Chapter Ten
Mia
The day of the party at Austin’s boss’s house dawns bright and chilly.
I am still queasy, but I am living with it, knowing that eventually the virus will pass.
Except it has been almost five days and I am starting to get nervous.
Stomach viruses typically last a short time.
Food poisoning isn’t possible. So there isn’t much of a reason for the nausea to persist except for the one I don’t want to think about.
So I don’t. Not yet. I will still hope for possibility that this is temporary and not life altering.
If I look ahead, thank goodness things are getting closer to wrapping up with my ex-boss. On Wednesday I will go to the city and go through trial preparation against Parker, and the thought doesn’t help my stomach issues, that is for certain.
I have no problem telling what I saw, what I taped, or what I heard and reported to the police.
I just dread the cross-examination. It is brutal and ugly and I hate the whole process.
But I know the district attorney will go over the usual suggestions: give short answers, only answer what they ask, don’t go off on tangents, and tell the truth.
Right. While Parker glares daggers at me across the room.
I place a hand over my stomach and breathe in deep.
It is time to get dressed. When asked, Austin insisted I should be casual for Dan’s party, but I am meeting Summer Michelle, a woman I’ve admired from afar since her days on Star Power.
Her voice, her talent, and how she rose above a viral video that could have derailed her career but somehow only made it stronger, all are things to respect.
Plus, she is famous. It is a cool thing, and I want to look good.
Not to mention I am meeting Austin’s friends and coworkers, and I hope to make a decent impression.
So I choose a pair of jeans in deference to dressing casual, and my favorite cold-shoulder shirt and a pair of black boots.
I pull my hair into a deliberately messy bun and add makeup to cover my pale cheeks.
And then I head to meet up with Austin in the kitchen.
* * *
Austin
I pull up to Dan’s, a white house with black shutters, and from the cars along the street, we aren’t the first ones there. Mia was quiet on the way, and I am worried she still doesn’t feel well. But she doesn’t seem to want to talk, and I give her space until we pull up to the curb and I park.
“You ready to go in?” I ask.
“Yep.” She flashes me an obviously forced smile.
“Hey.” I place a hand over hers. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
She nods. “I am. And I’m excited to meet Summer… and of course your friends. So let’s go!”
I shoot her a concerned look, not really buying the I’m fine claim, but what can I do?
I lead her to the house, and before we can open the door, it flings open.
“Austin!” Dan says. “I saw you coming up the walk and I wanted to greet you and your pretty guest.”
I glance at Mia, who blushes at the compliment. “Dan, this is Mia Atwood. Mia, meet Dan Wilson, my boss.”
“A pleasure,” Mia says with a smile. “Thank you for having me over.”
“The pleasure is mine. Come in, you two. Everyone is in the kitchen. You know how it is,” he says to me. “We all gravitate there.” He laughs and gestures inside the house.
I lead Mia toward the kitchen and family room, where my friends and coworkers have congregated.
I introduce Mia to Ava Talbott, Jared Wilson, Dan’s son, and Ben Hollander. The other members of the team, Shane Landon and Tate Shaw, are away doing freelance work, which makes it a small party.
“Where’s Summer?” I ask, knowing how much Mia wants to meet the pop star and Ben’s fiancée.
“I’m here!” Summer strides out from the back of the house, a wide smile on her face.
With her jet-black hair and stunning, wide brown eyes, she is beautiful. These days I prefer petite blondes with green eyes, but I can appreciate Ben’s good fortune.
“It’s good to see you!” I pull her into a friendly hug.
“You, too.”
Ben wraps an arm around her shoulders.
“Summer, this is my—Mia Atwood.” I’m not sure what I was about to say, and I quickly change the subject. “Mia’s a huge fan.”
Summer flushes. “I still can’t get used to people saying that,” she murmurs.
“It’s well deserved,” Mia says. “I’m so glad to meet you. I love your music.”
“Thank you.”
“Hey, man, let’s let the women talk. I want to catch up,” Ben says. “I hear Dan has some fun new gadgets in his office. Let’s go check things out in there.”
I shoot Mia a questioning glance, and she nods, a big smile on her face. Obviously she is feeling better because she definitely doesn’t mind being left with Summer.
I give her shoulder a squeeze, a gesture that I need more than her, if only to reassure myself she is fine. Her mood lately has been off, at least since she’s been sick.
Ben and I each grab a bottle of beer before I follow Ben out of the kitchen and down the hall, past the bathroom to Dan’s office. He broke down a wall, making two rooms into one large room so that when he works from home, he can still monitor things going on with work.
