Page 63 of Solid Ground

EIGHTEEN

ZOE

I wantedto be the one to tell Declan about the baby; I didn’t want him to find out about it from the media—as unlikely as that was.

The day starts as normal with Declan and I tripping over each other while making breakfast—he insists he’ll make it for me, I insist I’ll make it myself.

And then his phone starts ringing off the hook.

“Is everything okay?” I ask as he rejects what’s probably the twentieth call.

“Nikki’s trying to get hold of me again. She’s probably booked me a second-hand-car salesman gig.”

I laugh. “Things can’t be that bad.” His dark look makes me stop laughing. “Really? It’s that bad? I’m so sorry.”

He sighs and drops onto the couch beside me. “It’s fine. She’s just struggling to get the hint even though I’ve told her point-blank I’m not interested in acting anymore.”

“Not interested in acting or just not interested in all the bullshit that goes with it?”

He narrows his gaze. “What do you know of the bullshit?”

I shrug. “I’m not immune to reading gossip. I just thought?—”

Anger flashes across his features before it cools, and his brows knit. “I messed up my own career. I took every opportunity that came my way and then self-destructed. There are things I’m so deeply ashamed of that I can never take back, and I’m done with doing terrible movies that aren’t going anywhere but the discount bin.”

Reaching out, I place my hand on his arm. “I had no idea.”

“You and this baby—you’re my fresh start. I don’t want to talk to Nikki because she’ll try to persuade me to make more shitty movies, and I don’t want that.”

His confession takes my breath away, and I gape at him. I had no idea his life was that bad—I’d looked him up on IMDB and apart from the big movies I recognised, it just looked like he’d always been busy. I never once thought that the movies he’d been in lately were bad or anything other than … movies. He’s mentioned his career sinking before, but I took that as hyperbole.

“Maybe you need to talk to her again and set her straight,” I say.

“I’ve already done that.”

“Want me to talk to her?”

His lips twitch into a smile. “You’d do that?”

I screw up my nose. “I kind of already did. She seemed toimply I was what’s holding you back. But you’re my baby daddy, and you’re already far more involved in my life than I’d ever thought you would be. Maybe I can insert myself in yours.”

He chuckles. “I have zero issue with you inserting yourself in my life. And I’ll definitely be talking to Nikki about what you just said.”

As he leans forward, our gazes are locked together. My heart thrums when he closes in until his face is inches from mine.

He’s such a good kisser.

I roll my eyes when his shrill ringtone breaks the moment.

“God damn it,” Declan says. “Maybe I should get this.”

“If she gives you a hard time, give the phone to me.”

He smirks. “I don’t know if I’d inflict your wrath onto Nikki.”

When he answers, I can hear her voice through the phone. She’s ranting, and his eyes grow wide.

“What? When?” Declan closes his eyes. This isn’t a job offer. Something’s gone wrong. But what? He’s been so good with me. It’s not like he’s been out to bars or anything—he’s been watching TV with me on the couch at night.

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