Page 10 of Reckless Encore

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Back then

Hadahaa Island, Maldives.

Melody leaned against the bar, her stomach tumbling with eager butterflies. The Reckless Beat family had arrived at the island yesterday afternoon, exhausted and annoyed.

They were all under pressure. The men were on a hair trigger, their energy and patience lost over the looming release of their first independent track next week. And the women had to put up with their crap, making them equally temperamental.

Which explained their current segregation.

The men grouped at one of the tables in the corner of the open-air bar, while the ladies chose to stick as close to the bartender as possible.

“It’s a relief to get away.” Sidney took a sip of her bright red cocktail. “Working from home makes life difficult. Neither one of us can get away from the stress.”

Gabi clucked her tongue and pointed a finger at Mason’s wife. “You know the rules. No work or kid talk while we’re here. Each time you bring up business, you’re going to have to down a shot.”

“Point taken.” Sidney grinned and zipped her fingers across her mouth.

“You might want to start lining up the shots.” Alana focused on her phone, flicking through images of baby Chase. The woman was a photographic genius. “This is the longest I’ve left our boy at home with the nannies. I feel horrible.”

“Don’t.” Gabi nudged Alana’s shoulder. “It’s good for the kids to learn to rely on others. Blake and I wouldn’t survive if we didn’t get time away from Sophie. You need this. Enjoy it.”

“Says the woman who isn’t drinking.” Melody raised a brow and looked Blake’s wife up and down. “Why are you sipping on juice?”

“I’ve been getting headaches whenever I drink.” Gabi shrugged, but her wide eyes and darkening cheeks sabotaged her attempt to appear relaxed. “Night sweats, too. I decided I needed a detox.”

“Sure, you did.” Alana narrowed her gaze. “So, does this mean you and Blake are practicing the baby-making process, or do you already have one in the oven?”

Gabi nibbled her lower lip and shot a glance toward the men. “You know I don’t like talking about this sort of thing. Not after…”

She let the sentence hang. She didn’t need to finish. They all knew her miscarriage had made it hard to discuss pregnancies. Hers or anyone else's. At least not until a healthy baby entered the world.

“Sorry.” Alana winced. “I didn’t mean to pry.”

“I’m sorry, too.” Melody rubbed Gabi’s arm. “It was a shock, that’s all. It’s been a while since we’ve discussed babies. The conversation wasn’t on my radar.”

She usually tried to steer chatter away from things she knew nothing about. Mainly parenting, kids, and pregnancies. Not that she didn’t love their stories. It just became monotonous sitting on the sideline.

“It’s okay.” Gabi darted another glance toward Blake, who remained oblivious to her attention as he drank and talked with the guys. “I…umm…”

“You don’t have to explain.”

“I know. And I’m not trying to be secretive. It’s just…” She sighed and a smile lifted her cheeks as she leaned into their makeshift circle and whispered, “I’m pregnant.”

Melody squealed, the butterflies now a tumbling, rumbling mess taking over her body. Sidney, Alana, and Leah matched her girlie sound with ones of their own.

“Shh.” Gabi raised a finger to her lips.

They turned as a group to check if they had drawn the attention of the men. Yep. All five of them frowned, as if waiting for an explanation to the abrupt burst of noise.

“What are you up to?” Mason pushed from his seat and strode over, Mitch, Ryan, Blake, and Sean following close behind.

“Girl stuff.” Sidney beamed a smile at her fiancé.

“Don’t lie to me, kitten.” Mason pulled her into his side. “I know that expression.”

“We were talking about lingerie.” Leah placed her empty glass on the bar. “And the surprise I have in store once Ryan and I get back to our room.”

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