The last time I’d sat at the corner of the bar staring at Mia, she’d gone on stage to perform a duet with Dean Dorsey. Seeing her sharing a microphone with him while their bodies were mere inches apart ate at me like a deadly disease.

Andi swore there was nothing happening between them. I didn’t think there was. It was just the idea of them singing together and being close. Why wouldn’t Mia sing a duet with me?

Guess that would require her talking to me. We hadn’t spoken since the night the guys and I returned from tour two weeks ago. I couldn’t blame her for avoiding me. Andi assured me that Mia was busy with her accountant. It was this time each year when he and his firm came to do their audit. They hadn’t finished until yesterday.

Mia had taken the rest of the day off, but when I asked Andi why, all she said was that Mia was exhausted from staying up late. They both spent several nights going through filing cabinets and computer files for information the accountant needed.

It was plausible enough, but I still sensed there was something more happening with her.

“Uh oh. I know that look.”

Darius’s voice broke my focus. I turned to look at him just as he and Bentley joined me. Each took a stool on either side of me.

“What look?” I asked as I watched him and Bentley nod at each other and scoff.

“You’re thinking about talking to Mia again, aren’t you?”

I shrugged. “So what if I am? It’s been two weeks since the last time we spoke.”

Bentley snorted and ordered a round of drinks as Darius massaged his temples. “If you had listened to me last time, you and Mia might have made amends by now. You’re a stubborn shit.”

“On occasion.” My response was snarky, but I didn’t care. I appreciated the fact they were watching out for me, but this was something I had to do on my own, and that included listening to my gut. Something deep down inside of me said something was going on with Mia, and whatever it was, it was imperative that I know.

“What’s going through that thick head of yours today?” Bentley jested.

“Same shit as every other day. Mia is hiding something from me.”

Sliding two of the glasses across the bar, he passed one to Darius and the other to me. “What kind of proof do you need to know it’s not cancer?”

“I need Mia to tell me the truth. Her behavior and actions are enough of clue that something is wrong. Cancer is the only thing that makes sense. I feel like she’s pushing me away because she’s afraid of dying and she doesn’t want to put me through the pain of losing her.” I laughed at my answer as I thought about the irony of the situation. “Doesn’t she realize I’m already in pain? Each day we’re apart . . .”

Unable to finish, I lifted my glass and took a long drink. I sounded like an old sap. Never in my life had I been this open about how I felt for a woman. Bentley had been with me when Izzy and I broke up. Of course, that breakup was different. I hated her for what she did to me. I didn’t hate Mia. I loved her.

“So what are you plotting?” Darius asked this time.

Bentley chuckled. “He has that wild look in his eyes, doesn’t he.” When he glanced away from Darius, he peered at me. “What’s your game plan?”

“I’m going to talk to her.”

Both of my friends observed each other before they refocused on me. “What makes you think she’ll talk to you this time?”

I hesitated before I gave them an answer. “I don’t know if Mia will talk to me today, but even if she doesn’t, I know she still loves me.”

“What makes you think so?” Darius glanced at Bentley as both waited for my response.

“Despite what’s happened between us, Mia’s still wearing her engagement ring. That has to mean something. Right?”

They seemed lost for words when they nodded. I didn’t need them to agree, and I sure as hell didn’t need their approval. Mia and I both had said harsh things to each other. Yet she hadn’t removed my grandmother’s ring. Why else would she be wearing it if she didn’t plan to marry me?

“I’ve been going about this the wrong way, but I know what I need to do. I’ll catch up with you guys later.”

I heard Bentley ask me if I was sure about this, but I ignored him and made my way toward Mia. She was still sitting at the end of the left bar like she and Andi always did when they were working. Tonight, she was alone.

Andi was busy greeting a well-known band that was here to perform in a few hours. The way Mia cleaned up her work area and closed her laptop, I assumed she was finished for the evening.

Perfect.

