“Not hungry.” She pushes the plate away, and my eyes lock on Wilder’s. My bandmates are seated in front of us on the private jet. The seating is arranged in little sections of four—two recliner seats on each side with a high table in between. Our manager and our three assistants are traveling with us too, seated across and behind Toria and I, but the rest of our crew flew commercial.
I exhale heavily, not having the patience for this today after fuck-all sleep last night. “Tor. You have to stop starving yourself. It’s not good for you or the baby. You need to at least try.” I slide the plate across the table until it’s back in front of her.
In a lightning-fast move, she grabs it and throws it at my head. I duck down at the last second, narrowly avoiding impact. A shrill cry emits behind me, and I turn around, discovering Felicity, Linc’s assistant, wearing said chicken salad.
“Are you hurt?”
“I’ll probably have a goose egg,” she says, rubbing at her brow, “but I’ll live.”
“Shit, I’m sorry.” I move to get up, but Daria gets there first.
“It’s fine, Jared,” my assistant says. “I’ll help Felicity get cleaned up.” Daria narrows her eyes at my girlfriend before helping her friend from her seat, and they disappear into the bedroom with en suite bathroom at the rear of the plane.
“Was that really necessary?” I glare at Toria.
“Yes,” she hisses. “You don’t understand.” She pinches nonexistent fat on her hips and her stomach. “I can’t be fat. Career over!” She waves her hands in the air in an agitated fashion.
“You can’t hide your pregnancy forever.”
“If I don’t eat, can hide it long time.”
“If you don’t eat, you’ll die. My baby will die!” I snap because I am sick of hearing this bullshit. Toria refuses to tell her manager or booker she is pregnant, which I think is a mistake. They are booking her for projects months out, and they won’t be happy when she shows up with a noticeable baby bump. I know she has nausea to contend with, but spending the past few days with her has made me realize a lot of that is made up. She is adept at faking it to avoid eating, and I’m the sucker who’s been falling for it.
God strike me down for this thought, but why the fuck did the condom burst when I was with this woman? I would give anything to be having a baby with anyone but her.
There, I said it.
I have finally admitted it to myself.
I don’t want to have a child with this spoiled, whiny, selfish bitch who is already putting herself before our unborn baby.
Things will have to change, and I’m going to be the one to do it. I won’t sit by and watch this woman starve my child.
Leaning over the table, I work hard to control my anger, but it’s challenging. “You will feed my fucking baby, or I will take your selfish ass to court and have you charged with child neglect.”
“Try it, asshole! I will tell world you hit me!”
Linc leans over his seat and barks in her ear, “Try that shit, honey, and we’ll bury you. By the time we’re done, you’ll be ruined. No one threatens our brother.” Linc’s gaze bounces between Wilder and our manager, Brian. “You both heard that, right?”
They nod.
“I heard her as well,” Lydia says. “If you need me to sign something after we land, I’d be happy to.” It’s no surprise Lydia is standing up for me. She has flown with us for years, and she knows the band. There is no love lost between her and my girlfriend. Toria seems to ignite that reaction in most women.
Toria glances over her shoulder, shooting the evil eye at Lydia.
Linc eyeballs Toria. “Pull that bullshit, and we’ll hang you out to dry. We all heard you threatening Jared.”
“I think everyone needs to calm down.” Brian climbs out of his seat and comes over to us. Our manager is skilled at putting fires out and God knows he’s had to put a lot of them out in the seven years he’s worked with us. He smiles softly at Toria. “What would you like to eat, Vittoria? I’ll ask Lydia if she can make it for you.”
“Fruit and water.”
I barely contain an eye roll. It’s hardly substantial, but I’ll consider it a win if she consumes any food.
I ignore my scowling fiancée as Brian speaks to Lydia.
After she hands Toria a bowl of chopped fruit and a bottle of water, Lydia cleans up the mess on the floor. I make a mental note to send her some flowers when we land. Daria and Felicity return to their seats, and things finally settle down in the cabin.
* * *
