Page 77 of Where the Little Birds Are (Little Bird Duet 2)

Like when I finally succumbed to the torture of my email inbox where I found an exchange between Eddie Mansfield and whoever was controlling my account. He suggested saying the baby wasn’t Corbin’s. He wanted me to lie to save Corbin’s reputation, not caring about my own. And when I admitted as much to Corbin, he’d called Eddie and lost it. I had to convince him that he needed a manager now more than ever, so firing him like he’d threatened wouldn’t be a good idea. To my surprise, he listened.

Not before telling Eddie if he ever suggested something like that again he wouldn’t hesitate to fire him ten times over. I didn’t feel bad for his manager because the idea of me claiming the baby is someone else’s still adds to the bitterness of Corbin’s life. He had people looking out for him in ways that save face.

What about me?

They put us in a room immediately after showing up because everyone gawked and talked and glared at Corbin and me when we registered. One of the nurses brought us here to get me ready in the same room I’d first heard the heartbeat. That day is when I knew I couldn’t be angry over this pregnancy because something beautiful was happening inside me.

Corbin’s eyes are attached to a baby magazine he snatched from the waiting room. He’s been reading it since they put us in here almost twenty-five minutes ago, flipping through each page slowly and soaking in whatever’s inside.

He must sense me watching because he glances up at me with a small smile. “I bought some baby books online to read for after you fall asleep, yet this thing has way more information in it than I would have thought.”

My brows arch. “You’ve been reading baby books?”

His cheeks tint.

His phone goes off, so he pulls his attention to the screen before frowning. Picking it up, he greets his manager. “Yeah. Yeah, I get it. After Christmas?” His eyes find mine. “I’ll need to get back to you on that… Well, tough shit. You should know by now that I’m going to do what I want. Not much else they can do about it at this point.”

I’m not sure what Eddie tells him, but his lips flatten and eyes narrow as he grumbles out a quick reply before hanging up. Instead of enlightening me on whatever soured his mood, he goes back to whatever he’s reading about.

“Corbin.”

His brow twitches.

I sigh. “What happened?”

He lowers the magazine. “Eddie wants me to head back to California after Christmas. There were a few interviews I canceled over the past month because I wanted to stay with you. He told me I needed to be on the first flight back on the twenty-sixth because I need to prepare for the promotional tour.”

For the movie.

“And you’re coming with me.”

It’s not a question.

“Excuse me?”

“You’re. Coming. With. Me.” He doesn’t even blink as he enunciates each word clearly. “I know what Jamie’s team agreed on, but that was before. You’re the brains behind the story, so you deserve to be at these tour spots.”

“I’m pregnant.”

“The world knows that, babe.”

“But…” My lips close. “What else did Eddie say? If he thinks saying this baby isn’t yours is going to happen, then he’s got steel balls considering your last conversation. You look mad, so it can’t just be because he wants you to go alone.”

“That’s part of it,” is all he says.

“Corbin,” I hiss through clenched teeth. He is not ignoring me right now. “I’m moody, hungry, and tired. Stop pretending like something isn’t bothering you.”

“Like you’ve been doing?” he snaps, jaw locking once the words are out.

I draw back. “I’ve been under a lot of stress. The deal being terminated hurt me. Not just emotionally, but financially. You don’t understand that because nobody has cut you loose from anything over this!”

“Nobody—” He closes the magazine and throws it onto the counter next to him. “I haven’t said anything because you were upset and I didn’t want to make it worse, but you couldn’t be farther from the truth, Little Bird.”

I swallow. What?

He swipes a hand through his hair. “I was in the running for the lead role of a new Stephen King movie. Eddie thought I was sure to get it but then all of this happened. He fought for me, but in the long run they didn’t want me after the shit they’d seen. They thought I was a flight risk.”

Guilt crashes into me. “I’m so sorry.” My voice is no more than a broken whisper as I watch him shrug and look anywhere but me. “I’m really sorry, Corbin. I was so caught up in losing the deal that I thought… I just let my emotions get the better of me.”

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