SEVEN MONTHS AGO

Allison

As Runaway Train’s final song rang through the arena, I stood in the wings, waiting to welcome Rhys when he exited the stage. After being home the last three weeks, I’d come out on tour for the next five cities. Although my job as a fashion designer allowed me to work from anywhere, there were times I had to be at home to check in with the designer I was working for and oversee the production of my designs.

When someone tapped me on the shoulder, I whirled around. A smile curved on my lips when I saw it was Keira Galloway. Her father, Roland, was a veteran Runaway Train roadie. After his wife abandoned him when Keira was just five, he’d raised her as a single father with the help of his parents. She often joined him out on tour for a few stops.

“Hey, when do you get in?” I asked.

“Just now. I drove all day.”

“You must be exhausted.” As I took a closer look at her, worry furrowed my brows. She appeared terribly pale while dark patches circled under her eyes. “Keira, are you okay?”

“I really need to talk to you.”

“Sure.” I motioned to hallway. “Let’s go back to one of the dressing rooms.”

Keira nodded and then fell in step with me. After I’d closed us inside an empty dressing room, I placed my hands on her shoulders. “Just take a deep breath and then tell me everything.”

Never in a million years would I have guessed the next words that would come from her lips. “I’m pregnant.”

“Oh Keira,” I murmured after I drew her in my arms. As I squeezed her tight, I asked, “Are you sure?”

“I saw a doctor this week. I’m two months.”

Pulling away, I peered into her frightened brown eyes. “What about your boyfriend?”

She hiccupped a rueful laugh. “What boyfriend? We broke up a month ago. When I told him I was pregnant, he claimed it wasn’t his. He’s blocked all my calls and texts.”

Bastard. I wanted to hunt down the prick who had done this and throttle him. Considering I wasn’t much of a physical challenge, I would just hire a few body builders to do it. “I’m so, so sorry.”

Keira’s trembling hands clutched mine. “Please, Allison, you have to help me.”

“Of course. Anything. I’m here for you.”

After drawing in a ragged breath, Keira said, “I know the best thing for me and for the baby is to give it up for adoption. But I can’t bear the thought of him or her going to just anybody.” Her next request caused my knees to buckle. “Would you and Rhys take the baby?”

As I fought to keep myself upright, I blinked in disbelief at her. “Y-You want me—Rhys and I—to adopt your baby?”

“Please. I can’t imagine anyone more wonderful to raise him or her.”

“Oh Keira, I’m extremely flattered, but I don’t know,” I answered honestly.

She shook her head. “Over the years, I’ve seen the two of you with Jake and Abby’s twins and with all the other Runway Train children. I know how much love in your heart you both have for kids. I know you could love mine just the same way.”

Unable to speak, I merely stared into her pleading eyes. I couldn’t find the proper words in that moment. How could anyone know what to say? She’d completely floored me in her request. Immediately, I felt unworthy. How could I possibly be the right one to raise Keira’s child? Surely, there were older and more prepared women out there to take the baby.

When I remained silent while processing the situation, Keira rushed on, “I know it might seem I’m asking this because of all you two could do for it financially, but I’m not. I know there are couples out there who would pay a lot of money for my baby. While it’s nice to think of it being spoiled, I care more about who you and Rhys are as people.” She nervously twisted a piece of dark hair behind her ear. “There’s also another reason why I want to choose you guys.”

“And what’s that?”

“I would still be able to see the baby. I mean, I wouldn’t expect you to tell him or her who I was or anything like that.” A sad smile flickered on her lips. “It would just be nice to be able to see him or her.”

I squeezed her hands. “Of course, the baby should know who you and what you sacrificed.”

Hope blossomed in her eyes. “Does that mean you will take him or her?”

“I have to talk to Rhys.”

She nodded. “Yeah. Sure.” Tilting her head at me, she asked, “But does that mean you want the baby?”

“The most honest answer I can give you is I don’t know. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that you’ve emotionally overwhelmed me with the offer. I…I just need time to think.”

