Disgust coated my tongue as I glared at him. “Figured out ditching the preggers girlfriend makes you look bad, huh? Well, there is no us, not if you think I got pregnant to trap you. The accusation lit up your face. Noah confirmed you said as much to him, too.” I swallowed. All my plans… I swallowed again, barely able to speak past the emotional shrapnel clogging my throat.
“You surprised me! We’ve taken all the precautions. I just…I just wasn’t expecting it. This.” He stepped in again, brought my chin up to meet his gaze. “But I want you, Pres. I want our baby.”
I wanted to believe him. I did. But those were my emotions cheering me on. I must remember he left once. He’d do it again.
“You said I had to be the one to end this. I’m ending it.”
His gaze was strong, his features stoic. “Does it matter that I’m in love with you?”
My heart stuttered with the pain. I forced my eyes to stay firmly on his. I shook my head. “You had a chance to tell me that before—before you thought I’d act like your mother. Or want to hold on to you only for your money.”
I didn’t bother to ask him to leave. I went into my bedroom, shut and locked the door.
Once again, we were right where we’d started. I never learned from my mistakes.
I refused to come out of my room, even after Brenna ordered Teo to leave.
“You need to take your meds, Pres. Come on. Open the door.”
I did with reluctance. My lip trembled and the words tumbled out. “I love him. I don’t want him to go. I just want to be with him.”
Her cheeks slackened and her eyes rounded. She pulled me into her bony chest, causing me to gasp from the contact against my sensitive flesh. “Oh, honey,” her voice cracked as she sniffled into my hair.
“He might have only considered me a fling, but I can’t stand the idea of him being with anyone else. I can’t stand that.”
Brenna blinked, her brows pulling low. “You—you really love him?”
I nodded, unable to speak passed the lump in my throat.
“It’s too soon. It’s just infatuation,” Brenna muttered. Brightening, she said, “Come on, you can’t be this sad. You have the baby to consider. If he loves you, truly loves you as you deserve, he’ll want to stick around. Nothing will keep him away from you.” This time her voice filled with absolute certainty.
“It’s over.” I made sure of it.
“Let’s go shopping. Even if it’s just online.”
I pulled out of my best friend’s embrace to glare at her. She sighed.
“Prada might make you feel better.” She smiled as she pushed my bangs back. “It’d make me feel better for you.”
“Some way you’ll survive my breakup,” I said, my voice dry. I lay down on the couch and pulled up the blanket Brenna put there. I took the pills she handed me and drank the glass of water.
“If you won’t shop with me, how about a movie?”
I shrugged. I didn’t care about any of that. I just wanted Teo. His arms around me, the feel of his naked chest against my cheek. I rubbed my fingers against the hem of his T-shirt I’d changed into after I told him we were over.
Pathetic, I know but I needed to feel safe. Teo made me feel safe. Or had. I huddled there, my eyes and throat aching, the emotions too big and fresh for any release.
Sometimes the hurt lodged too deep for tears.
“Get up. C’mon, sweetie.”
I opened my eyes and glared at Brenna.
“You picked my lock?”
“Well, yeah. It’s for a good cause. You’ve holed up in here for two days. You need to eat. Not just for you but for the baby. Abbi called, but I took care of that. Got you out of everything but that gig with Asher on Friday. The whole rest of your crazy family has called. Many times. They need to chill.”
I snorted. Like she could talk.
“Go away.”
“No. You’ve moped. It’s time to get up and do something.”
I waved in the general vicinity of my window. “I can’t go outside without being mobbed. The reporters called me like a hundred times to see how I feel about Teo’s trade.”
Brenna sat on the edge of my bed. “I’m worried about you, Pres. This is the lowest I’ve ever seen you.” She grabbed one of my arms, pulled it out to trace her fingers over the red and bruised skin. “The baby, Pres. Start thinking about our baby girl.”
“We aren’t having a baby,” I snapped, irritated by her coddling. By her constant presence. That’s why I’d locked my door in the first place—to get away from Brenna’s forced cheerfulness. “I am.”
