Page 98 of Doc Showmance
“She doesn’t do exotic animals and has a fairly grounded life here.”
“Sounds to me like you need to break it off with her and leave.”
* * *
I wasn’ton my game at work, which meant my communication skills with clients sucked. I didn’t make life-threatening mistakes, but I had trouble focusing. I knew I needed to make this breakup happen. While on camera.
Marianna had been very clear in the morning meeting. She wanted it dramatic, with yelling. She’d cryptically said, “We’ll help you get there.”
I didn’t like the idea of her “helping.”
At noon, I found Amber in the doctors’ office.
“Hi.” She glanced up. The brightness and joy that filled her eyes made me melt. I couldn’t do this. After all we’d been through, to see that she no longer gave me the kill stare thrilled me.
I didn’t want to do this. I wanted her in my life.
I started, “So I got a call this morning and—”
“Ian, honey, we need to talk,” said a familiar female voice that made my skin crawl. Both Amber and I glanced to the doorway where Maya stood with her precise curls, impeccable makeup, and some sort of expensive, designer white outfit.
“I’m so sick of this goddamned show,” I muttered. This must’ve been Marianna’s way ofhelping.To Maya, I said, “Why are you calling mehoney? Last I remember you and me were done. Might’ve been when you hooked up with my brother on my sofa. Didn’t help when you and my mother bullied Amber at dinner over a painful event in her past. We’re done. As in we’re not getting back together. I’m sorry.”
“But I’m pregnant.”
I blinked at her. Foremost in my mind was the impossibility her child, which probably didn’t exist, could be mine.
“That’s exciting.” Amber’s face was devoid of emotion. I couldn’t gauge her real reaction. “Who’s the father?”
“Who’re you?” Maya asked her.
Amber’s gaze narrowed. Sarcastically, she said, “You havenoooclue who I am? We had dinner together?” Amber spun her chair to fully face Maya. “Why are you here?”
“Are you here to imply your child is mine?” I stared at her flat belly. If she was indeed pregnant, she had to be in the first trimester. Her slim frame would show everything.
Amber rose from her chair, and even though she only came to Maya’s shoulders, her presence felt imperious. “You jumped on a plane to fly down here and sneak your way to the back of the clinic for what? What’s your endgame, knowing full well you and Ian are over, and he’s seeing someone new?”
Maya draped herself all over me. “I need you, Ian.”
I pried her hands off me to clasp them together in front of her, held in place by one of mine. “What kind of help do you need?”
Amber’s brows pinched together. “Do you legit need help? I’m sure both of us would be happy to do whatever we can, but if this is bullshit for the camera then that’s your loss because I’m fed up with them feeding us baloney to spice up the drama. How about you, Ian?”
“Amen to that.” I rubbed my forehead. “Maya, I’m happy for you if you wanted a baby. What do you have to ask me that couldn’t be done in a phone call?”
The look Maya cast behind her suggested she searched for the camera.
“Maya,” I said as gently as I could manage given how colossally pissed off I was she’d agreed to participate in more fake bullshit. “I can be a friend to you if you need. I suggest if this is about getting your five minutes of celebrity on camera that you go. Give me a call later and tell me how I can help with whatever’s going on.”
I liked that the cameraman looked disappointed.
“This is not how this was supposed to go,” Maya whispered.
“I know.” Moving out of her way, I gestured at the door.
“You’re supposed to get angry,” Maya said to Amber.
Amber scrunched her lips. “Angry about what? A baby is a huge thing. But I’m one hundred percent sure Ian had nothing to do with its conception. Why do you persist in trying to hurt him?”
