Page 33 of How to Catch a Rockstar

“Excellent,” Mike says as he walks into the room. Aurora follows him inside. She glances my way and scowls before looking away.

I frown at what she’s wearing. She has on a baggy shirt to hide her pregnant belly. Why the fuck is she hiding my baby? Is she embarrassed to be carrying my child?

I squeeze the back of my neck. What the hell am I thinking? I’m not claiming the child. It’s her child and her problem. I’m not getting involved.

Fender’s question echoes in my mind. “You’d be happy for there to be a child of yours running around the world who you have nothing to do with?”

I’m not any closer to an answer to his question than I was when he asked it a week ago.

“The venue wants to add two more concerts,” Mike announces.

Cash scowls. “We’re not performing two more concerts.”

“This was supposed to be a one off,” Gibson says. “Besides, we’re doing the weeklong tour in two weeks.”

“And I need to get home to Virginia,” Dylan adds.

Mike purses his lips. “The lot of you have become difficult since you’ve found love.”

“Become?” Aurora snorts.

Mike ignores her. He always ignores her. I frown. He shouldn’t be an asshole to her. She works hard for the band to make sure we have everything we need while on tour. And while not on tour as well.

A roadie rushes through the door. “Here are those extra posters you wanted,” he says and drops a box into Aurora’s arms.

Dylan rushes forward and snatches the box from her. “You shouldn’t be carrying heavy boxes in your condition.”

“What condition?” Mike glares at Aurora. “Are you sick?”

Aurora clears her throat. “I wouldn’t use the word sick.”

“Out with it. You know I hate women who play games with me.”

She glares at him. She doesn’t take shit from her boss any more than she takes shit from us. It’s probably why she’s lasted in her job as long as she has.

“I’m not playing games, asshole. I’m pregnant.”

“You’re fucking pregnant and didn’t tell me!”

“It’s not your baby. Why would I tell you?”

“Because I’m your boss. I need to know if you can’t do your job.”

She taps her clipboard with her pen. “Am I not doing my job now? Did I not set this concert up in record time?”

She did. We cancelled all concerts for the foreseeable future when Gibson went into rehab since we didn’t want to pressure him to hurry up and get sober already. But since he’s out of rehab and doing well, the band’s back to promoting our latest album with concerts.

Mike leans close and gets in her face. Aurora doesn’t budge. She glares at him with such venom on her face, I’m surprised our manager doesn’t crumple to the floor in agony.

“And will you be able to do your job when you’re as big as a house? Will you be able to chase after roadies when your feet are swollen?”

“I’ll let HR know you think I’m as big as a house.”

“Fuck HR. I’m the boss here.”

Aurora rolls her eyes. “Yes, you made things abundantly clear when you used Gibson’s stint in rehab to gain publicity for the band despite anything I had to say.”

Gibson growls next to me. I clutch his arm to stop him. Aurora needs to handle this situation for herself or Mike will never respect her.

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