Chapter 13
Hadley
I woke up to the sound of a door closing.
Soft. Careful. The kind of quiet that's meant to be secret.
I was already half-awake, hormones or nerves or both kept me from sleeping more than three hours at a stretch, so I sat up fast, heart kicking.
The bedroom was dark except for the thin strip of hallway light under the door.
Eli was still out cold beside me, mouth open, one arm flung over his train blanket.
I slipped out of bed. Bare feet on carpet. Padded to the door and cracked it.
Sydney.
She was stepping out of Cal's room, hair mussed, lipstick gone, wearing one of his black band tees that hit mid-thigh. She paused when she saw me. Smiled. Slow. Smug. Like she'd been waiting for an audience.
Kei came out right behind her. Hood up. Face guilty. He froze when he saw me standing there in my oversized sleep shirt and shorts, hair a mess, eyes wide.
Sydney's smile widened. She didn't say anything. Just gave a little wave, like we were all in on the same joke, and walked past me toward the living room. Hips swaying. Bare legs flashing. She disappeared around the corner.
Kei looked at me. Sad. Sorry. He took one step forward.
I shook my head hard.
My vision blurred. Hot. Fast.
I turned. Shut the bedroom door. Locked it. Leaned against it. Chest heaving.
I didn't cry yet. Not out here.
I walked to the bathroom. Closed that door too.
Locked it. Sat on the floor. Back to the tub.
Knees up. And then the tears came. Quiet.
Choking. Stupid hormones. Stupid everything.
He'd kissed me yesterday. Put his hand on my stomach.
Said he wanted to be present. And then he fucked her. The same night. The same fucking night.
I pressed my palms to my eyes. Hard. Until spots danced.
It hurt more than it should have. I had no right to feel betrayed. We weren't real. We weren't anything. But the kiss had felt real. For one stupid second. And now it felt like a slap.
I stayed there until the crying stopped. Until my face felt swollen and my throat raw. Then I washed my face. Brushed my teeth. Changed into real clothes. Went out to make Eli breakfast like nothing happened.
Later that afternoon Zariah came over. She brought takeout, pad thai and spring rolls, and we sat at the little dining table while Eli colored at the coffee table with the markers she'd brought.
She was mid-story about some new dancer at the club who kept stealing tips when the suite door opened.
Cal walked in.
He looked like he hadn't slept. Hair wrecked. Same clothes from yesterday. Eyes bloodshot. He didn't look at me at first. Just went straight to the fridge. Grabbed a water. Drank half in one go.
Zariah went quiet.
I waited.
He finally turned. Looked at me. Jaw tight.
"We're leaving Vegas this weekend," he said. Flat. No hello. No nothing. "Tour's wrapping in LA. Final shows. Then break."
I set my fork down. "Okay."
"You're coming with me."
My stomach dropped. "What?"
"You're my wife. You're carrying my kid. You don't have a choice."
I laughed. Short. Bitter. "I don't have a choice?"
"No." I stared at him. "I'm not moving across the country because you say so."
"I have a life here. Eli has school. I have work..."
"You don't have shit here. Paparazzi are still outside your apartment. You can't go back. And you're not staying in this hotel forever."
Zariah spoke up. "Cal...."
He cut her off. "This isn't up for debate."
I stood. "I'm not moving to LA with you. I barely know you. Eli barely knows you. You can't just...."
"I can. And I am." He stepped closer. Voice low. Cruel. "You signed the papers. You said yes. You're married to me. You're having my baby. You come with me. End of story."
I stared at him. Chest tight. "And if I say no?"
"Then Ron gets lawyers involved. Custody shit. Media shit. You want that for Eli?"
I flinched.
Zariah stood too. "That's low, even for you."
"I'm not leaving my job," I said to Cal. "I'm not uprooting Eli again. Not for you."
He rubbed his face. "Zariah can visit. Eli can do online school. I'll pay for everything. You're not staying in this hotel forever."
"I'm not going where Sydney is."
He laughed once. Cold. "Sydney's family. You're... temporary."
The word landed like a slap.
Zariah stepped between us. "You're being cruel."
Cal ignored her. Kept his eyes on me. "My lawyer's coming tomorrow. Prenup. You sign it. We leave Saturday."
I felt the room tilt. "You're serious."
