My body trembled as I stared into the eyes of the man who’d broken my heart on more than one occasion. As much as I loved Ayden, I couldn’t keep doing this to myself. It wasn’t healthy, and I didn’t need the stress it was causing me.

“What do you want?”

“A chance to explain what really happened. It’s not what you’re thinking.”

“So you can read my mind now. How convenient.”

He winced at my response. I wasn’t sure he would say anything. He stood in silence, studying every inch of me. “I understand why you’re angry. I once misjudged something I saw too.”

His words stung. I knew he was referring to the time he thought I was cheating on him when he found Wesley’s friend leaving my room. He wanted me to give him a chance to explain. Still, this wasn’t the first time he’d been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“Mia, I swear to you, I was not doing anything with your sister. If you had walked up just a minute sooner, you would have heard me tell her to leave.”

“What did she do, convince you that she’d make it worth your while?”

“No!” He gritted his teeth and paused. After drawing in a deep breath, he released it and focused on me once more. “Izzy forced her way inside my suite. I told her to get out, but she kept taunting me about my relationship with you. Then she attacked me.”

“She attacked you?” When he grimaced at my comment, I regretted the tone of my voice. It sounded skeptical when, I in reality, I believed him. Izzy was losing her mind more each day.

“I told her to leave, even tried to push her away, but she undid my jeans and went down on her knees. I pushed her away again, but that’s when you showed up. I swear, Mia, I don’t want your sister. I want to be with you.”

“You keep saying those words, but every time something goes wrong, my sister is there to come between us. She’s done it since the day she arrived. I can’t do this anymore.”

“Don’t say that.” He reached for me but pulled back when I stepped away. “Izzy wants to come between us. Don’t let her win.”

Anger filled me. I didn’t want my sister to win, but I couldn’t keep going through the stress of her interfering with my relationships. When she found out I was pregnant, she would be angry. When she learned it was Ayden’s child, she would be livid. I didn’t trust her sanity.

“It’s over, Ayden.”

I tried stepping around him, but he cut off my path and grabbed my arms. “I’m tired of you walking away from me every time something gets tough. Damn it, Mia, stop running. Talk to me. Let’s work through this.”

“You’re confused, Ayden. You say you don’t want my sister, but twice someone has found her in your room. She swears you fathered her baby. After what I just saw—”

“It’s not like that!” His grip tightened around my arms. “You know what your sister is capable of. Why are we still having trust issues over this? You swore you believed me when I said I didn’t sleep with her.”

“I’m tired of worrying over whether or not she can take you from me. She wants everything good in my life. I can’t take it anymore.” Tears blurred my vision. He had no clue how much it hurt to say these things. I had no choice.

“Mia—”

“Just leave me alone.” I broke free of his grasp and made a few steps past him before he grabbed me again. This time, he spun me around and drew me to his chest.

“I know you love me, damn it! You love me as much as I love you. I won’t give up on us. Nothing you say or do can convince me this over. Something powerful connects us, Mia.”

If only he knew how right he was. Something was connecting us. Our child . . .

Desperation consumed me. I wanted so much for everything to be out in the open. If he forgave me for keeping this from him, maybe could get away from Music Haven, as well as Izzy, for a little while. Then we could focus on us.

“Get the hell away from her.” Andi’s voice broke through the thoughts racing through my mind. She rushed over to us and attempted to pry Ayden’s hands away from my arms. It didn’t work. He held me tighter.

I cried out from the pain.

“Stop it!” Andi grumbled.

“Not until she stops talking all this crazy shit.”

With brows furrowed, Andi did her best to wedge between us. Bentley came up behind her. I heard him begging Ayden to let me go and calm down, but nothing they said got through to him.

“Ayden, don’t make me call security. Stop this nonsense.” Andi huffed as she backed away long enough to catch her breath. Then she pushed Ayden’s shoulder. “You’re hurting her. Let her go.”

“Butt out of this, Andi.”

“You don’t understand,” she screeched.

I didn’t miss the concern in her eyes when she gave me a sideways glance. There was something else too. Regret. I had no idea what it all meant until she turned to Ayden again and blurted devastating words.

“You’re hurting more than Mia. You’re hurting your baby.”

My hand opened as I released Mia from my grasp. Every sight and sound around me disappeared but her. I scanned over her body, taking in every inch. When I came to her stomach, heat flashed through me as Andi’s words replayed in my mind.

“Baby?” I met Mia’s eyes. “What baby?

She couldn’t hold my gaze. Instead, she peered at Andi. Her face contorted from a wide-eyed expression to a narrow scowl. I observed their steely gaze, but all I could do is think about what this meant.

“Why, Andi? I trusted you.”

“I’m sorry, Mia, but it’s time he knows.” Andi focused on me, but she didn’t say anything else.

As much as I wanted to speak, I couldn’t get any words to form. Truth be known, I wasn’t sure how I felt. A storm brewed inside my heart, one that wreaked havoc on my rationality. Every piece of information that just landed in my lap was unbelievable. I felt as though I were part of an alternate universe.

