Page 121 of Reckless

I head over to where Emily is holding my phone with a knowing smile on her face as she holds it up so I can see the screen. ‘Jude’ is flashing on the display. I mouth ‘thank you’ at her.

“Hey you,” I answer.

“Hey yourself. How is it going? You all set up?”

“You wouldn’t believe how amazing it looks. I'll send you some pictures later. I’m excited, catching up with everyone. I can’t wait to meet the fans.”

“Sounds like fun. Did you miss me last night?”

“Bri and Emily were with me most of the night, so…”

“You break my heart, Krista.”

“It’s been one night.”

I lean back against the bookcase and survey the room, but I’m not really seeing anything. I’m too busy focusing on the sound of his voice. Truth is, I do miss him, but I will never admit it. I will not be one of those women who becomes so obsessed with a guy they can’t separate themselves. I don’t think Jude would ever let me be like that.

“Thank you for my picture.”

“Ah yeah, you got that.”

“I fell asleep cuddling with it.”

He laughs. “You liar.”

“Yeah, but I thought it might make you feel better.”

“Only you next to me will make me feel better, preferably on my dick.”

“You’re such a romantic.”

“Tell me you’re not thinking the same.”

“I wasn’t. Quit it. Is everything okay back in LA? What time is the meeting?”

“Not till this afternoon. I’m having lunch with Sol. I want to know how she is planning on handling the baby situation. Paul is the only one who doesn’t know yet. We need to talk to him beforehand. The label might control us, but we have some say in what happens. We need a plan.”

“Sounds like a good idea.” I wave and shout "Hi," at an author I met at a convention a few months ago in Denver.

“You’re busy. I should let you go. I just wanted to say good morning and hope it goes well today.”

“Thanks. These things are always a lot of fun. I know I don’t know her, but I hope Solene is okay. Go easy on her.”

“I will,” he confirms. “Call later?”

“I’ll let you know when I’m back in my room.”

Emily is staring at me when I hang up with a dreamy smile. I flip her off, then go back to adding the final touches to the table.

Chapter 29

The others are due to join us in a half hour. I keep staring at Solene across from me on a sun lounger. She’s laying back wearing a strapless crop top and tiny shorts. My eyes are drawn to her flat stomach. I don’t know much about pregnancy progression. I mean, I’m not dumb. I know the facts, but not when she will start showing. For now, she doesn’t look any different.

Sol’s house is only a short drive away from mine and we’ve agreed to meet here before we head to the Quicksilver offices. We’ve talked in circles about the father. She doesn’t want to know him. I’ve tried to appeal to the fact this guy might want to know he has a kid, but she’s been adamant she isn’t in the right head space.

When I offered to do it with Riggs’s help to keep things on the down low, she got quiet, her jaw tensing. Riggs hasn’t been around her since South Dakota. It is clear she doesn’t want to talk about him and after a moment of silence, she shut it down.

I’ll agree to disagree right now, but the more I think about it, the more I put myself in this guy’s shoes. Even if I didn’t want a relationship with the mom, I wouldn’t like to think I had a child I knew nothing about. All I can do is offer her advice and support. It isn’t up to me to decide for her.

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