesn�t belong to another man.� Antoinette looked at her. �You have to tell Doug you�re having his baby and you definitely have to tell Justin what you did. The truth shall set ya free.�
�Yeah.�
�You�re not going to feel better unless you do. If you don�t tell Justin yourself he�s going to find out some other way. Like finding the prenatal vitamins in your purse or your extra eating.�
�I know.�
�Just be honest and truthful with your boyfriend�friends.� Antoinette didn�t say anything. �It�s the best I can do right now, Toni. I got this huge test Friday, I�m getting married Saturday, and I�m having my own baby. I just can�t give great advice right now with all this shit going on with me. I�m sorry.�
�It�s alright. It�s good advice right now.�
�After the test and the wedding come try me.� She nodded. �It�s not that I don�t want to help, it�s just that I got a million things to do this week.�
�It�s understandable.�
�I�m glad you understand.�
�I�ll think about what you said.�
�Please do so. I really want you to tell the truth. JT deserves that much if not your love.�
�Yeah.� She walked to the door. �Thank you.�
�You�re my friend and it�s what I do, but you�re welcome. Anytime.� She watched Antoinette walk out and then went out on the balcony thinking.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Valondra sat on her bed to finish her work as she heard, �Loni!� She smiled at the sound of Nickolas� voice. She got up and walked out to the hall, but didn�t see him. She walked to the other end of the house and went down the steps to the kitchen. She got to the bottom and saw Nickolas still sitting at the table with his lawyer, Casey Keating. Nickolas looked up and smiled.
�Did you call me?� Valondra asked.
�Yeah,� Nickolas said. �Come here.� He reached for her and she walked over to him, taking his hand. He looked at Casey and winked as he put his one arm around Valondra�s waist and a hand on her stomach. He smiled as she put her arm around his neck and kissed him.
�What�s up?�
�Well, um�� He sighed.
�What is it?�
�We just have some papers for ya to sign,� Casey stated.
�What kind of papers?� Valondra wanted to know and Nickolas looked at her.
�Just something before the wedding,� Nickolas replied hesitating a moment before handing the papers to her. She took them from him and began to read the first page. She didn�t even get half way through before she stopped and looked at Nickolas.
�Wh-Wh-What is this?�
�It�s a prenuptial agreement,� Casey answered.
�I know what the hell it is and I ain�t talking to you. What the hell is this for, Carter?�
�Casey thought it�d be best,� Nickolas stated.
�Casey, huh? But what about your fianc�e? Or are you marrying him now?� She threw the papers on the table and walked from him.
�Loni, please don�t be mad.�
�I ain�t mad, Baby. You�ve seen me mad and this ain�t me mad. Ya want to know what this is? This is me pissed. Pissed, because you didn�t talk to me about this and listened to your stupid ass lawyer. He put you up to this. I know he did, because why else would you do it.�
�Princess, I just��
�Don�t �Princess� me, Carter, alright? We have been engaged for two years pretty much and not once did either of us mention a prenup. And why is that? Because we trust each other and we love each other too much to get a divorce. It�s April 1st and our wedding is Saturday. Why mention a prenup now. You never mentioned it when we were going to get married last July. Don�t you trust me anymore?�
�Of course I trust you.�
�Right.� She made a disgusted face and nodded. �What does it say?� Nickolas looked at her. �Go on tell me. I have a right to know if ya want me to sign those damn papers.�
�It says that in the event of a divorce we�ll both leave the marriage with what we went into it. I�ll keep what I had and you�ll keep what you had.�
�All I ever wanted was you and you know that. I don�t want your money or your cars or house or anything you have. I just want you and your love. I don�t care if you were the poorest man in the world I�d still love you and want to be with you no matter what.�
�It also states that Nick is entitled to half of your assets each year and he gets the house,� Casey stated and Valondra looked at them both.
�Half? And my house?� She was hoping she heard him wrong.
�Yes half and your house,� Casey said. �After the divorce he is entitled to half of what you make each year.�
�You�re shittin� me right?�
�I�m afraid not, Loni.�
She looked at Nickolas. �You better tell me he�s joking.� Nickolas just looked at her. �I can�t believe this. Who wrote this shit anyway?�
�Nick agreed what went into it,� Casey said.
