Love Deserved, page 19
She milked my cock as the last of my cum spilled inside her. Then my strength faded. When I pressed my head against hers, I was careful not to put too much weight on her belly. Our breaths mingled while Mia caressed my back, allowing me a moment to rest.
Once my strength returned, I grabbed the blanket from the back of the couch and sat beside her. After wrapping it around us, Mia curled her body into mine. I held her close, not saying a word as we stared at the Christmas tree. The lights flickered as the wood in the fireplace popped and cracked. It was the most serene I’d felt in years. My life was complete.
Caressing her belly, I thought about our child. I couldn’t wait to meet the little one she carried inside her. Be it a girl or a boy, I knew without a doubt that I would—
Something thumped against my hand as Mia glanced at me. “Did you feel that?”
“Yeah. Was that…?” When she nodded, I pressed both hands to her stomach. A second later, a couple more thumps greeted my palms. It finally happened. I’d finally felt our child move.
Nothing could top this moment.
Chapter 20
~Ayden~
“Are you sure you’re ready to do this?”
As I waited for Mia to answer me, I looked around the cabin. I disliked the thought of leaving. I’d become accustomed to having her to myself over the last few weeks. Now, I didn’t want to return to Music Haven and share her time with anyone else.
It wasn’t the only reason I wanted to stay. We didn't know if Izzy was making progress with therapy. Shane assured us she was taking her medication, but I was skeptical. Izzy knew how to deceive people. She was one of the best liars I knew.
Mia walked out of the kitchen with a smile on her face. “Trust me. I would rather stay here with you and not worry about anything else, but it’s the New Year. January is busy. I have to prep taxes and have W-2’s ready by the end of the month.”
“I know.” Crossing my arms, I pouted like a kid to see if I could get my way. I wouldn’t, of course. Besides, I respected what Mia did, and the guys and I needed to prep for our next album and plan a tour.
“Is everything already packed in the SUV?”
“Yes.” I glanced at her. “We’re ready to load up and hit the road.”
She sauntered toward me, wrapping her arms around my neck. “Don’t worry. We’ll sneak off again before the baby gets here.”
“I know we will, but I’m worried. We don’t know your sister’s frame of mind. What if she’s still a mess?”
“I’ve thought about that too, which is why I’ve decided that if she shows any signs of aggression, we’ll leave. If I go back long enough to prep for taxes, my accountant can handle the rest with Andi’s help.”
Slumping my shoulders, I nodded at her. “Okay. We’ll go back and see how things unfold, but I swear, Mia, if she starts her shit, we’re not staying. Either she leaves, or we do.”
Mia caressed my cheek and smiled. “You read my mind. Believe me, Ayden, I won’t jeopardize our safety.”
I grabbed her hand and kissed her palm, then laced my fingers with hers. No matter how much I dreaded seeing my ex-girlfriend, I knew Mia had obligations she couldn’t avoid. Music Haven was her legacy, and it would be our child’s legacy someday. She had to do this. I just hoped she knew I wouldn’t be leaving her side.
Approaching the front door, I twisted the handle and opened it. I didn’t make the first step out before I stopped dead in my tracks. It took blinking twice and questioning my eyesight before I realized I wasn’t seeing things. Then anger burst through me.
“What the fuck are you doing here?”
Mia’s hands tightened around my arms as we both stood there, staring at the last person either of us expected to show up at the cabin—Wesley. If I didn’t get an explanation soon, I would punch him.
“I’m not here to cause trouble.” He held his hands in front of him defensively. “I came to help you.”
“Help us?” I snorted at the idea. “Why the hell would we trust you? As it stands, it appears you’re stalking Mia. I should beat the living shit out of you.”
“I’m not stalking anyone. I have information for you.”
Blocking Mia with my body, I crossed my arms over my chest and studied Wesley. “What kind of information?”
Wesley observed me a moment before the tension in his body faded. “It’s about Izzy.”
His answer sparked my curiosity. Still, I didn’t trust him. He was a piece of shit who lied and hurt Mia.
“Why would we believe anything you say? You’re a habitual liar, Wesley, and you are stalking Mia. How else would you know our whereabouts? Only a handful of people do. I guarantee they didn’t tell you.”
“I have a friend who hacked Mia’s phone and found her location.”
“Are you serious?” Mia’s voice shook as she tossed her hands in the air. “Great. Guess I’ll be getting a new phone when I get home.”
“I’m sorry, but I had to find you before you returned to Music Haven. My lawyer tried to reach out to your lawyer, but he said you weren’t in town.”
The cold air drifting into the cabin caused Mia to tremble. I wrapped my arm around her and moved enough that Wesley could walk inside. He shut the door behind him and remained by it as he glanced around the cabin.
“We’re on our way back to Music Haven and it’s a long drive. Whatever you have to say, be quick.”
Wesley nodded at me. “Did you get the package I sent?”
My face tingled as I thought back to the package I received with the memory stick. Now we knew who had sent it. “That was you?”
“Yeah. I didn’t think you would answer my text after you ignored the last one I sent.”
His words had me gritting my teeth. “What other text?”
