Page 35 of How to Catch a Rockstar

She’s worth everything. Too bad I can’t tell her she is.

“Am I understanding this situation correctly? You’ll fire me if I fire Aurora?”

We nod in response.

“Fine. You can keep your little assistant. But tell me this.” Mike glances between Aurora and me. “Is this why Aurora moved to Winter Falls? Because she can’t stand to be away from Jett?”

I freeze. Aurora moved to Winter Falls? I thought she was merely visiting. I thought she came to tell me about the baby and would leave.

“She’s never needed to be near the band before,” he presses when no one answers him.

“I didn’t move to Winter Falls,” Aurora says.

“Good.” Mike’s grin is evil. “Then, I will no longer be paying for the fancy hotel you’re staying in. If there’s nothing else.” He flounces out of the room before anyone has a chance to respond to him.

As soon as the door’s closed behind him, Dylan approaches Aurora. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize he didn’t know you’re pregnant.”

She waves away his apology. “It’s fine. He was bound to find out when I showed up to work with a baby strapped to my back.”

I frown. She’s not working with my baby strapped to her back.

“Will you go back to San Diego now?” Cash asks.

I hate the idea of Aurora being several states away from me but it’s probably for the better. I’m no good for her anyway.

She shrugs. “I guess.”

Her eyes glaze over as she listens to someone over her headphones. “Be there in a minute,” she responds to him.

“I don’t have time for this now,” she says as she rushes off.

“What are you going to do?” Dylan asks when she’s gone.

“What do you mean?” I ask although I know exactly what he means.

“It’s time to step up or step out,” Fender grumbles.

“Are you going to let Aurora live in San Diego when she’s pregnant with your baby?” Cash asks.

“It’s better this way. I’m no good for her.”

“Abandoning your child is better for her?” Fender growls.

Pain pierces through my heart at the idea of my child growing up thinking it’s been abandoned. I know the feeling. It never leaves you. It haunts you.

Gibson squeezes my shoulder to the point of pain. “You need to get over your shit and latch onto your chance at happiness. Don’t let her get away from you.”

“Did going to rehab turn you into a love guru?” I ask since I’m not discussing how I can never reach for happiness with Aurora.

“Nope. Falling in love with Mercy did.”

His smile is full of happiness. I’ve known Gibson for over a decade. He always seemed happy. But now that he’s really, truly happy, I realize he was never happy before. He was hiding a boatload of pain under those smiles. Not any longer. He drank the Kool-Aid and found happiness.

Good for him. But his situation is completely different. He had a loving mother and father growing up. I didn’t. I had no one. I wouldn’t know where to begin with treating Aurora right.

And Aurora deserves someone who can shower her with his love. Someone who can be sweet and gentle with her. I am not that man.

Chapter 13

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