I suck in a breath and straighten my back, facing her. “I’m pregnant,” I say, dodging any question of who I hooked up with that night.
She’d never believe me if I said Zander Shaw himself spotted me in the crowd, asked DeSoto to bring me backstage, and that it snowballed into a handful of nights that burned themselves into my bones. Nights I thought meant something to him. Turns out I was just a naïve groupie hearing what I wanted to hear, seeing what I wanted to see.
“Pregnant?” Lottie’s eyes widen.
I nod, swallowing past the lump in my throat.
“When? Who?” Her gaze dips to my stomach.
“It’s early. I just took the test right before Scarlett came to get me. That’s why I was in the bathroom.”
Her mouth opens in an “oh” expression, and she slides closer, wrapping her arm around my shoulders. “Oh, Romy. And then we put you on parade out there. Of course you were curt, you’re probably freaking out.”
I nod, and she draws me into an embrace. I fall into her arms, and she holds me tightly. Cue the ugly cry.
“It’s going to be fine. We’re going to get through this. So, this is the mystery man’s baby?”
I nod against her chest, hoping she doesn’t ask for specifics. My confession is on the tip of my tongue, wanting to let everyone know what I’ve been hiding these past months, but I want her to be the first to know.
“You’re not mad?” I draw back and wipe the tears from my face. “Upset?”
Her head rears back, and her forehead wrinkles. “No.” Then her shoulders fall as she must realize what I’m referring to. “No, Romy. I came to terms with my situation a long time ago, and Brooks and I have talked. Sure, my path will look a lot different than yours, but it’s my path. I’m at peace with that. Do you know what you’re going to do?”
I nod weakly. “Become a mother, I suppose.”
A small smile tips the edges of her lips. “I’m happy to have another niece or nephew to love but seeing you so worked up upsets me. This should be a happy thing.”
I scoff.
“Sure, the situation isn’t ideal, and I have no idea who this mystery man is or what he’s going to do when he finds out. Will he be a part of our new bundle of joy’s life, I don’t know. But Romy… a baby? What’s not to love about it?” She squeezes my shoulder.
My chest twists. If she only knew the mystery man is in another building on the ranch right now. That he’s someone whose songs she’s danced to. Someone whose touch I still ache for. But she’s right that this baby deserves love no matter what.
My hand goes to my stomach again. “I’m not sure he’ll want to be a part of this.”
“His fucking loss. Tell me who he is and where he lives, and I’ll pay him a little visit.”
She’d go over and pull him out of the lodge by his ear probably. And I love that she’ll always protect me, but I have to deal with this with Zander on my own.
“Can we keep this between us? For right now?”
Her head tilts with compassion, but she’s not one to leave things be. I’m more of a patient, feel things out person while Lottie is all quick reactions and think on it later.
“Whatever you want. And if you need me to go with you to tell the loser, I’ll drive you. Or come with you to the doctor’s appointment. I’m your partner in this until you fire me.” She puts her arm around my shoulders again.
I lean my head on her shoulder. “I’ll be okay? Like, I can do this?”
She laughs. “Yes, you can do this. And you have an entire ranch of your annoying, overbearing family to help you.”
Her head falls to mine, and we sit on the couch for what feels like forever. She doesn’t rush me to get up but comforts me instead. My heart aches with the unfairness that Lottie will have to fight for her chance at motherhood, while I stumbled into it by accident. If she and Brooks choose that path, she’ll make a great mom. A mamma bear, more than likely. A grizzly bear.
No matter what, she’ll be an auntie bear, and I’m grateful to have her in my corner because I’m pretty sure I’ll be raising this one on my own. And maybe that’s why I’m hesitating to tell him—because if Zander tries to make this go away, to sign a check and erase me and his baby from his life, he’ll break my heart all over again.
Chapter Five
Zander
Beau follows me to my room at the lodge. No doubt DeSoto is a few steps behind.
