He’s not thinking about settling down. And I wouldn’t be either if I hadn’t been thrown this curve ball. Although I would still want him. Some things will never change. But this life we’ve curated wasn’t built for a baby. It’s not even built for a relationship.
“Hang on a minute.” He flips us over so that I’m under him. Trapped by his weight, caged by his arms. “Kelsey Peterson, you know you’re my—”
His phone rings.
He reaches down to the floor to grab it out of his pants. He tugs it free with whatever else is in his pocket. Declining the call, he tosses it on the mattress. “So, we’re going to my brother’s wedding, right? And—”
My purse that I flung aside earlier vibrates.
“Fuck.” He groans, pressing his forehead to my collarbone. “This is hard enough.”
I scoop up my purse and find my phone. It stops before I can answer it, but the missed call is from Bronx. I switch the device to silent and put it back in my purse. Our drummer can wait. “What about Rogue’s wedding?”
Not doing this, us, while we’re there would make sense. His ex is on the guestlist. They’re still friends. It might upset her.
He sucks in a big breath. “I want you to—”
His phone rings again.
“Motherfucker.” He climbs off me but presses a hand to my belly when I start to get up. Accepting the call, he tells me, “We’re not done with this conversation yet.”
I nod.
He prowls out of the bedroom. “This better be important.”
I sit up when he doesn’t immediately come back. Wrap an arm around my knees and chew on my thumbnail. I haven’t been this insecure in years.
I’ve never had this much to lose.
I’m carrying my best friend’s baby. The man I love has unknowingly given me the one thing I’ve always dreamed about.
Family is something I didn’t have growing up in the foster system, but it’s something I always dreamed about. Longed for. And okay, I always wanted it to be with him.
“I have to run up to loading.” Riot marches back in and starts getting dressed.
“Shouldn’t they be gone already?” The tour trucks are travelling to the next location tonight, where they’ll be waiting for us.
“There was an issue with the framing. It took longer to pull down than it was supposed to.” He yanks his shirt over his head and smooths it down his torso.
I start to climb off the bed. “I’ll come with you.”
“No.” He kisses my temple. “Stay here. Pack. Get comfy. I won’t be any longer than I have to. Then we’ll head to the airport.”
When he leaves, I climb off the bed. I collect my clothes while cum drips down my leg. I pick up the thing that fell out of Riot’s pocket. A black thong that is not mine. There’s a sparklysembroidered into the flimsy material.
Carmine’s daughter was all over Riot tonight. Sonatina starts with an S. He told me he was irritated by her, but he could have been trying to spare my feelings.
I drop down on the end of the bed with the material stretched between my fists. I certainly have no claim on him. They could have fucked. I wrinkle my nose, bile rising in mythroat before I fling the garment across the room. Gross. He wouldn’t, would he?
But I’ve spent too much time around my rock star boys. I know what they’re capable of. And I know what happens next if I don’t start putting some distance between us.
I’ll have my best friend’s baby, but I’ll lose my best friend. The idea is as terrifying as it is heartbreaking.
10
Rogue
“I’m going to get my beauty sleep.” Adira barely manages to cover his mouth as he gets up from the floor when I come in from finishing setting up the barn. “It’s ridiculous o’clock and your guests will start arriving in the morning. You two should probably head to bed too. Wouldn’t want a grumpy bride and groom welcoming everyone, would we?”
