His Distraction (Assured Distraction Book 2) (29 page)

“Oh, Ryan. I love you so much. I’ve waited so long to hear you say it so I could tell you.”

“Wait’s over, Sunshine,” and he kissed her deeply again.

“I wanted to tell you so many times before but I was afraid you might not be ready to hear it or return the words.”

“I know. I wanted to hear the words from you, too. Things have been strange with the start of our relationship, and I didn’t want to rush you or the feelings.”

They stood kissing and enjoying one another for a few more minutes before she spoke again.

“Now let’s talk about the move to California while you’re gone. I need to talk to my parents.”

“Back up for a minute. I am serious. You’re loud as a banshee, girl!” He chuckled as he ducked out of the reach of her swat at his ribbing. “If you are going to live in LA, I guess I’m moving to LA. I can commute for band stuff. I’ll have to spend a lot of time on the road, but we are not living apart.” He wrapped her up in a tight hug. “We are in this together for the long haul, Sunshine. How many times do I need to tell you this?”

“I love you so much, Ryan, and I don’t want to raise our baby alone, but I don’t want to move back to L.A.”

“You being alone is never going to happen. Never.”

Krissy left for the day feeling lost. With Peri was pregnant, too, she knew she would never get Ryan back all to herself. She had been praying all along that when the baby arrived, he would love it so much he’d move in with her. She could make him love her again eventually, but now her prospects were grim. The worst part was the band was leaving on tour. She studied the dates on the calendar now and knew he would be gone when their baby was born. What was she going to do, especially since Hayden was leaving, too?

Hayden was playing Xbox on the couch when she let herself into the apartment. He didn’t raise his head from the screen. Krissy knew they had formed a workable relationship, but it was only out of necessity since they lived together. He did what he had to around the apartment, and they could sit down together and hold civil conversations, but it wasn’t as if they had become friends because of mutual interests or anything. They were just roommates making the most of their current situation.

“I guess you’ve heard about the fight in Cash’s office today, huh?” Krissy asked as she removed off her ill-fitting shoes, feeling pregnant from head-to-toe.

“Yeah, I was out looking for Peri with the rest of the band.” He cursed at the screen.

“Then you know she went home.”

“Yeah, KeeMac sent everyone a text.” His arms moved about wildly as if he was actually inside the game.

“You know she’s pregnant then, too, right?” She watched Hayden for a reaction.

“Yeah, KeeMac told us that, also. Shit missed again.” He was yelling at the screen now. When she didn’t say anything else, Hayden turned around. Tears streamed down Krissy’s face, and he was at a loss as to what to do. She cried all the time in the beginning but hadn’t done it for a while now. “I’m sorry, Krissy. I guess their news only makes it harder on you.”

“Yes, it does, but I’ll be fine. I’ve been alone this long, what’s the next eighteen years?” She gave a brief laugh when she said it, but Hayden knew her life wasn’t going to be easy as a single mom. His mother had lived that same life; the only difference was he knew Ryan would never skip out on child support as his father did.

“So, what are you going to do when we leave? Isn’t the baby due while we’re gone?” He turned back to his game because watching a woman cry was too hard for him. He didn’t particularly like Krissy, but he wasn’t so cold-hearted that he couldn’t understand her feelings.

“I guess I’ll call a cab to take me to the hospital. What else can I do? People are busy and don’t have time for me.”

“Yeah, everyone except Peri. But then, I guess y’all aren’t friends.”

“No, we aren’t friends now. We used to be but she would never agree to help me now,” she said solemnly. “I’m going to bed. I’m exhausted.” She didn’t know which was more tired, her body or her mind. Today was almost too much to handle.

“Hey, listen. I’ll order some supper. Will you get up when it’s here and eat? You need to eat, for the baby.” Hayden felt some guilt about leaving her alone, but he knew it wasn’t his place to take care of her either, and he sure didn’t feel ready to be tied down at eighteen with his entire career and life within his grasp.

“Sure. Order whatever, it all gives me indigestion anyway.” She smiled weakly and went into her room.

The next day Peri knocked on Cash’s office door, anxious to see what the verdict was on her job. The door opened, surprising her, and Cash was standing there was a small smile on his face. “Come in, Peri.” He held the door open for her. She watched his face for a moment, hoping to glean some indication as to how this was all going to go. What she wanted to do was punch him in his face for the things he said to her the day before, but she supposed that was not the best way to keep her job. He sat down on the edge of his desk and inhaled a deep breath before he started. “Peri, let me start first by apologizing for my remarks yesterday. They were completely out of line, and I’m truly sorry. I felt like a complete ass when Ryan and I finally talked. I guess he told you the high points of our conversation?”

“Yes, he did, and Cash I’m flattered that you thought of me that way. But honestly, I’ve only ever thought of you as a big brother or something. I’m sorry.” She gave him a small, compassionate smile, wanting to let him down easily and diffuse any future weirdness. At least, she hoped they would all still be working together after this.

