by T. S. Ryder
“It depends on what it is.” He tilted his head and raised his eyebrows. He could be so obstinate. And overprotective.
“No. I won’t tell you if you don’t promise. I’m begging you, as your sister, to promise me.”
He laced his fingers through hers on her knee. “Fine, I promise.”
She nodded, and her shoulders slumped. Thank God. “I’m pregnant.”
“You’re… you’re in trouble?” He used the old euphemism, clearly not able to say the words yet.
“Not in trouble. Everything will be fine. I’ll still take my online courses. I can do my dissertation from home. I’ll still get my doctorate. It just may take me a little longer. Life will be pretty busy with a baby. Well, obviously.” She gave his hand a reassuring squeeze.
“Let’s get you home. Mom can take care of you. Everything’s going to be fine.”
“I know it will, Bret. I’m not worried about that part. I’m going to miss Devon.” She glanced at him as he pulled the car out of the lot.
He tightened his hands on the wheel. “No, you won’t. That bastard is going to marry you. Even if he won’t do it because it’s the right thing to do, he’ll do it because if someone finds out, the record label will be ready to kick us out on our asses again.”
“That’s the very last thing I want, Bret. Please, hear me out. I love him, you know that. I can’t be some burden for him, some woman he leaves at home. I’ve seen the parties after every show. How long would he stay faithful to me if he were forced to marry me? If he loved me back, it’d be different, but he doesn’t. He never said it to me, not even once.”
“He’ll stay faithful or I’ll kill him. Not sure I’m not going to do that, anyway.”
She sighed. “It’s no good. You can’t fix everything. Let me handle this in my own way.”
He was silent a long time. Long enough for Mindy to remember that night at the zoo, their first night together, and every night since. She wiped her eyes with the tissue. It was time for her to grow up. Fairy tales were for children, and him being in love with her would only be some fairy tale she told herself.
“Fine. I won’t tell anyone,” Bret said at last.
Chapter Fifteen - Devon
Devon had been at his home in L.A. for a week and he hadn’t heard one word from Mindy. She’d agreed to call him after she told Bret.
In a tearful goodbye in the privacy of their hotel room, she’d told him she loved him and that their time together had been the most wonderful time of her life.
It had sounded a lot like goodbye, so he couldn’t kick the doubt creeping in that he should call her and make sure everything was okay.
He lay on his empty bed and thought about how much fun they’d had on the road. Touring had never been that way for him. It was something he had to do, and he’d go to the parties and hook up with some random groupie. The whole experience, he realized now, had left him with a hole.
A hole Mindy had filled to bursting with her vibrancy and devotion. She’d been there for him. They’d talked about his difficulties growing up with a father he could never please. That’s why he never went back to Indiana because Devon couldn’t stand to be there.
That night, the one when she’d set out to seduce him had been the single most passionate night of his life. He’d never felt that way for anyone. It was just the two of them, and damn the rest of the world.
He had to call her. Maybe she hadn’t worked up the courage to tell her brother yet. The number was exactly the same now as it had been years ago when they were kids, and he knew it by heart.
Before he could lose his nerve, he dialed the area code, then punched in the rest. It rang twice before Bret answered. “Yeah?”
They had caller ID, of course, Devon’s name had come up. “I want to talk to Mindy.”
“You son-of-a-bitch! I should fly there and wipe the streets with you right now. You’ve got some nerve calling here and asking to speak to her.”
Okay, so she’d told Bret and he was pissed. Devon had expected no less. “Look, you can be mad at me. I don’t care. But Mindy is a grown woman and she can make her own decisions about who she wants to talk to.”
“You still don’t get it, do you?” Bret’s voice was laced with venom. “She doesn’t want to speak to you ever again. She told me so herself when you called.”
“I don’t believe you.” Devon gripped his phone tighter.
“Min, he doesn’t believe me. I told you this would happen.”
There was a rustling on the other end of the line and then Mindy said, “Devon?”
“Min, it’s so good to hear your voice, sweetheart. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, but… Bret wasn’t lying.” Her voice shook and she sniffed like she was crying. “I don’t want to see you anymore. It’s over. Just leave me alone… don’t contact me again.”
The phone clicked off, and Devon held it from his face and stared at it. Did that really happen? Mindy never wanted to see him again?
What had he done wrong? He wracked his brain, trying to think of something. Maybe when he went upstairs and got wasted, she’d decided he couldn’t be trusted. But he hadn’t looked at another woman, not once since Mindy had been waiting in that room to find out what kind of favor her big brother needed. There had been no one but Mindy. But, hell… maybe he’d done a shit job at showing her that. He’d never once told her he loved her, had found it hard to say the actual words.
What did he do now?
Chapter Sixteen - Mindy
Mindy sat cross-legged on her bed, psychology books all around her. Her baby girl, Katy, was nestled between her legs. She looked up at Mindy, blue eyes wide. Light blonde hair covered her little head.
“Mommy has to study. Let’s see… name three traits of a sociopath. Do you know?” She tickled Katy’s chin, which made the baby chuckle. “You don’t know. You’re no help at all. That’s because sociopaths are not very nice people.”