“I’m going to help you. You’re not alone. I made you waffles. Some good-for-mama waffles. Eat a few bites. I’ll bring them to you here.”
“Fine,” I sighed. “I’m going to pee and brush my teeth.”
I was out of toilet paper; I walked out to snatch some from our half bath just in time to see Brenna throwing away a huge bouquet. I stopped, staring at the beautiful hot pink gerbera daisies. My favorites. I’d mentioned them to Teo one night when he asked me how to romance me.
“Not with roses.” I’d wrinkled my nose.
“You don’t like roses?”
“I do.”
“But?”
“Roses say you’re just going through the motions. They lack originality.”
“What would be a romantic gift?” He’d raised his eyebrows.
“For you or for me?”
“Either.”
“Well, if you insisted on sending flowers, my favorites are daisies. The bright pink gerbera ones. Otherwise, maybe viola strings.” I shrugged.
“Strings aren’t romantic.”
“But I always need them. Like bow rosin.”
“Try again.”
“That’s the point,” I said with a smile. “You should come up with something for me.”
“Like pink daisies?” At my nod, he asked, “What would you get me?”
I’d bit the tip of my thumb and considered him. “Concert tickets to the South American band that’s coming into town. Or that beer you liked at dinner last night. Some Serrano ham because you like it in your omelets, which I’d make for you.” I’d lowered my voice and swayed in closer. “A new tie to wrap around your neck while you were otherwise naked.”
Teo’s pupils had dilated. “That’s a good gift,” he’d said, his voice raspier than usual. His accent had become more pronounced, too. I’d smiled, liking the power I wielded.
“I’d pull you by it to your bedroom before I shoved you into your chair.”
Teo’s Adam’s apple had bobbed. “I want this tie.” Then he’d pulled me close and kissed me, his hands shaking a little as he’d cupped my cheek.
“What are those?” I asked.
“Just some flowers,” Brenna said with false cheer.
“Would you get me some toilet paper?” I asked. “It hurts to bend over.”
“Sure, sweetie. Are the bruises getting better?”
“Ah, a little.” I forced my eyes not to dart toward the trash bin. “I need to pee.” I tried to look pitiful.
Brenna trotted off, and I dug frantically through the bin, looking for the card. If the flowers were from Teo he would’ve sent a card. I darted back to the edge of the kitchen as Brenna approached, my mission unsuccessful.
She took in my compressed lips. “I’ll bring you breakfast in bed.”
I nodded. “’Kay. Just give me a few.”
Brenna brought me a tray a few minutes later. I smiled at her even though the idea of food caused my stomach to roll. She made a point of including one of the flowers she must’ve salvaged from the garbage on the tray. Probably because she remembered they were my favorite.
I nibbled through the waffle. “Teo sent the flowers, didn’t he?”
Brenna shrugged.
“I want the card, Bren.”
“But it’ll just upset you. You shouldn’t get upset now. It’s not healthy for you or the baby.”
I shoved
the tray away. “The card, Brenna.” I kept my gaze steady, palm up, waiting. “It’s mine.”
She grimaced as she pulled it from her back pocket. She sighed, a long, drawn out affair, as she handed it over. She grabbed the tray and stalked from my room.
Once she was gone, I opened the envelope. I recognized Teo’s handwriting because I’d become even more obsessed with the man now that we weren’t seeing each other. I knew the press labeled his last soccer match yesterday the worst in his career—not because he played—he didn’t. But neither was he the cool and collected player they were used to seeing. He yelled at the referees and his teammates from the bench until finally Jorge had him escorted to the locker room. According to one blogger, Teo trashed part of the locker room, too.
Everyone focused on our alleged split because we were no longer photographed together, and my excuse of needing to rest and heal grew thinner by the day. The media attention was insane now that Oren had been refused bail—the only positive to come from all this. Three other women had stepped forward to testify against his abuse. Between that and my public beating and thwarted kidnapping, Oren was going to prison. I didn’t delude myself into thinking it would be forever, but I knew it would be for many years.
