I pulled the covers up to my chin as my bowl of soup sat steaming on the bedside table. I wasn’t hungry. I wasn’t in the mood to talk with anyone. The only thing I wanted was to lay in bed, close my eyes, and wake up when this nightmare was over.

I clutched my stomach and curled up as my phone rang in my pocket.

“Hello?”

“You sound like shit.”

“Lacey?” I asked.

“Who else would it be? Where are you? A bunch of us are staying in and eating tons of pizza.”

“How did your celebrating go?” I asked.

“A blast. But everyone kept asking where you were. I told them you weren’t feeling well since I wasn’t sure if you were going to tell anyone about… well, you know.”

“I don’t think I’m going to be coming to the pizza party.”

“Nauseous still?” she asked.

I felt tears crest my eyes as I rolled over onto my back.

“No, not nauseous,” I said.

“Joanna, what’s wrong? Where are you?”

“I’m at Robert’s,” I said.

“Who’s Robert?”

“The guy from New York. The man who got me pregnant?”

“Wait, he’s in town?” she asked. “Hold on a second. Back up. Start… from wherever the hell you need to start from.”

“The night of our performance in Chicago, he was there. At the opera house.”

“Wait. Don’t tell me he was the guy causing all the commotion backstage.”

“That was him,” I said.

“That man gave Barry a fucking heart attack. What the hell did he want?”

“To know why I wasn’t taking the stage. He wanted to make sure I was okay.”

“So he tried to barrel through security? Joanna, does he know?” she asked.

“Of course he does. He popped out of nowhere and I couldn’t not tell him.”

“So, what? You’re holed up playing house?”

“Not exactly.”

“Define that, please.”

“Apparently Robert has a rough past. Someone who isn’t very happy with him right now,” I said.

“You’re hiding something from me.”

“I really don’t want to talk about all of it,” I said breathlessly.

“Then give me the highlights. I’m worried about you now.”

“I’m with Robert at the place he’s staying in Chicago until it all gets sorted out. He’s got a security team here and says it’s to keep me safe.”

“So this big bad rich man’s got a security team keeping you hostage somewhere in Chicago. Joanna, is he holding you against your will? Do I need to call the cops?”

“I promise you, it’s nothing like that,” I said. “I’m just overwhelmed. I’m having a hard time processing everything. I’m so tired all the damn time and my plans for the next three or four years changed on a dime. I don’t know where to go from here.”

“Is someone trying to hurt you?” Lacey asked.

“I don’t think so. I think they’re trying to use me to get to Robert. Or something.”

“But you’ve got people around you to keep you safe.”

“I do.”

“Then, even as confused as I still am, it sounds like he’s doing whatever he can to protect you. Does that mean he’s sticking around for the baby?” she asked.

“He says he is.”

“Do you not believe him?”

“Lacey, I’m in a penthouse apartment that overlooks the whole of Chicago with a man who has a friend from his checkered past who’s trying to get to me so he can leverage our unborn child against Robert. And I’m still not even sure I’m getting that right. I don’t really know what to believe right now.”

“Do you feel safe?”

I sighed and rolled over onto my eyes. My teary eyes fell onto the doorway of the bedroom. There was a guard standing out in the hallway, his shadow looming over the shining floors of the apartment. I could hear Robert shuffling around in the living room. Talking lowly to himself, or possibly on the phone. I closed my eyes and allowed his rumbling tones to waft over my ears. They sank into my bones and relaxed me into the bedsheets.

“I do,” I said. “I feel safe.”

“Then believe that,” Lacey said. “But I want you to text me where you are. I want to come by and see you. I wanna look this guy in the eyes and give him the rundown on what happens if he fucks over my best friend.”

I smiled as I sat up in bed.

“I can do that. Once I get the address myself. And even saying that out loud makes me feel crazier than I already do,” I said.

“No one said your life wasn’t dramatic. You keep in touch. I’m texting you every damn hour, and if you don’t respond I’m calling the cops.”

“Sounds like a fair trade. I’ll text you soon.”

I slid from the bed, ignoring my bowl of soup. I walked past the security guard and found my way into the living room. Robert was sitting with his laptop on his thighs, typing away as he immersed himself in whatever world was unfolding on the screen. I walked over and sat on the edge of the kitchen table, my back straight and my eyes focused.

I waited until he looked up at me before I spoke.

“What’re you doing?” I asked.

“Work doesn’t stop for anything,” he said.

“I talked with Lacey.”

“I never did ask you how that meeting of yours went.”

“I’m honestly surprised you remembered,” I said.

“It was important to you, so it’s important to me. Did Lacey get the job offer or something?”

“The gave it to me, but I passed it to her.”

I watched Robert’s brow furrow with confusion.

“I thought you said you were taking it no matter what.”

“As much as it pains my fiery ego to admit it, you were partially right,” I said.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t hear you,” he said with a grin.

“I’m not saying it again. If my nausea and this chronic exhaustion is any indication of what’s to come, I won’t be able to tolerate ten-and-twelve hour rehearsal days. And I want to be the best mother I can be. Maybe that comes with being raised by a terrible one, but I don’t want to start off my relationship with my child by putting my own wants up against his or her basic needs.”

Robert sat his laptop beside him and reached out for my hand.

“I’m here for you. To support you through all of this.”

“And I appreciate that,” I said as I took his hand. “So there’s something you can do for me.”

“Name it.”

“I talked with Lacey and she wants to come see me. She’s worried and I don’t blame her.”

“Then tell her to come on,” he said.

“I don’t know the address of where I am.”

Robert and I laughed together as he shook his head.

“Of course you don’t. Pull up a text message and I’ll type it in for you,” he said.

There was something in the way his eyes lit up when he laughed. I rarely saw him smile, but when I did I caught sight of that boyish charm. I didn’t see a tough and egotistical businessman with the world at his feet. Rather, I saw a young boy robbed of his youth who was enjoying his life finally for the first time. It sparked a fire in my gut that raged throughout my body. His touch was electrifying, but it was his smile that was comforting.

Reassuring.

He typed in the address of where I was and I sent it off to Lacey. I tossed my phone onto the couch, then I drew in a deep breath.

“Do you have any plans for dinner tonight?” I asked.

The grin that crossed his cheeks made my heart flutter in my chest.

“I don’t. What did you have in mind?” Robert asked.

“I want to cook you dinner. To repay you for the dinner you cooked for me,” I said.

“You don’t have to do that. I’m perfectly capable of cooking for you since you’re so tired.”

“I didn’t realize I’d phrased that as a question.”

“Seems that your exhaustion doesn’t dampen your fiery spirit,” he said.

“I’m going to go look in the kitchen and see what there is to cook. Meet me at the table at six.”

I watched a curious smile slide across Robert’s face. I stood up from the coffee table and took a step towards him. I bent forward and cupped his head in my hands, then pressed my lips to the top of his head. His hands rose and grasped my hips, his fingers making small massaging circles across my aching joints.

The two of us were in a strange place for any person to sit.

So the least we could do was make the best of it.