Mindy’s mother appeared in the doorway and gave her a grin. “The two of you enjoying criminal psychology?”
“I’m finding it fascinating but Katy prefers being tickled.”
“Should I take her for a bit, so you can study?” Her mom wrapped her arms around Katy’s middle, aching for an excuse to take the baby and play with her. She seemed to love having a little one in the house.
“Sure. I’ve got a test tomorrow anyway.”
Her mom came and picked the baby up. “I’ll just give her a bath and start getting her ready for bed.”
“Mom, I can do those things. Go enjoy your time with her. I’ll be there in about forty-five minutes to take care of bath time.”
The phone rang and Mindy shrugged. She didn’t know who could be calling. It probably wasn’t for her. She’d lost touch with all of her friends when she didn’t go back to college. They had no interest in the struggles of being a young, single mom. “I’ll get it,” Mindy said.
She hopped up and trotted into the kitchen, snatching the phone off its hook on the wall. “Hello?”
“Hey, Min.” It was Bret calling from New York. He’d told her that the new album wasn’t going well at all.
“Hey, big brother. What’s up?”
“How’s my favorite niece?”
“Spoiled by her grandma. How’s my favorite brother?” She carried the cordless with her into her bedroom and sat back down amongst her books and binders.
“Just left the studio. Min…” He paused and she wondered if he were going to say anything else. Normally, he called to complain about how bad the whole recording process was this time around. “Devon’s a wreck. He misses you.”
She put down her criminal psychology textbook to listen. “He told you that?”
“He doesn’t have to. I’ve known him most of our lives. Trust me.”
“You just remember, you promised not to tell anyone about the baby, least of all Devon. Okay?”
Her brother sighed. “Yeah, and I’ll keep my promise. But that doesn’t mean th
at you shouldn’t tell him about her. I think he’s looking for something that’s missing in his life. I think it’s you and Katy will be like icing on the cake.”
“He hasn’t called me, hasn’t come to see me. I’m not hard to find, Bret. I’ve accepted that he never really loved me. You should, too.” She stretched her legs out on the bed. She had the urge to push all the books onto the floor. She was tired, so tired from studying, taking care of the baby, and helping around the house. To be honest, her heart still hurt when she thought about how easily Devon had accepted her demand that he never contact her again.
She’d meant it, but a small part of her had hoped she mattered too much to let go that easily.
Maybe that had been the problem, though. She’d wanted him to prove himself so bad, she’d shoved him away and then been upset that he actually respected her enough to listen.
“You still there?” her brother asked.
“Mm-hmm. Just thinking about some things.”
“Okay. Well, take care of you and that sweet baby, all right?”
“Promise. Bye.”
What would she do if Devon actually called her? How would she react, especially since a year had passed? She honestly didn’t know. She’d either tell him to go to hell or beg him to give her and the baby a chance to make him happy.
Chapter Seventeen - Devon
It had been a year since Mindy had left him, had told him not to contact her ever again. They were recording a new album, and things were tense. Bret had stormed out of the recording sessions at least a dozen times. Devon didn’t know if August Doll would survive his love affair.
“Let’s take a break,” Devon said, as tempers began to flare, once again.
“Screw you,” the drummer said and walked out. He might or might not be back today. Devon sighed. Didn’t matter. They could record his drum tracks later if they had to. He was desperate to make this work. Without Mindy, what else did he have but his band?
Devon strolled over to Bret, picking at his guitar, a sullen look on his face. He sat down beside his former best friend. “This isn’t working.”
“It hasn’t worked for a year. You’re only now realizing that?” Bret replied.
“You’ve got to let go of how pissed you are at me.”
Bret put his guitar down and stared at Devon. “You abandoned my sister when she needed you the most.”
“That’s not at all what happened, and you know it. She told me to stay away. I’m just… honoring her wishes.”
“Please.” Bret ran a hand through his short hair, mussing it on top. “You’re scared your old man is right.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Devon turned to look around the studio. Instruments were scattered around the room. They couldn’t seem to find the sound they were going for.
“He always said you’d screw up your life, and I guess he was right. You let Mindy go, and you’re obviously going to regret that forever.”
“I thought you wanted me to stay away from her.” Devon turned back to Bret, giving a slight headshake. Something tightened around his chest. “Isn’t that why you’re so pissed at me?”
“I’m pissed because you weren’t man enough to go after her. Once I got over the fact that you took advantage of her—”
“I did not.” Devon pushed himself up off the couch.
“—and realized that it was a relationship on both sides, I’ve been waiting for you to man up. But it doesn’t look like you have the balls for it.”
Devon took off, out of the studio, out of the building, into the crisp fall air. Leaves were falling here in New York where they were recording the album. People strolled about, milling around everywhere. He needed to clear his head.
Was Bret right? Had he really let Mindy push him away because he was scared to fight for her? Would she even still want him?
What if she had someone new, in college? What if she’d met someone her age, smart like her, with similar interests, and moved on with her life?
But… what if she hadn’t? What if she still loved him? Devon turned quickly and ran back to the studio. He burst in as Bret was putting his guitar away in his case. His breath came in short pants. His lungs were on fire now. “Your sister… is she at… the University? Or is she… home?”
