Shivering, she clasps the pendant dangling from her necklace. “Yeah. I’d love to avoid that if possible. I saw the way the media treated Piper and Hunter. I’ve seen the way you and your bandmates can be hounded. I don’t think I could handle that. Plus, if the news did get out, people would come out of the woodwork to share stories about me, and I doubt they would be kind.”
My stomach drops. Does that have anything to do with why she stopped dancing? That comment, paired with her wanting to end her life because of pressure and expectations, spikes my anxiety. I want to help her, but to do that, I need to know what happened.
“Did you?—”
“What did you tell your manager?”
I blink at the abrupt change in subject, but I allow it. After our argument last night, when she accused me of lying to her, she probably has no desire to be honest with me about her ballet career anyway.
“I told him I got someone pregnant.”
Her eyes flare, and she grimaces.
Shit. I suppose my choice of words leaves much to be desired.
I lurch forward, eager to fix my blunder. “He was worried it was a fan, so of course, I told him who you are. He’s met Piper several times, so he knows who we are to each other.”
Blue irises dark, she scrutinizes me. “And who are we to each other?”
Fuck me. I cornered myself with my big mouth, didn’t I?
“You’re Piper’s sister. You’re my friend. And you’re the mother of my child.”
“Sounds about right.” She bites her bottom lip and peers over at the little dog again.
I gulp my iced tea, but the cold liquid does nothing to dampen the fire raging in my lower abdomen. Her closeness is my worst enemy. I want to hold her, to touch her, to taste her…I want it all with her. But I can’t have it. I have to keep my distance.
She’s not my savior.
She’s not the cure for my depression and grief.
I have no right to use her to make myself feel better.
“I’m meeting Nastya for lunch.” Her words bring me back to reality. “Once I have my keys, I’ll be out of your hair.”
My heart sinks. My limbs feel weighed down. “You’re planning to go back to your apartment?”
Her lips form a little O, her expression one of surprise. “Of course I’m going back to my apartment. The whole point of hiring a cleaning service was so I could live there again.”
“But that was before you…”
Her surprised look turns into one of annoyance. “Before I knew I was pregnant. Yes, I’m pregnant with your child.” She pushes away from the table, relaxing her back against the chair. “But that doesn’t mean I should stay with you. That I should live in your penthouse. You said it yourself: we are friends, Hade. Not a couple.”
“I just thought?—”
“You thought wrong.” She sneaks a glance at the older woman. The smile she gives the little dog makes me jealous. What’s so fucking special about that thing?
“Do you like that dog?”
She nods, dragging her eyes back to me. “I’m obsessed with Pomeranians. They’re so cute.”
“You should get one. Why haven’t you already?”
“Pets aren’t allowed in my building.” She lifts one shoulder in a shrug. “Maybe one day.”
She fixes her pendant, and I narrow my eyes at it. I don’t think I’ve seen it before. It’s a small blue flower with little diamonds around the edges. Is it a forget-me-not?
“Something new?” I nod at her neck.