I’m sorry. I handled the situation poorly, but I love you. Please, talk to me. M
I couldn’t. No way. I’d cave.
I buried the note in my sock drawer because my underwear drawer felt too personal.
But I was unable to part with his words.
I texted Abbi. Can I come up and see you?
Course. Mom’s here. Would you rather we came to you?
Not with Brenna’s near-constant barbs against Teo. Since I told her I loved him, Brenna pointed out all his worst qualities. Problem was, he didn’t have many. He’d been a model boyfriend.
I missed him. Terribly.
No. I’ll come up. Need out of my place. It’ll be a few.
Over the past couple years—since my dad’s death—Briar, Abbi and I grew closer. Lia remained more reserved, but I knew she cared about me.
I wished my mom had been a better mother to her, but she hadn’t, and my brothers and I were part of the reason for that. I couldn’t imagine having to grow up at fourteen, as Lia was forced to. She’d become so successful, then married a wonderful man. I didn’t remember her first husband Doug well, but Asher Smith doted on Lia. Part of me envied Lia her relationship with the rock star. At twenty-seven, I still failed at finding love—mutual love, anyway.
“Pres!” Abbi bounded up and wrapped me in a hug that just didn’t quit. I hugged my niece back hard, glad to be here. Abbi was only seven years younger than me—closer to my age than her mother, Lia, though not by much.
“I hope you don’t mind that I called Aunt Bri,” Abbi said, pulling back. “We all want to know how you’re feeling.”
I shrugged, but my stoic expression cracked.
Abbi’s eyes narrowed and a look passed between her and Briar. “Let’s get you some tea, and you can tell us what’s been going on.” A sheen of worry sat atop her smile.
“What do you want to know?” I asked. “Besides the fact I’m pregnant and Teo’s been traded.”
Lia sat next to me. Each year, Lia grew more beautiful. Her dark red hair glowed, and her gray eyes focused on me with an intensity that kept me speared to the couch.
Lia nodded, her teeth sinking into the corner of her top lip. “I take it this was unplanned.”
“Yeah. All of it.”
“We’ll get to the trade. Let’s talk about the baby. You cared about him enough to have sex,” Briar, the pragmatist, said.
I glanced down at my fisted hands. “I thought we’d be together forever.” The silence grew, waiting. “I love him.”
“You’re not in this alone, even though I know you feel that way right now,” Lia said, shooting Briar a withering look.
I swallowed back the thick plug of emotion filling my throat. “I know it’s different. I’m twenty-seven and have a great job…” My chin trembled. I tilted my head back and blinked hard, not wanting to waste any more tears. “I wanted him to want me.”
Lia sighed. She picked up my hand. “What you’re feeling now is so jumbled. I remember when I was sure Asher didn’t love me.” She looked away. “My emotions spiked and fell, and I wasn’t dealing with the added hormone dump from pregnancy, too.” She smiled with rueful delight. “My advice, for what it’s worth, is to focus on what you want to do. But I think you owe it to Teo to give him a chance. He’s involved whether he wants to be or not. And if you both decide he’s going to give up rights, it’s easier to handle that now.” Lia cocked her head, gave it a little shake. “That’s if you want the baby.”
“I’m keeping the baby. I already love her. Him.” I frowned as I slid my hand over my flat stomach. Pathetic maybe, but I loved that I’d always have a piece of Teo. I would never fall in love again. Teo was my last, my only. If I could be sure he wanted me because he loved me, not to fix the media mess, I’d run upstairs to him right now.
Lia’s smile warmed her gray eyes so they sparkled. “As hard as it seems now, you won’t regret motherhood.”
“Especially if I’m lucky enough to have a child like Abbi. She’s pretty amazing.”
“Yes, I am. Like my mom and aunts.” Abbi winked.
“I’m proud of you, Preslee,” Lia said. “You’ve dealt with a lot and keep coming out fighting.”
I threw my arms around Lia’s shoulders. She hugged me back, just as hard.
