The Billionaire's Pregnant Virgin

Chapter 1: Anything for Grace

Grace's small bedroom is full of energy this evening. I sit huddled up on her bed next to Josh and we watch as she runs across her room, shoving clothes and cleats into an open suitcase. Every once in a while, she squeals in excitement.

The sound makes my stomach flip every time. It's how I know I'm making the right decision. I know I'm going to encounter judgment for the choice I've made, but it doesn't matter.

That burst of pure happiness from Grace is worth it.

"I can't believe it!" My fourteen-year-old sister pauses her frantic packing to shoot two fists into the air, a wide gleaming smile on her face. "Frakes Sports Academy—the high school for soccer players—wants me!"

"I'm so proud of you," Josh tells her, and I know it's the truth. "You've worked so hard to get here. They'd be brainless not to let you in."

Grace returns to throwing her belongings into the suitcase. "The campus is gorgeous. The fields are perfect. It's not far from the beach. I've been texting my roommate and she seems awesome. I'm so excited!"

"Don't forget to breathe, Gracie," I say with a giggle.

"I'll breathe when I'm at school!" she shouts from inside her closet.

Josh laughs along with me, putting his arm around my shoulders. He pulls me into his side. I breathe in the scent of his Old Spice deodorant, the same stuff he's been using since we were kids, and bask in the familiarity of it all.

Grace returns from the depths of her closet and shoves enough T-shirts to last her the school year into the suitcase. It's going to take some tight folding to make everything fit, but I'll do anything to help her achieve her dreams.

Anything.

"I just..." Grace tears her eyes from the suitcase and looks at me. "I can't believe it!" she repeats. "I can't believe they gave me—me—a full-ride scholarship. Frakes Sports Academy! My dream school!"

I can feel Josh going rigid against me. Nervous about what he's going to do or say, I glance up and see that his smile has become forced.

He pulls away a little and shoots me a look, his eyes telling a much different story than his lips.

I try to flash him a warning glance back, one that says, "Not in front of Grace."

Fortunately, Grace is too focused on rolling up a pair of tube socks to notice this silent conversation.

"They tried to recruit another girl on my team but she said her parents couldn't afford the tuition, so she's not going," Grace continues. "But they want me!"

Just when I think her face can't stand to smile any wider, her cheeks make do. She turns around and returns to the closet. That's when Josh leans his head in closer.

"You told her she got a full scholarship?" he mutters into my ear.

My heart sinks to the bottom of my stomach. I don't want to have this conversation with him, but here we are.

"Are you really not going to tell her how you're getting the money?" he continues. "Do you think you can hide this from her forever, Isabel?"

The muted thumps coming from the closet tell me that Grace is still in there, so I sit up straight and stare into Josh's eyes. His handsome face is betrayed by a mixture of shock and concern.

"Obviously I can't hide it forever," I whisper back. "But I don't want to tell her just now. Look at how happy she is."

As if on cue, Grace comes dancing out of the closet with her battered shin guards in tow. She wiggles around to the music in her head and drops the guards into the suitcase before returning to the closet.