I roll the bottle between my hands, not really in the mood for a drink.
“It is good to be home,” Ben mutters, sinking into a chair across from Dan’s big oak desk.
“I bet. Where are you staying?” Ben and Summer both have apartments in the city.
“My place is bigger, so we moved in there.” Ben tips back the bottle for a sip. “But I want to find something larger. More space, more … I don’t know. Windows.” Ben laughs.
“So what’s it been like?” I ask my friend. “Insane fans and living out of hotels?”
“Pretty much but I have to tell you, as long as I’m with Summer, it’s all good.” Ben’s satisfied smile says it all. He is settled and happy with his choices.
“I’m happy for you. Where are Dan’s new gadgets?” I ask, glancing around the room and seeing only the usual monitors, cabinets, and documents scattered around.
Ben grins. “Actually I just wanted to catch up and didn’t know how much you’d talk around your guest.”
He eyes me carefully, but I don’t flinch, unwilling to give up information to my suddenly nosy friend.
Ben rolls his shoulders and lets out a heavy sigh. “Fine. Let’s get specific. Dan tells me you had some issues with the ex? You wrap that up okay?”
“I did. Thank fucking God.” I blow out a calm, relieved breath.
The kind I’ve been exhaling since taking care of Kayla and receiving a call from the cops that they booked her along with her boyfriend for selling and possession.
Ben nods his approval. “And how is your cute kid?”
“Good.” At the mention of Bailey, I grin. “But she’ll be better when I can bring her home.” I explain Mia’s current situation to my friend. “I just want that wrapped up before I take Bailey from my parents. Just to be safe. But I’ve been visiting often.”
“I get that.” Ben tips the bottle, taking a sip of his beer. “So what about you?”
“What about me?” I ask warily. What else have we been talking about if not my life? What else is there?
“So last time someone brought a strange woman to one of Dan’s parties—”
“You were protecting her?” I fill in the end of the sentence before Ben can leap to another conclusion.
He snorts. “I was going to say, I wanted her. And I’m wondering what’s going on with you and Mia.”
I blow out a long breath. I place the bottle down on a table and meet Ben’s gaze. Obviously my friend isn’t going to let me off the hook, and it isn’t like I couldn’t use a friend to talk to. “If I was going to get serious about anyone, it would be Mia. But—” How do I explain?
“You’re still fighting the inevitable. I remember those days well. I got it.” Ben shakes his head in definite understanding and commiseration.
It isn’t the same thing. Ben’s history and issues were with Summer herself. My problems are tangled up with betrayal and hurt and a little girl I can’t afford to put in the middle of something and have her get hurt.
“I can’t let myself get serious again. I can’t risk Bailey getting attached and me deciding it’s not working out.”
Ben rolls his eyes. “You’re certainly very protective of Mia, considering you brought her here when you could have just had someone watch the house.”
I frown at my friend.
“I’m telling you, all the fighting you are doing with yourself? It’s not worth it. You could have a real family, you know?”
I swallow hard. I know. And that is what scares me. Having it. Trusting it. Relying on it. And having the rug ripped out from under me once more.
“I’ve done the family thing once, Ben. Not doing it again.”
Except Mia isn’t Kayla, a voice in his head tells me. And my friend’s knowing shake of his head lets me know he is thinking the same thing.
* * *
Mia
I listen to Summer talk about her tour, the adjustments to living on the road, out of hotel rooms, the fans, the venues…
all things I want to hear about but none I can concentrate on because the nausea has returned.
And out of the blue, I know. This can’t possibly be a stomach virus.
I know better. I wouldn’t suddenly want to throw up after five days if it was.
Can I really be pregnant?
Dread and fear take hold as the possibility takes root. And grows. I didn’t want to believe it, think it, or face it. Didn’t want to consider what it would mean for the life I live. And love. Or my future.
Or what Austin will think.
Austin, who’s been in this position once before, having gotten a woman pregnant. True, I didn’t poke holes in the condom, but he hadn’t originally wanted or planned that child. And he has no desire to get serious again.
Oh my God, I think, as another wave of queasiness hits me.
Unaware, Summer continues, a smile on her face. “And Ben said if it wasn’t the last stop, he’d pull the plug on the tour because he couldn’t wait to get home,” Summer says, her voice trailing off as she meets my gaze. “Are you okay?” she asks.
“Umm…” I touch Summer’s arm. “I don’t mean to be rude but I’ll be right back.”
“Okay.”