“Oooh, group hug,” Abbi squealed, her arms circling us. Then another body smooshed into my back.
“I refuse to cry. You know I hate to cry.” Briar mumbled. “Think positive. I’m going to be an auntie. I love being an auntie!”
Lia laughed and brushed the bangs from my eyes. “Let Preslee breathe. She’s got a lot to process.”
“Thanks,” I smiled.
Briar sat in the chair across from me while Abbi plopped next to me. “So, spill.”
“Have you talked to him?” Lia asked.
I shook my head. “Not since I kicked him out the other day. I read he’s back in Buenos Aires.”
“So why do we hate him again?” Abbi asked. “I mean, he considers your feelings. From what Brenna said, you two spent all your time together. She was so despondent the one time I came down to borrow sugar. Like she lost her favorite plaything.”
“He left me in the hospital after I told him I was pregnant,” I whispered.
Lia’s lips mashed into a thin, angry line. “Hate the bastard.”
Tears pricked the back of my eyes. “Wish I did. He said…he said the nurse kicked him out.”
Abbi patted my hand. “Did you ask Brenna about that? She would know, right?”
Briar settled back in her chair and mentally ticked through what she knew about Teo—intelligence pulsed in her eyes.
Abbi got up and went to the kitchen. She came back with sparkling water for all of us. “Drink. Water’s important for you.”
Briar tuned us out, which made me even tenser. I gulped my glass while Abbi played with her bottle.
“How did Oren find you?” Briar asked.
I shrugged. “The newspaper. Or a blog. I don’t know. But he’d called the week before so he was obviously keeping tabs on me.”
“But you left practice late that day. Hours after the rest of the musicians—after seven p.m., right? And you came out the front, not the back entrance the musicians normally use.”
“He followed Teo and me home that night after the soccer match. Maybe he watched me and got lucky,” I said.
“How did the media know you were leaving the hospital in the middle of the night? There were quite a few pictures showing you without Teo. That’s what set Noah off, made him push for the trade.”
I shrugged. “Maybe one of the nurses tipped off the paparazzi. I don’t know. Noah’s refused to talk to him and he hasn’t called me.” Which, now that I thought about it, seemed weird. B
ut he hadn’t left even one message—not on my phone, my social media accounts. Nothing.
Briar pulled out her phone.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Texting Noah,” Briar said.
“No!” The word exploded from me. My sisters and Abbi stared at me. “No,” I said again. “Please don’t. I don’t want to know.”
“But, Pres—”
“No!” I stood, my legs shaking. “He wants the sex without the commitment, and I can’t do that.”
And I walked out of Abbi’s condo, back to the cold darkness of my room.
27
Teo
I slipped into the room, staying to the back, trying to remain unobtrusive. I hadn’t been in The Vera Project before and the space was bigger, cleaner than I expected. The large, curved stage sat at the front of the room. Hundreds of people clumped together on the concrete floors, dancing and raising their drinks over their heads as the beat seemed to overpower their better judgment.
Yep. A full glass of something cascaded down onto a teased head. I shook my head as I chuckled, thankful for the break in tension. Abbi turned around and met my gaze, her eyes widening. I tipped my chin toward her, but before I could make my way through the crowd, the next song began and Preslee walked out on stage.
Her voice filled the large, spacious room, wrapping around me as it did the hundreds of other patrons, soothing my aching muscles and ragged heart. A throaty, rich sound I couldn’t help but fall in love with all over again.
The smile tugged the corner of my lips as she harmonized with Asher, hitting the notes with crystal sharpness. Asher smiled at her, his excitement at working with such talent evident in the way he bounced on his heels before turning back to the crowd and singing the hell out of the next line, bending his knees and touching the hands of the people in front of him.
She looked beautiful. She wore a short, black skirt and a loose, red blouse in some semi-see-through material. I’d never seen it before but it set off her pale skin and dark hair to perfection. She looked soft, fragile but with an inner glow that must come from the pregnancy.
Striker's Waltz (Seattle Sound Series Book 6) Page 19