“What do you care?”
“Because I’m going to find her. Tell her I love her. Hope like hell she’ll take me back since it took me so long to realize it.”
“Well, it’s about damn time. She’s home. If you want my sister, you’ve got to go back to Indiana.” Bret gave him a questioning look.
Devon hadn’t been back to Indiana since they left on their newly purchased tour bus several years ago. “Watch me.”
He pulled out his phone and called his manager while he headed back to the hotel to pack. “Chet, get me on a flight from New York to Indianapolis today. Rent me a car, I’ve got to drive a bit. You get all that?”
“This sounds like trouble,” Chet said.
“I don’t give a damn.”
Chapter Eighteen - Devon
Devon turned the car off outside of Mindy’s mom’s house. It was small and modest, the house where he’d hung out to play video games with his best friend. Bret had wanted to buy his mom a new home, but she wouldn’t have it.
It looked like maybe no one was home. Their mom’s car was gone. But then he saw someone, Mindy maybe, walk past a sheer curtain in the living room. Okay. He clutched the keys tightly. He was going to do this. He had to convince Mindy that he’d been miserable without her, couldn’t live without her another day.
Devon climbed the porch steps and gave a resounding knock on the front door. He waited for what seemed like an eternity.
Finally, Mindy opened the door. Her mouth and eyes went wide with shock. “Devon, what are you doing here?”
“Can I come inside? To talk.” He swallowed hard as his stomach clenched like a fist.
She looked around the living room. When she looked back at him, her eyes shone brightly. “Yes, but only for a few minutes. My mom is at the park, but she’ll be back soon.”
He didn’t understand why he needed to be gone before Mrs. Cassidy came home. Did she hate him now, too, for letting Mindy go? Scratch that—if he’d hurt Mindy, he knew she’d have it out for him.
Mindy turned away and went through the house, picking up a small blanket and a couple of toys off the floor. She stuffed them in a laundry basket and put them in the hall. Maybe she had a puppy now? Didn’t matter. He needed to focus on why he was here.
“Min,” he started and stopped. How did he begin? “There’s something I need to say to you. I should’ve said it a long time ago, but… I screwed up.”
“That’s what you came all the way to Indiana to tell me? You screwed up?” She wiped her eyes as a tear fell.
“No. I mean, I did, but that’s not what I meant to say. I’m doing this all wrong.” He stepped closer, took her face in his hands, and wiped the new tears away. “I’m in love with you.” His insides shook as he waited for her response.
She gazed into his eyes. “For real?”
“Very for real. I’m lost without you. I can’t enjoy anything, not even the music when you’re not there. You make my life complete, but that’s not even why I’m here. I want to be those things for you. I want to be the one thing that makes your life better.”
She turned her face into his hand and kissed his palm. “I love you, too. But, we need to talk.”
“We will. I’ll do whatever it takes to make you happy, I promise.” He leaned down to brush a kiss across her forehead, but she lifted her face, and then they were kissing. Electricity shot through him. It was like time had stopped. She could still make him feel like it was just the two of them in the world.
She snaked her arms around his neck and he grabbed her ass in both hands, lifting her up. She wrapped her legs around his waist in response and moaned his name. Her mouth latched on to his neck, and she lapped at him.
&nbs
p; “I’ve missed you,” she murmured against his skin.
“God, Min, you’re my everything. I didn’t even know what love was until I met you. I’m so sorry I let you go.”
“Not your fault.” She kissed him, opening her mouth in invitation. His body responded, and he was hard for her. He walked backward with her to the couch and sat down. Their hands were everywhere, roaming under each other’s clothes.
“We should stop,” Devon said. “You said your mom will be back soon and this isn’t how I want her seeing her future son-in-law.”
“Was that a proposal?” Mindy leaned her forehead against his, breathing hard. “Don’t ask me that yet. There’s something you should know.”
“You’ve found someone else.” He knew he’d waited too long. Stupid to think she was sitting here at this house alone, waiting for him.
“Don’t be ridiculous. There won’t ever be anyone else for me, not like that.” She slipped out of his arms and onto the couch. “But there is someone you need to know about before we can be together. We’re a package deal now.”
Was she seriously talking about her puppy now? “I could care less if you have a dog. We’ll take her on the road with us.”
“Dog? What?” She half-smiled, her head tilted.
“The toys. And the blanket. You’ve got a dog, right?”
Mindy stood up and crossed to look out the storm door. When she turned back, her fingers twisted together. “Katy isn’t a dog. Those were baby things.”
“Oh.” They could get past this. He wasn’t going to be angry at her because she’d been with someone else in the year they’d been apart. “You had a baby?”
“No, Devon. We have a baby. A little girl. I named her Katherine, after my mom.”
A flush of adrenaline hit his bloodstream and his stomach was heavy. “A baby. You and me?”
Chapter Nineteen - Mindy
Mindy’s insides felt torn apart at the idea that Devon might reject their child. What if he didn’t even believe her? What if he was worried she wanted something from him? What if, what if, what if. It was all she could think about.