“Oh. Okay.”

At her wounded expression, I cupped her cheek. “You have done Rhys and me the greatest honor of our lives by asking us to take your child. Regardless of what happens, I promise I will make sure your baby gets the best parents both for it and for you.”

Keira smiled. “Thanks, Allison. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

We were interrupted by the guys being jostled inside by their bodyguards and crew. I slunk off to the side of the room while Keira went to find her father. As I waited for the Meet and Greet to end, I wrecked my fresh manicure with my nervous nail-biting. When the last fan giddily hustled out of the room, I exhaled a relieved breath. Rhys made his way over to me. “Hey, babe.”

Forcing a smile to my face, I said, “Hey, yourself.”

Tilting his head, Rhys eyed me curiously. “You’re white as a sheet. Are you okay?”

“I need to talk to you.”

Rhys’s brows instantly creased in worry. “What’s wrong? It’s not Ellie, is it?”

I shook my head. I wasn’t surprised Rhys had instantly worried about his severely Autistic sister who lived in a group home back in Savannah.

“Then what is it?”

“Let’s wait until we get on the bus.”

“Fuck that. You’re killing me with the suspense.”

“Trust me. This really needs to wait for the bus.”

Rhys growled with frustration before reaching over to grab me by the waist and then hoist me over his shoulder. Craning my neck, I cried, “What are you doing?”

“Getting us to the bus. No way you’re going to be able to run in those heels.”

I didn’t protest. Instead, I let Rhys jog us to the bus. When he sat me on my feet at the door, I grinned at him. Trying to lighten the tense mood, I teased, “I never realized how strong you were.”

He didn’t respond. Instead, he knocked on the door for the driver to let us in. After snatching my arm, he practically dragged me up the stairs. “Rhys, slow down!” I cried.

“Not when I’m about to have a stroke waiting to hear what’s wrong.”

“Do you really think it’s something bad?”

With a nod, he replied, “I’ve never seen you so physically gobsmacked like you are.”

“First of all, it’s nothing bad. No one is sick or dying or hurt.” I stared pointedly at him. “Okay?”

Rhys exhaled a long, ragged breath. Visibly the tension in his body melted away. “Okay.”

Now it was time for me to suck in a few calming breaths. Although there was nothing I couldn’t say or tell Rhys, I suddenly found myself at a loss. After raking a hand through my hair, I motioned to the couch. “Maybe you should sit down.”

Rhys’s brows popped up. “Considering you look like you’re going to puke, maybe it’s you who needs to sit down.”

A nervous giggle bubbled from my lips. “Uh, no. I think I’m better standing up.”

After placing his hands on my shoulders, Rhys said, “Whatever it is, it’s okay, babe. Just tell me.”

I licked my parched lips. “Keira’shavingababyandshewantsustoadoptit,” I rattled.

“Wait, what?”

Get it together, Allison. “Keira wants us to adopt her baby.”

Rhys’s dark eyes widened. “Holy shit, Keira’s pregnant.”

“Yes. Eight weeks.”

He ran a hand over his face. “Holy shit. Poor Roland. Fuck. I bet he’s losing his mind. His baby girl is having a baby.”

“She didn’t say how he had reacted…or if she had told him,” I answered.

Rhys stared at me like he was seeing me for the first time since I’d told him the news. “Wait a minute. Did you say she wants us to adopt the baby?”

“Yes.”

I could only describe Rhys’s expression in the way he had described mine: gobsmacked. “What did you tell her?” he croaked.

“That I had to talk to you about it.”

He eyed me curiously. “But what did you want to tell her?”

His words caused my heart to drum against my breastbone so hard I feared it might burst through my chest. We weren’t talking it through. We weren’t making a pro/con list. He was going right for the jugular by point blank asking what I actually wanted to do.

Before Rhys posed the question, I wasn’t certain of what I wanted. In a way, I felt conflicted by obligation to Keira. Was my desire to help her greater than my actual desire for a baby? Was I really ready to be a mother? I was only twenty-five. I had so many years to fulfill my desire for a child.