"Dead serious."
He turned to leave.
Then stopped. Turned back.
He walked out.
Door slammed.
I stood there. Shaking.
Zariah hugged me from behind. "You don't have to do this."
"I know." My voice cracked. "But I think I do."
That evening Eli was eating pasta at the kitchen island. Kei had come over to check on us, said he felt bad about earlier. He was sitting next to Eli, making stupid faces while Eli laughed around a mouthful of noodles.
I leaned against the counter. Watching them. Kei was the only one who didn't make me feel like I was taking up space. He cracked jokes. Asked Eli about trains. Didn't look at me like I was a problem.
"You okay?" he asked quiet. When Eli was distracted by his tablet.
I shrugged. "Terrified."
He nodded. "I get it."
"I'm afraid of LA. Afraid of what happens next. Afraid of him."
Kei reached over. Squeezed my hand once. "I'll be there. Always. You're not alone."
Eli slurped a noodle. "Kei's funny."
"Yeah," I said. "He is."
Kei leaned toward Eli. "Tell your sister she's safe with me. Always."
Eli looked at me. "You're safe.
I pulled my hand back. Gentle. "You say that. But you all take Sydney's side. Every time."
He looked down. "Sydney's... like a sister to us."
I laughed. Hollow. "Do siblings fuck?"
He went still.
I regretted it instantly. "I'm sorry. That was out of line."
He exhaled slow. "No. You're right to ask Sydney’s a complicated situation. Always has been. We've all... crossed lines. More than once. But she's family. We protect her."
"I get it."
He met my eyes. "But you're family now too. Whether they see it yet or not."
I didn't answer.
The door opened.
Cal walked in. Shirtless. Sweatpants low on his hips. Hair messy like he'd just woken up from a nap. Chest bare. Tattoos crawling up his ribs. Abs tight. V-line disappearing into the waistband. He looked like trouble. Like the kind of guy who broke hearts for sport.
He looked between us. Jaw clenched so hard I saw the muscle jump.
Then he smiled.
Slow. Fake.
Walked straight to me.
Wrapped his arms around my waist from behind. Possessive. Tight. Chin on my shoulder.
"Hey, babe," he murmured. Loud enough for Kei to hear. "Missed you."
I froze.
He kissed my neck. Soft. Then my cheek. Lingered.
Kei stood up slow.
Cal kept going. Hand sliding to my stomach. Rubbing slow circles.
"Thinking about the baby all day," he said. Voice low. Intimate. "How you're gonna look when you're showing. How I'm gonna fuck you slow when you're round with my kid."
My face burned. Red. Hot.
Eli looked up. Confused.
Cal kissed my neck again. "Can't wait to get you alone in LA. Bed all to ourselves. No interruptions."
Kei cleared his throat. "I'll... head out."
Cal smiled wider. "Yeah. See you, man."
Kei waved at Eli, who actually waved back, surprised, and left.
The second the door shut Cal let go. Stepped back. Face blank.
I spun on him. "What the hell was that?"
He shrugged. "Showing Kei where the lines are."
"You're unbelievable."
He laughed. Short. Cold. "I can do whatever I want, Hadley. I'm the one keeping your bed warm. Or did you forget?"
"You literally fucked Sydney last night."
"And?"
"And you kissed me yesterday. You said you wanted the baby. You said you'd be present."
"I am present. For the kid. Not for you."
My chest hurt. "You're a hypocrite."
"Call it what you want. I don't owe you fidelity. We're not in love. We're not even friends."
I stepped closer. "Then why do you care if I talk to Kei?"
"Because I don't like sharing what's mine."
"I'm not yours."
"You're wearing my ring. Carrying my kid. Living in my house. Yeah. You're mine."
Tears stung. "You're disgusting."
He smiled. Mean. "And you love it. Admit it. You want to fuck all the boys. That's your little fantasy, right? Kei. Holland. Jake. One big happy family."
The words landed like punches.
My eyes filled. Vision blurred.
I slapped him.
Hard.
Palm stung.
He didn't flinch. Just touched his cheek. Smiled wider.
I turned. Walked away.
Door to the bedroom slammed behind me.
Eli looked up from his pasta. "Hadley?"
I forced a smile. "It's okay, bud. Grown-up stuff."
But nothing was okay.
Nothing at all.