“Mia?” It took me a moment to say her name. I wasn’t sure I’d managed to get it out this time, especially when she didn’t look at me. “Is it true? Are you . . .?”

The lump in my throat refused to disappear despite how many times I swallowed. Each second Mia refused to acknowledge me made that lump bigger. My palms grew sweaty and beads of sweat formed at the nape of my neck.

After what felt like an eternity, she glanced at me and nodded. Reality crashed around me. My heart thumped at a rapid pace. A mixture of anger and confusion spun inside me as the missing piece lay before me. It completed the puzzle I’d been trying to solve for weeks.

“You lied to me. I asked you this morning if you were pregnant.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You’re sorry?” I laughed half-heartedly and massaged my temples. “I can’t believe this. How long have you known?”

“Since the night I passed out at the hospital.”

Her answer had me wincing. That night had been horrible, including the way I treated her. I’d said things I didn’t mean, and ever since then, I’d been trying desperately to make up for my stupidity.

So much made sense now, like the reason she kept getting sick. She’d been suffering from morning sickness. Still, the fact that she was pregnant didn’t explain everything, and that tiny detail increased my fear. “Is this why you’ve been passing out?”

Glancing toward the floor, she shrugged her shoulders and hugged her chest. “It plays into it. Some of it has to do with my stress levels.”

Guilt ate its way through my soul. I was a big reason she was stressed. All this bullshit with Izzy, along with my previous mistakes, had been too much for her to handle. Even so, it didn’t give her the right to hide this information from me. That hurt me more than anything.

“When did you plan to tell me the news?”

Her throat wobbled as she cleared it. “I don’t know.”

It was like a punch to the gut. The truth had a way of doing that, and I was finding out firsthand how much it hurt. Mia had never lied to me. Knowing she had this time cut deep.

“You sent me on tour without telling me the truth. Did you even plan to tell me?”

Her mouth moved, though no words formed. Perhaps she was thinking up a lie to tell me. Maybe it was just finding the right words to say. I wasn’t sure there were any, so I understood why she was struggling to answer me.

“Mia?”

“I had planned to tell you when you came back from tour, then you decided to surprise me by coming back early. I was angry with you for the whole ruse you and D organized.”

“That’s not a reason to keep the truth from me.”

She glared at me this time. “It’s not my only reason.”

This time, I crossed my arms and shifted my weight from one foot to the other. “Then enlighten me.”

Mia glanced toward Andi and Bentley. Both were standing a few feet away observing us in silence. I assumed they were making sure things between Mia and me didn’t escalate. No one said anything.

When Mia faced me once more, she shook her head. “I’m not doing this with you. Not here. Not now.”

With a quick turnabout, she was gone.

I stared in utter shock, unsure if I should yell her name or dart after her. The second I realized Andi and Bentley weren’t chasing her, I did. What they did next didn’t matter. My stride was faster and longer. I’d catch Mia before she could get far.

As she made her way through the backstage corridor, I glanced behind me to see if our friends were following. They were. That fact was the reason I quickened my step and hauled ass toward Mia.

She was just a few feet away when she darted inside one of the dressing rooms and shut the door. I grabbed the handle once I reached it. Much to my dismay, it wouldn’t turn. Mia had locked it.

Slapping my hand on the door, I put my mouth near the opening. “Damn it, Mia, open up. This isn’t going away. Neither am I.”

“Leave me alone, Ayden.”

“Not going to happen.”

The door cooled my ear as I pressed against it to listen. Mia didn’t respond, but I heard her walking around. If she thought she could wait and I would leave, she was wrong. This conversation was happening tonight, and it was the first of many.

“Ayden,” Bentley called my name as he and Andi joined me in front of the door. “Dude, you’re not going to accomplish anything right now. Give her some time to cool off.”

Andi nodded in agreement. “Let’s go grab a seat in the VIP box and watch the performance. You can talk to her after the show.”

“You go grab a seat.” I dropped the tone of my voice so she’d know I was serious. “I’m not finished talking to Mia, but trust me, I’d love to hear your explanation on why you kept this secret.”

Andi scoffed. “You know damn well why I kept it. She’s my friend, and she asked me not to say anything. It wasn’t my place.”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought you’d say. Doesn’t matter. I know the truth now, and I’m going to resolve this tonight.” I shook the door, not surprised to find it was still locked. Andi came back into view as I pointed to the knob. “Unless you want to repair this door, I suggest you give me the code to enter it.”

The harder Andi glared at me, the more I worried she wouldn’t help. I’d get the door open regardless, but I didn’t want to destroy property to do it. The fewer reasons I had to get arrested, the better.

When Andi’s face softened, I saw regret in her eyes. She didn’t want to admit she was wrong, but she wanted to do the right thing. In reality, I should have given her more credit. If not for her, I would still be in the dark about the pregnancy.

Without saying anything else, she reached her hand toward the door and entered a code into the lock system, overriding the need for a key. The lock disengaged soon after. I didn’t have time to waste. Once Mia heard the noise, she would relock it.

The door swung wide as I entered the dressing room. It slammed shut a second later, drawing Mia’s eyes toward mine. They widened as she gawked at me.

