Page 48 of Mending Hearts

“It’s my idea.” I rose from my chair and blocked Rebecca’s view of Tyler lounging on the couch. “I don’t know why people find this so hard to believe.”

“You’re a workhorse,” Taryn said. “There is no end to your hard work. You aren’t a quitter. It’s one of my favorite things about you. So, what’s really going on?”

Over my shoulder, my gaze connected with Tyler. We hadn’t talked about how far I might have to go to quit. With a deep breath, I studied Taryn and Rebecca. I rubbed my hands together and pressed them against my lips.

“I’m pregnant.” I dropped my hands as the two women gasped again, and Rebecca fell backward into a chair.

“What?” All the color drained from Taryn’s face. “Does Laura know?” She shook her head. “Of course, she doesn’t know.” Taryn glared at Tyler and then Pasha. “Which one of you is the baby daddy? It’s gotta be one of you.” She whirled on me. “You can’t be very far along. We’ve got options.”

“I’m not telling you because I need your help. I don’t.” I laughed, surprised at how light I felt now that I’d told them. “At least not withthe baby part. I need you to manage my mother. Tyler is going to keep the baby. I’m not. I’m not having anything to do with the baby, okay? It’s just—I’m the vessel.”

“You got pregnant on purpose?” Rebecca cocked her head.

“No, no.” I shot Tyler a pleading look.

“I agreed to keep and raise the baby instead of her getting an abortion.” When both women stared at him, Tyler laid out the sequence of events in a way I was sure I couldn’t have done.

“My God.” Taryn rubbed her forehead. “Laura would drive you to a clinic. It wouldn’t matter how far along you were. This is her worst nightmare. She’s always been paranoid you’d get pregnant young like her.”

“I know that,” I said, unable to conceal the tension in my voice. “That’s why she doesn’t know.”

“Are you ever coming back?” Rebecca put her head in her hands and sighed.

“Yes! God, I’m not quitting. Well, I’m quitting right now. But I love performing and singing, it’s not…Tyler told you. I’m really going to make an album with Grady while I’m off with the baby. It’ll be fine. No one needs to know.”

“Why are you telling us?” Taryn took off her glasses and cleaned them.

“You both signed NDAs, and I needed you to understand there’s no talking me into continuing the tour. So, you need to figure out a way to get my mother to agree to all of this.”

“It’s your mother. We need a hammer. If we can’t use the pregnancy, what’s the hammer?” Rebecca met her gaze. “If we absolutely can’t win her around with some sort of deal, how do we get to her?”

I’d realized this question would come at some point. Sometimes a carrot worked, but other times we needed a stick. A heavy one. “She thinks Tyler and I are together. We’re not. But use that idea. Tell her I’ve said if I have to make a choice, I’ll choose Tyler and freeze her out. Make it clear she needs to let this thing with Tyler run its course. I promise you both I’m coming back. I’ll come back better than ever. But I need out for now.”

Taryn and Rebecca exchanged a long, exhausted look. “She won’t want to lose you,” Taryn admitted. “The threat would work. But you can only use it if you mean it. If you’ll follow through.” Taryn held up her hand. “Even if she agrees, Laura will want to see you at some point over the next few months.”

“I’ll deal with that when she finally decides to visit me. I’m counting on her being too pissed off at me to visit any time soon.” I shrugged. “At some point, she’ll be too late.”

Taryn and Rebecca linked hands and squeezed. With deep breaths, they seemed to find comfort in each other. I glanced at Tyler, and I understood that feeling, finding strength in someone else. It happened all the time with him.

“All right,” Rebecca agreed. “We’ll figure it out. You three should leave tonight. Once she knows—”

“I know. If I’m still here, she’ll steer every guilt trip she has in my direction.” My chest grew tight at the thought. “I’d never leave.”

Tyler’s arm circled my waist, and our gazes met. He ducked his head and nuzzled my neck. My knees almost buckled at his stubble brushing against all the sensitive spots. Alone with him. That’s all I wanted.

“Tonight,” he agreed. “You pack. I’ll book the flights.”

My body lit up.

“Pasha, you’re coming with us?” Tyler tipped his chin in Pasha’s direction.

I hadn’t asked him, but I knew he would. Like Tyler, he’d become someone I counted on.

“I come.” Pasha nodded. “I pack light.”

Taryn’s hand slid along my back and drew me into a hug. In my ear, she whispered, “I love you, kid. We’ll come visit instead of Laura if we can swing it.”

Relief coursed through me. Maybe I should have told them weeks ago, but I’d thought I could handle everything.

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