Only a few bar stools remained between us when I noticed her rub her neck. A moment later, she lowered her hands and rested both in her lap. It wasn’t until I rounded the corner of the bar that I realized she was holding her stomach.

Fear paralyzed me, preventing me from taking another step. Was she sick? Questions spiraled through my mind as I observed her. I didn’t speak or move. I thought the worst.

Then she stroked her stomach with her fingertips.

The blood in my veins grew as cold as ice. Every nerve came to life and pulsed with the rhythm of my heart. One thought rolled through my head, one that I denied was possible. And just as the realization sank in, she glanced my way.

Our eyes locked as I took one step closer, still denying what was in front of me. I had to be wrong. Mia would never hide something like this. Yet the longer I stared at her, the more I couldn’t help but wonder if my assumption was right.

Was Mia pregnant?

My phone vibrated against the bar as my alarm went off. I refused to work all day, not when a good friend was in town. It had been years since Stevie and her band had been at Music Haven. Anytime she was in town, we always got together before and after the show.

Andi messaged earlier to let me know they were getting settled into their suites. I couldn’t wait to see her in a couple of hours. Work kept me from greeting them this time, but I knew they were in good hands.

Being around Stevie always made me think of my mom. They formed a friendship years ago before I was born. Whenever we got together, Stevie would always tell me funny stories. Some of them I’d heard before, but I didn’t mind hearing them again. Thinking about my mom made me smile, and I knew Stevie loved my mother.

Maybe she could give me some advice about Ayden.

The light above me caught in the diamond on my finger. I glanced at my ring, questioning why I was still wearing it. After refusing to talk to Ayden, I should have taken it off. Every time I tried, my heart felt as though it were splintering.

As I closed out of my programs and turned off my computer, I gathered the rest of my things. I need to shower and change before this evening, but I’d hold off until I met with the department heads in an hour.

Rubbing at the tension in my shoulders, I considered scheduling an appointment with the community masseuse. All the stress from the last few weeks had caught up with me. Maybe now was the time I should—

Something in my abdomen fluttered. I placed my hands below my navel, curious what the sensation was. The book I was reading explained how women could feel the baby as early as sixteen weeks in some pregnancies. I was closing in on seventeen. Was it possible I had felt my baby move?

Patting my belly, I caressed my shirt as I thought about my little one. I’d wanted this child for so long. I feared losing it. What happened with my sister didn’t help ease my mind.

Feeling eyes upon me, I gazed toward the spot where Ayden was sitting. He wasn’t there. Instead, he stood a few feet away. He stared at my hands a moment, then his eyes met mine. When his nostrils flared, I lowered my hands to my side.

This wasn’t good.

“Mia?”

“Hello, Ayden. Is there something I can do for you?”

He shook his head as he studied me again. “Can I talk to you?

I thought about saying no, but it was pointless. I needed to know what was on his mind. I prayed he hadn’t figured out the truth, because if he had—

“Please. Just hear me out. I promise not to take up too much of your time.”

“I’m listening.” My reply was short. I didn’t want to say more than I needed to. At this point, I had no idea what he was about to say. He had approached me long before he saw me pat my belly.

His eyes showed so much emotion as they stared into mine. It made my breath hitch. I was far from being over him. Every second I spent in his presence warned me as much.

“Mia, I love you with everything in me, but I know I’ve said things to hurt you more than once.” His throat wobbled as he paused a moment. “As much as it hurts to think you don’t want to be with me, I would rather be your friend than not have you in my life. Is that possible?”

“For us to be friends?” I asked to make sure I understood him. When he nodded, I was unsure what to say. So I nodded.

He pressed his hand to his stomach and released a breath. “May I speak freely, as a friend?”

“Of course.”

“I’ve noticed changes in you, even before I left on tour. You say you don’t have cancer. Right?”

Now was my chance to set the record straight. I could tell him the truth, or let him believe whatever he wanted. Hopefully, he would accept whichever answer I gave him. I still worried he wasn’t ready for kids.