Selfishly, I couldn’t help but wonder how it might hurt my rising design career. Things were hot for me at the moment. Drawing inspiration from my days as a nanny, I had begun to debate stepping out on my own to design a children’s line. How could I cultivate my career while also giving a child the necessary time and attention he or she deserved?

Even as my mind spun with the what-ifs, I couldn’t help imagining a baby nestled in my arms. One that hadn’t grown within my body, but who would grow in my heart. And a sob rose in my throat. One I hadn’t anticipated or expected. “I want the baby.”

Rhys didn’t respond. Instead, he just kept staring at me as if he were trying to peer into my soul. I swiped my cheeks with my index fingers. “I know it doesn’t make any sense for where we are in our lives right now. I know we’ve talked about when I would get pregnant. I know we have a lifetime to be parents. I know there are infertile couples who are desperately waiting for a baby.” I hiccupped another sob. “But more than anything, I know I want this baby.”

When Rhys still didn’t say anything, I placed my hand on his heart. “Say something,” I pleaded.

“I know I’m fucking scared to death about my abilities of being a father. I know that fear won’t change based on whether the child is mine or someone else’s. I know some men wouldn’t be able to embrace the idea of raising someone else’s child, but I was shown more love and affection from my nanny and our cook than I ever was from my parents, not to mention the love of my bandmates.” He reached out to cup my cheek. “I know I should tell you we need to sleep on this—that we need to take time to process the enormity of the situation. But I don’t want to do that.”

“You don’t?”

A smile curved on his lips. “No. I want us to adopt the baby.”

I squealed before throwing myself into his arms. “This is crazy. You know that, right?” I laughed against his chest.

He chuckled. “Oh, yeah, it’s crazy. Epically batshit crazy.”

“No one does crazy better than us, right?”

“You got that right.”

I brought my lips to meet his. “Just when I think I couldn’t love you more,” I murmured against his mouth.

“I know just what you mean.”

When he pulled away, his expression was serious. Sucking in a breath, I asked, “Oh no. You’re not changing your mind, are you?”

“No. Of course not.”

“Then what is it?”

“I didn’t tell you about it because I was afraid I would worry you. But I’ve had this feeling lately.”

“A bad feeling?”

“No. It was a good one actually. Well, I guess I should say it was more of longing. Like something was missing.” Rhys shook his head. “I had some really crazy thoughts running through my mind like we needed to move, or I needed to take on some sort of solo project from the band. Anything to fill this weird longing I was experiencing.”

My heart leapt into my throat when tears shimmered in his eyes. “I guess this is what it was about all along.”

“That’s….” I swallowed the rising lump in my throat. “The most beautiful thing.”

“It really is amazing how it all came together.”

“I can’t believe you were feeling like that and didn’t tell me.”

“There were many times I wanted to, but I felt it was better if I worked through it myself first.”

Maybe Rhys was right. If he had told me what he was feeling, I would have probably worried and overanalyzed that something was missing in our marriage. How could I have ever imagined what it truly was?

“So, we’re having a baby, huh?” Rhys questioned.

I laughed. “I guess we are.”

“I think most couples usually start off practicing for parenthood with a dog.”

“Does Angel count?”

Angel was Jake and Abby’s Golden Retriever who rode along with them on their tour bus. I’d helped feed and walk her when I was a nanny.

Rhys chuckled. “Maybe.”

“See. We’re good.”

“I doubt that seriously, but we’ll learn. And with the guys and all their wives, we’ll have plenty of people to get advice from.”

“That’s the truth.”

Jerking his chin at the door, Rhys said, “We should probably go talk to Keira and make it as official as we can until we do the legal stuff.”

With a nod, I slipped my hand in his. I couldn’t believe how quickly our lives had changed since we’d woken up on the tour bus that morning. But it certainly was a wonderful, unexpected blessing.