Page 195 of California Wild

Hayley stiffened. “I haven’t even told my parents yet, let alone my guitarist.”

Zoe gave her a long, unimpressed look. “And here I thought you and Caiden were thick as thieves. That whole time in Australia, acting like the rockstar couple of a lifetime.”

The room went completely still.

“It was all for the show,” Hayley said.

“Fooled me,” Zoe replied slowly. “Did you fool Caiden too?”

Billy’s head snapped up. Kilgor let out a quiet holy shit.

Hayley felt all their eyes on her, pressing down like a weight.

She sucked in a sharp breath. “I—”

“I’m pretty fucking disappointed,” Zoe cut in, her voice clipped. “When were you planning on telling us, Hayley? I have contracts open right now. I’m halfway through signing off on a two-year international tour. The label is locking us into millions of dollars in commitments. That we must deliver on. And you were just going to what—wing it? Be nine months pregnant on tour? Have the baby backstage? Disappear?”

Hayley’s stomach twisted violently.

She hadn’t even let herself think that far ahead.

Everything had been moving so fast—Jesse coming back, finding out she was pregnant, trying to figure out what the hell came next.

And now, everything was crashing down at once.

Zoe sighed, rubbing her temples. “Hayley, you need to fix this. You got us into this mess. Now, fucking fix it. We’re a team. And right now, we need Caiden. The label needs Caiden.”

Hayley clenched her jaw. “What are you saying?”

“Break it off with your ex.” Zoe met her gaze head-on. “Call Caiden. Apologize.”

Hayley’s blood ran cold. “For what?”

“For not telling him the truth before he found out like this. For letting this whole thing spiral.”

Hayley’s hands curled into fists in her lap. The fury burned hot beneath her skin.

Apologize.

To the guy who had just stormed out, throwing ultimatums in her face.

To the guy who had been her best friend until the moment he decided he hated her.

To the guy who couldn’t fucking stand that she had chosen Jesse.

“Caiden is the right guy for your future, Hayley. We both know it.” Zoe tapped her pen, final. “Your ex is an ex for a reason.”

Hayley’s breath was shaky as she stood up, shaking her head. “I need air.”

Zoe didn’t stop her.

No one did.

She stormed out of the office, ignoring the looks, ignoring the way her heart was slamming against her ribs, ignoring the question still ringing in her head.

* * * * *

The city felt too loud, too bright, too much.

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