Page 50 of Tempt Me-

He eyes me carefully, but I don’t flinch, unwilling to give up information to my suddenly nosy friend.

Ben rolls his shoulders and lets out a heavy sigh.“Fine.Let’s get specific.Dan tells me you had some issues with the ex?You wrap that up okay?”

“I did.Thank fucking God.”I blow out a calm, relieved breath.

The kind I’ve been exhaling since taking care of Kayla and receiving a call from the cops that they booked her along with her boyfriend for selling and possession.

Ben nods his approval.“And how is your cute kid?”

“Good.”At the mention of Bailey, I grin.“But she’ll be better when I can bring her home.”I explain Mia’s current situation to my friend.“I just want that wrapped up before I take Bailey from my parents.Just to be safe.But I’ve been visiting often.”

“I get that.”Ben tips the bottle, taking a sip of his beer.“So what about you?”

“What about me?”I ask warily.What else have we been talking about if not my life?What else is there?

“So last time someone brought a strange woman to one of Dan’s parties—”

“You were protecting her?”I fill in the end of the sentence before Ben can leap to another conclusion.

He snorts.“I was going to say, I wanted her.And I’m wondering what’s going on with you and Mia.”

I blow out a long breath.I place the bottle down on a table and meet Ben’s gaze.Obviously my friend isn’t going to let me off the hook, and it isn’t like I couldn’t use a friend to talk to.“If I was going to get serious about anyone, it would be Mia.But—” How do I explain?

“You’re still fighting the inevitable.I remember those days well.I got it.”Ben shakes his head in definite understanding and commiseration.

It isn’t the same thing.Ben’s history and issues were with Summer herself.My problems are tangled up with betrayal and hurt and a little girl I can’t afford to put in the middle of something and have her get hurt.

“I can’t let myself get serious again.I can’t risk Bailey getting attached and me deciding it’s not working out.”

Ben rolls his eyes.“You’re certainly very protective of Mia, considering you brought her here when you could have just had someone watch the house.”

I frown at my friend.

“I’m telling you, all the fighting you are doing with yourself?It’s not worth it.You could have a real family, you know?”

I swallow hard.I know.And that is what scares me.Having it.Trusting it.Relying on it.And having the rug ripped out from under me once more.

“I’ve done the family thing once, Ben.Not doing it again.”

Except Mia isn’t Kayla, a voice in his head tells me.And my friend’s knowing shake of his head lets me know he is thinking the same thing.

***

Mia

I listen toSummer talk about her tour, the adjustments to living on the road, out of hotel rooms, the fans, the venues… all things I want to hear about but none I can concentrate on because the nausea has returned.And out of the blue, I know.This can’t possibly be a stomach virus.I know better.I wouldn’t suddenly want to throw up after five days if it was.

Can I really be pregnant?

Dread and fear take hold as the possibility takes root.And grows.I didn’t want to believe it, think it, or face it.Didn’t want to consider what it would mean for the life I live.And love.Or my future.

Or what Austin will think.

Austin, who’s been in this position once before, having gotten a woman pregnant.True, I didn’t poke holes in the condom, but he hadn’t originally wanted or planned that child.And he has no desire to get serious again.

Oh my God, I think, as another wave of queasiness hits me.

Unaware, Summer continues, a smile on her face.“And Ben said if it wasn’t the last stop, he’d pull the plug on the tour because he couldn’t wait to get home,” Summer says, her voice trailing off as she meets my gaze.“Are you okay?”she asks.