Page 113 of Rumor Has It

The small part of me that understands what a good man Monty is wishes he was Aria’s biological father. Yet, it’s also the reason he isn’t and I’m grateful for that. Like me, Monty wouldn’t consider being anyplace else but by Isaiah’s side.

My ribs are tight as I inhale. “Not really,” I huff, replying, “I might go lie down. I can’t shake how tired I am.”

“Steve and I are switching places, but if you need anything, let me know.”

Unlatching the door, Monty is caught off-guard by Dillon, whose fist is raised to knock. Steve stands behind him. Monty walks out and the two bodyguards hover in the hall, watching with eagle eyes.

“Um, Aria dropped this.” He holds out the dog with the chewed-on ear. “I thought… I didn’t want… I wasn’t sure if you’d be here,” he remarks, sheepishly looking at me.

“Everyone’s kind of stuck here since the motor coach driver is deep in the thralls of custody negotiations,” Vespa quips. She snatches the dog.

“Thanks for—” He steps back into the hallway.

“Nothing. Thanks for nothing.” She inspects the mangled ear as she gives Dillon her back and kicks the door shut with the toe box of her dagger heel.

My jaw drops. “Vespa, why would you instigate like that?”

The lawyers haven’t shut up about making sure all of our actions are civil to prove we’re working with Dillon in Aria’s best interest.

“I don’t play nice with you. Why would I play nice with him?” She hugs the slobbered-on dog like it’s the precious laptop filled with Isaiah’s schedule, suit measurements, and secrets.

Every time Vespa has played nice with me hits me like a ton of bricks. She made herself scarce when we went on tour and she keeps business matters off the bus. She instructed me on every little detail I needed to know about how to act at the CMNs so I wouldn’t embarrass myself. When Dillon accused me of not being Aria’s real mother, Vespa retorted with “There’s nothing to deny” because I’d proved to her I could be a real mother to a little girl who didn’t have one. Vespa didn’t want Dillon to ruin the night Isaiah wanted to shine a spotlight on me.

This morning, she even said thank you to me and politely asked about the tour dates that might interfere with my schedule instead of rolling her eyes that, despite how horrendous the upheaval is, Isaiah is putting my needs first this fall.

Vespa marches toward Aria’s empty room, and flings the dog into the portable crib.

I rush to catch up with her.

“Vespa?” I place a tentative hand on her shoulder.

She spins. Her severe face pinches, but not with annoyance.

“You make Isaiah happy, okay? Aria makes him happy. Do you know how long it’s been since that man was actuallyhappy? When he wasn’t lonely or second-guessing his relationships? Wondering who was using him and who he could actually count on?”

She wipes her cheeks with the back of her hand and throws up her arms before continuing.

“Isaiah’s been in the business half his life. The higher his star rises, the fewer people he’s able to count on. He’s passionate about music. But it hasn’t been enough for him since before Kylie died.

“He has regrets, Cassidy. I’m the only person who figured out that Isaiah wanted out of that fake-fucking-PR-nightmare of a marriage before it began. They could have stayed friends if they’d separated sooner. I didn’t ever want to see him saddled with kids from his marriage to Kylie. I don’t evenlikethe baby.” It sounds like a lie she’s convinced herself of. “But Isaiah learned the true meaning of unconditional love the hard way. Losing Aria is opening all those wounds. It’s unfair. He was finally whole with the two of you.

“He wants your down-home silliness. He wants to belong somewhere he can just be himself and raise a normal family like a normal man. My job is to make Isaiah Roomer’s life easier. I fix things and I can’t fix this! So, excuse me for saying exactly what my boss wants to say to the asshole who is making him grieve that cheating bitch all over again when he can’t say it himself.”

I’m stunned. Had we not come in and found, Dillon in our suite, I think Vespa would have done whatever it took for Isaiah to keep Aria. His happiness is important to her, and not because she’s just doing a job. There’s some warmth in her icy heart. Vespa cares about people.

I hug my arms over my stomach and tilt my head. “Are you being kind to me to make the change easier for him?”

“No,” she flatly denies. “Maybe,” she sniffs. “You’re a halfway decent chef. If I’m only allowed one bitchy outburst without Isaiah chewing me out, I might as well be able to eat my feelings.”

“One bitchy outburst? I’ve never known you to hold back anything.”

“Please, I ate my feelings for weeks at the B&B. It could’ve been so much worse for you.”

Chapter Forty-five

ISAIAH

I fold the velcro strip over the front of the diaper, pat Aria’s belly, and work the snaps on the legs of her yellow jumpsuit with ruffles on the caps of the sleeves. She’s being good, lying still for me. My chin’s made more scuffs in her white toddler shoes than any tumble she’s taken.

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