�Casey, I�ll handle this,� Nickolas said.
�You don�t have to,� Valondra said as tears filled her eyes and she picked up the prenuptial papers. �You can take these papers and shove them up your ass.� She ripped the papers in fourths and threw them at Nickolas. �And one more thing, I am certainly the hell not marrying you on Saturday or in the future�ever.� She ran upstairs.
�Thanks a lot, Casey,� Nickolas said as he went upstairs after Valondra. He heard the bedroom door slam as he got to the top and ran down the hall to the room. He went to open the door, but it was lock. �Loni, can we please talk?� He knocked on the door. �I�ll explain everything to you if you just let me in.�
�Now what did you do?� Trixie asked opening her bedroom door and looking at Nickolas.
�Nothing.� He tried the door. �Lon, come on. I had nothing to do with it. I swear. Nothing. Ok, maybe a little part. Please, Princess, open the door.�
�You must�ve really pissed her off.�
�Something like that, but it was all in good fun.�
�Why don�t ya just use the balcony doors?�
�Because when she�s pissed at me she locks both doors so I can�t get in.�
�I understand.�
�Good.�
�Good luck.�
�I�ll need it.� Trixie grinned and went in her room, as Nickolas continued knocking on Valondra�s door. �Princess, please open the door. We can forget about the whole thing, because I want to marry you. I love you enough and I trust you enough to marry you. Nothing will change that�ever. It was just a joke and I�m sorry if I upset you and I want to make it right.� He tried the door again.
�Nick!� Trixie yelled.
�What?�
�Come quick! It�s Loni!�
Nickolas ran into Trixie�s room, but didn�t see her.
�Where are ya?�
�Out on the balcony! Hurry!�
He ran out and saw Trixie and laying beside her was Valondra.
�Loni!� He ran over to her. �Go call an ambulance.�
�Right away.� Trixie got up and ran back inside.
�What�s all the commotion for?� Storm asked as she and Lance stepped from her room. �Oh my God! Loni!� She ran over.�
�Princess, please open your eyes,� Nickolas said. �Come on. I�m sorry for what happened downstairs with Casey.�
�What happened?� Lance asked.
�I don�t know. We got into a silly jokeful argument and she ran up here. I came up after then Trixie came out here. She then called for me. I-I-I don�t know what happened.�
�No she�s not awake!� Trixie snapped into the phone and they looked. �I don�t know what happened.�
�Forget it, damn it!� Nickolas said. �I�ll take her myself.� He picked Valondra up and went inside, as the other three followed.
�Nick, where are you going?� Storm asked.
�To the fucking hospital,� Nickolas replied. �To wait for an ambulance you�ll be waiting forever. It�ll be faster if I take her.�
�I�ll drive,� Lance said. �You worry about Lon.�
�Never mind,� Trixie said into the phone and turned it off as they went downstairs. They followed Nickolas outside and to his truck. �Nick, give Lance your keys.�
�I�m driving,� Nickolas said putting Valondra in the passenger seat.
�But you shouldn�t,� Storm stated.
�Well I am.� He got in and closed the door. They watched him drive off and looked at each other.
�You two follow him,� Trixie said. �I�ll lock up and meet you there.�
�Ok,� Lance said, as he and Storm got in his car and left. Trixie walked back to the house as Trace walked out with Casey.
�Where�d everyone go?� Trace asked.
�To the hospital,� Trixie replied. �Something happened to Loni. I�m going to lock up then we can go.�
�Is she ok?� Casey asked.
�I don�t know.�
�I told Nick the prenup was a bad idea given her condition.�
�A prenup?�
�Yeah, it was supposed to be a fun April Fools joke he played on Loni.�
�Some fun,� Trace said.
�Yeah,� Casey said. �Just tell Nick to call me and let me know how she�s doing.�
�Alright,� Trixie said. �Let�s go, Trace.�
�Yeah,� Trace said following Trixie to her car after she locked the door.
CHAPTER 18
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