“Get out!”

“Not a chance in hell. We’re going to talk.” I reengaged the lock, not that it would prevent Andi from getting in. It would help keep Mia inside the room with me.

“I have nothing to say to you, Ayden.”

Smirking at her, I strolled across the room, close to the couch where she stood. “Good. I don’t need you to say anything right now. It’s my turn.”

Mia moved around the couch when I was a few feet away. She kept going backward trying to avoid me, but I didn’t stop. She ran out of options once her back collided with the wall. As I stood mere inches away, I placed my hands beside her head, entrapping her.

“You’re not going to change my mind.” She taunted me with her words, but I didn’t let it sway me from my task.

“Damn it, Mia. Quit with the stubborn act. You owe me this conversation. It should have happened months ago when you first learned you were pregnant with my baby.”

Her eyes found mine again. The anger inside them faded, but she was still resisting me. The way she shook her head proved as much.

Perhaps I should try a different approach. I’d been angry since the truth was revealed. If I showed Mia kindness and restraint, maybe she would open up to me.

“I know I’ve hurt you on more than one occasion, and I’ve said so many things that did the same. By no means am I perfect, but . . . I have a heart, Mia. It’s full of so much love for you. The baby only deepens that because it deepens the bond between us. You can’t tell me you don’t feel that.”

“I never said I didn’t.” Her voice shook when she spoke. “This baby may deepen the bond between us, but for how long? When will you be running off to my sister’s rescue again?”

I slapped my hands against the wall, causing her to flinch. It filled me with regret, but I was tired of these accusations.

“I feel nothing for your sister. You’re the one I want to share my life with. You’re the one I want having my . . .” I reached toward her stomach but hesitated when she covered it with her hands. Instead of touching her belly, I stroked the back of her hand, teasing her skin. “This is what I want, Mia.”

My eyes watered as my emotions got the best of me. I still couldn’t believe my child was inside her. The whole time Izzy was pregnant and claiming me as the father, I wished it had been Mia. My wish had come true.

Staring at her, I noticed the tears forming in her eyes. It gave me hope that I was breaking through to her. If that were the case, it was time to win her back. This window of opportunity wouldn’t last forever.

It only took a second to draw her into my arms. Her mouth parted, releasing the sweet scent I longed for. There wasn’t one part of her that didn’t affect me, especially her lips. Every nerve pulsing inside my body convinced me as much. So did the fire consuming me when her tongue rolled with mine.

Mia’s hands glided up my chest. The ache inside me increased. Had I broken through the wall she’d placed around her heart? I sure as hell hoped so. The thought of losing her—

Her mouth broke from mine as she pushed me back. Every ounce of resistance I sensed in her before had returned. Her guard was up, and she didn’t want me anywhere close.

“I can’t do this.” The effect of our kiss sounded in her voice, the way it had that deep, throaty sound. She wanted to appear unaffected, but I knew the truth. Our kiss meant something.

“Mia, stop.”

“No, Ayden, you stop. I made a promise to a dear friend that I would watch her performance tonight. She was one of my mother’s close friends and it meant something for me to be there.”

“Are you kidding me?” I rubbed my face and shook my head in disbelief. “Mia, what you and I have to discuss is far more important than anything else. I just found out that I’m going to be a father. You can’t walk away from me. We have a lot to discuss.”

“Which can be discussed after the show.”

As I thought about what she said, she slipped away from the wall and rushed toward the door. At least she tried. I grabbed her hand before she could get away and drew her back into my arms.

Her body heated mine as I leaned in to give her another kiss. The way she closed her eyes and tilted her head slightly back was enough for me to believe she wanted me to kiss her. Instead of giving her what she was expecting, I planted my lips near her shoulder and slid them up her neck.

I had to make her remember all the reasons she fell in love with me. Our child hadn’t been created because of a one-night stand. It was created from the love we’d made.

A soft moan escaped her throat. It increased my hope that I was getting through to her. I still affected her the way she did me. It had to count for something.

“Stop it.”

The words left her mouth in a whisper that I wanted to ignore. I didn’t. I eased my head back, but I didn’t release her. I couldn’t.

“You are not going to do this to me.” She pushed me away again, but this time, there was more force behind it. I stumbled back a few steps before I righted myself. When I looked at Mia, she pointed toward me. “If you want to talk, we’ll do it after the show, but I’m leaving this room right now. I’m not letting down my friend.”

“So you’ll push me aside instead. Guess I know how little I matter to you.”

She winced at my words. Things grew silent a moment as the awkwardness between us increased. Then she glanced at the floor. “You matter to me, Ayden. You’re the father of my child. I’m not pushing you aside either. I can’t reschedule the concert, but you and I can talk later.”

“Is that a promise?”

“As long as I’m not exhausted.”

I snorted at her reply. “You better find a second wind if not.”

She was already trying to find a way out of this, but I refused to allow it. Regardless of what happened between us, she owed me this conversation. The life inside of her guaranteed as much. I wasn’t walking away from my child.

Before the evening ended, I would be waiting for her, ready to finish what we’d started.