“I don’t have cancer. I’m under a lot of stress. Aside from the workload I’m carrying, this stuff with you and me is driving me insane.”

“Okay.” He glanced at the floor and grew quiet. A second later, he stepped toward me. His gaze lowered to my stomach. It lingered with his next few steps. Then he looked at me once more. “Are you pregnant?”

My heart sank. No matter how much I wanted to tell Ayden the truth, the words wouldn’t come out. It was more than my fear of him not wanting kids. I knew he would be angry with me for keeping it a secret.

“No. I’m not pregnant.”

The words made me want to vomit. I just royally screwed up and gave Ayden a reason not to trust me. Why was I so afraid to do this? I loved him. He loved me. We created this child because of that love.

Even if he didn’t want kids yet, he would accept his responsibility. I had no doubt. It was the thought of putting our child through whatever backlash its existence would cause. Izzy did her best to separate us at every turn. I didn’t know how she would react to my pregnancy, and it terrified me.

“If you don’t have cancer and you’re not pregnant, why were you holding your stomach?”

“My belly was rumbling. I haven’t eaten since breakfast, which consisted of toast. Once I grab some lunch, I’ll be fine.”

Ayden’s brows knitted as he studied me. He didn’t appear convinced by my answer, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to keep lying. All of this would end if I could find the courage to tell him his child was inside of me.

“Murderer.”

The distinct sound of my sister’s voice penetrated the friction building between Ayden and me. He turned to face Izzy, partially blocking my view. I saw enough of her face to see the anger it contained and the icy glare she was giving us.

“What did you say?” Ayden spoke before I could.

Her cold gaze drifted past him and fell on me. Then she pointed her finger in my direction. “You’re in love with a murderer, Ayden. She’s the reason our baby is gone.”

He glanced at me, face wrinkled in confusion. When I covered my mouth to hide my trembling lips, he confronted Izzy once more. “For starters, you came at Mia, swinging. I pulled her out of the way, causing you to miss and lose your balance. If anyone is to blame for your miscarriage, it’s me. Leave your sister out of this.”

“She hasn’t heard the last of this. Not by a long shot.” Hissing the words, she gave me one last scowl. The hate she felt for me made her eyes gleam. After shaking her head at Ayden, she flipped us off and marched toward the center of the bar.

Once she disappeared from our sight, Ayden turned to face me. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” My voice shook. I hated that he was here to witness what just happened.

“Don’t let her get to you. She’s good at placing blame, not accepting it.”

When he came closer, I held my breath. Being near him made me weak. It made me struggle with my decision to tell him the truth, especially now that he was suspicious.

“I’ll be fine.”

He gazed lower again. As much as I wanted to hide my belly from him, I didn’t dare touch my stomach. There would be nothing left to question. I hoped like hell he hadn’t noticed the tiny protrusion that I discovered this morning. I was definitely showing now, and if it weren’t for the double-layered shirt I had on, it would be visible.

When he touched my shoulder, I tensed. I didn’t miss the way he grimaced or the way he stepped back, giving me space again. The part of me that loved him wanted to blurt out the truth. The part of me that feared his reaction, as well as my sister’s, kept me from opening my mouth.

“I won’t keep you. I just wanted you to know how I feel. If you want to throw away what we have, I can’t stop you, but I’m not giving up on us.”

He didn’t say anything else. Instead, he pivoted on his heel and walked back toward the bar where Bentley and D were sitting. Both looked at Ayden with concern once he rejoined them.

I hated this. The guilt. The lying. The unknown. In a perfect world, I’d tell Ayden I was pregnant, he’d forgive me for keeping the secret, and we’d live happily ever after.

Nothing about this world was perfect.

No matter how much I wanted to tell Ayden the truth, there were too many risks to factor into the equation. Ayden plus me equaled what I hoped would be a beautiful, healthy baby. But my sister was hell-bent on dividing us.

My lie would do the same.