“Now, at least it’s all out in the open. Just know that if you ever change your mind, I’m here, even if it’s only as a good friend.” He watched her face as she tentatively nodded her acceptance of his apology, and agreed that they were still friends at least. He moved around to his desk and sat down, reaching up and giving his jaw a wiggle. “You know, Ryan has a pretty mean right hook.” He chuckled a little when she smiled at him.

“Just so you know, so do I. If you ever talk to me like that again, you’ll be getting one from me, too.” She laughed out loud at the expression he gave her.

“Point taken, Peri. Point taken.” He assured her, raising his hands in surrender, smiling at her sassy attitude he knew and adored.

“I’m here to talk about the tour and my job, Cash. What’s going to happen to my position?”

“Yeah, I’ve given it a lot of thought already. What I’ve decided is, I think you can handle all of the band’s needs from here, and I’ll get Gary, who was with y’all on the last tour, to fill in on the road. He’s been with the band all along, and he knows what’s what. I’m going to talk to him, but I know he’ll be happy to step-up. I want to talk to the band first and make sure they are onboard with it, too.”

“You mean you’re not going to move to another position?” She couldn’t believe what he was saying.

“No, why would I do that? I assume Ryan’s going to want you and the baby with them once you both can travel? So, until then, I expect you to do all you can from here to make arrangements for the band. Your job will be as important from here as it would be if you were on location, at the venues, and on the bus, so be prepared to work. You will be expected to take care of as much as possible for them long distance and often communicate with Gary.”

Jumping up, she rounded the desk and threw her arms around Cash’s neck. “Oh, thank you, Cash! Just, thank you! I was afraid you were going to boot me back to an assistant spot, or worse. And then, I was going to have to quit and maybe move back home.”

“What? No. Why would I do that? Krissy’s doing a fine job up front, but we are going to have to get someone to fill in for her while she’s out with her baby, and that’s a full six weeks. I’m assuming she’s coming back after the baby’s born.”

“I wouldn’t know. We don’t talk much.” Peri’s kept her eyes on her tablet.

“Yeah, I can imagine that’s awkward for you both. We’ll work something out, but understand; there may be days we need you to fill in for her if a temp can’t do the job.”

“I can do that.” Peri nodded, stood, and made her way to the door. “Hey, Cash, thanks. I mean it. I was nervous about how today was going to go, and now I’m so relieved. It means a lot to me that you have enough faith in my abilities to let me run things from here. Thank you.”

“No problem, Peri. Please keep me up-to-date about anything from here on out. No more surprises. I think our working relationship will be much better if you do.” He nodded at her.

“Sure, I can do that.” She shut the door behind her. When she walked through the lobby, she passed Krissy’s desk. She wished there was a way to avoid walking out this way, but it was the only way that led out to the parking lot without having to walk around the entire block.

“Hey, Peri, did you get all of your problems worked out?” Krissy’s voice was friendly for a change.

“Yes, I did. Thanks for asking.” Not wanting to hold a conversation with her, Peri kept walking.

“Do you think you could stop long enough to talk to me then?” Krissy stood up behind her desk.

“Uh, sure.” Peri turned around and stared at Krissy from head to toe, still amazed at how small Krissy was this far along. “You’re looking really good, Krissy.”
What pregnant woman didn’t want to hear that compliment?

“Thanks, you look great, too. Do you think you can come to dinner with Ryan this week so the three of us can talk about arrangements for the time they are going on tour?”

“Uh, sure, if you want me to, I can.”

“I really would like you to. I know I’ve been a real bitch. And you have every reason to hate me, but now that we are both pregnant and going to be abandoned for the next several months while our babies’ daddy is off entertaining the masses, I thought maybe we could try being civil to each other.”

Peri was shocked. She didn’t know how to respond to Krissy’s extended olive branch but realized their unusual predicament would be better off without having to wrestle with the beast of animosity every time they needed to deal with something. They were all going to be in this together for the long haul after all.

“We
were
friends once, Peri. I’m sure if we both put our differences aside for the babies’ sakes; we could be friends again. I mean, after all, I’m sure they are going to be seeing a lot of each other over the years with them being so close in age, and who knows, they could even be good friends.”

Peri still hadn’t responded. She couldn’t believe what she heard out of Krissy’s mouth. For one, she didn’t know if she could trust what Krissy was offering. Was this another ploy to get Ryan back or was she genuine in her request?

Not wanting to stand in the way of progress with Krissy, Peri replied, “Yes, you’re probably right. I mean, who knows what’s going to happen after the babies are born.”

Krissy seemed a little thrown off by Peri’s comment, like she wanted to ask questions but thought better of it.

Peri held in her apprehensions about the shift in Krissy’s approach and hoped for the best.

“Okay, Peri, I’ll see you on Wednesday then.” She smiled at her, and Peri returned it with reservation.

This sudden about-face couldn’t be simply because of a common bond of impending motherhood, and the half-sibling link their babies would share, could it? Surely, Krissy wouldn’t come to her senses so abruptly and give up her conniving ways simply of out of sympathy for my predicament?
If Peri had learned anything in recent months, it was to be cautious of what Krissy said and did, and now was no exception.