“The one I sent when you were at the hospital, after Izzy miscarried.”
“How the hell did you know about that if you weren’t stalking us?”
“I still have friends in the community. One of them messaged me because I asked them to keep tabs on Izzy.”
Confusion spiraled through me. Why would Wesley want to keep tabs on Izzy? He’d been obsessed with Mia since they broke up. Nothing he said made sense, and it increased my suspicion.
“Why did you keep tabs on Izzy?”
“Because the kid she was carrying, the one she pinned on you… If you really didn’t sleep with her, then the baby she lost was mine.”
Mia gasped. When I glanced her way, she was covering her mouth with her hand and shaking her head. “The recording you sent was from a conversation she had with you. Right?”
“Yeah. Izzy was determined to destroy your relationship with Ayden. It’s not because she wanted him back. She wanted you to suffer. I’ve been a part of her game for too long.”
“You were a part of it because you wanted to hurt me.” Mia pointed at herself as her brows knitted. “Do you think coming here and telling us this will help you get your job back?”
“No, I don’t, and there’s a reason I went along with Izzy’s schemes, something that doesn’t involve you.”
The anger Mia felt for Wesley showed in the way she narrowed her eyes on him. “Like what?”
“Each time I helped her screw with you, she gave me money. I used it to pay off some of my mother’s medical bills. Even when I had my job at Music Haven, I struggled to make payments.”
It sounded like a lie to me. Yet, when I looked at Mia, I saw compassion in her eyes. Did Wesley have a chronically ill mother?
“I thought your mom was okay? You said she was in remission just before we split up.”
“That changed last Christmas. The cancer is back, and it’s more aggressive.”
As much as I didn’t want to believe him, I couldn’t help but feel a certain level of sympathy. If what he said was correct, it meant his mother was battling for her life. I couldn’t imagine my mother suffering through the same thing. Wesley might be the biggest asshole I’d ever met, but he loved his mother. The pain in his eyes revealed how deep his love ran.
“What information do you have for us?”
When Wesley acknowledged me, he slumped his shoulders. “I called Chris a few weeks ago about the baby Izzy miscarried. I was curious if it was mine. He told me about the DNA test he ordered for you, then he offered to do the same for me. He met me last week to get a blood sample. Now I’m waiting for results.”
“What a nightmare.” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Listen, I never believed Izzy and I slept together, but part of me worried she somehow got me to, uh, perform while I was unconscious. I’m expecting my DNA results any day.”
“So you don’t have them yet?” When I shook my head, Wesley’s jaw flinched. “Fuck. I was hoping you had your results.”
“There’s no guarantee the baby was yours. It’s possible she slept with other people. I mean, she tried to convince me her kid was mine.”
“Which is why I requested the test. The baby’s gone, but I still need answers.” Wesley tapped his fingers against the front door and stared off. “I met someone, and it’s serious enough that I could see myself settling down and having a family someday. Still, I want to know if Izzy’s baby was mine. I can’t start a family without answers.”
I didn’t ask him why. He had his reasons. That was good enough.
“Trust me, I wish I had my results. I can let you know when I get them.”
“You would do that?” He seemed shocked by my offer. I surprised myself. I didn’t owe him anything. Still, I empathized with him. After Izzy’s accusations, I understood the unknown and how much it sucked not to have answers.
“I may not like you Wesley, but I understand wanting to know the truth. So yes, I will let you know when I get my results.”
“I appreciate it.” He glanced at the door and sighed. “Guess I should get out of here. I promised my girlfriend I wouldn’t be long. She knew I was coming to see you.”
Mia leaned her body into mine as she regarded her ex-boyfriend. “It’s encouraging to hear you’re honest with this woman. If what you’re saying is true, then it sounds like she’s good for you.”
“She is.” He laughed half-heartedly as he opened the door. “By the way, congratulations.” He pointed to Mia’s belly. “Have a safe trip home.”
“Likewise,” I told him as Mia and I stood in the doorway. I waited until he returned to his vehicle and disappeared down the driveway before shutting and locking the door.
“Well, at least we know who sent the package to you,” Mia said as she held on to my arm.
“Yeah. But that entire conversation blew my mind. It also makes me feel like I was right all along. I never slept with Izzy, and I sure as hell didn’t get her pregnant. I have a feeling that the baby was Wesley’s.”
“Let’s hope that’s the case. I don’t want you to mourn the loss of a child.”
“Nor do I.” As I helped her into the SUV, I gave her a kiss, then shut the door. My chest tightened as I walked to the driver’s door. Our alone time was over. When we returned to Music Haven, I would have to share Mia’s time. It was the downside to leaving, but I was ready. Hopefully, the DNA results were back. Then I would know if the baby Izzy miscarried was mine.
The truth would expose her as the liar she was. I only wished the test could prove that she knew the baby was dead before she fell down the stairs. That would strip her of what semblance of power she thought she had.
~Mia~
* * *
Ayden carried our luggage inside the suite as I closed the door behind him and checked the mail Andi left on the counter. Most of it was Christmas cards from bands who got their start at Music Haven. The rest was business related.
After Ayden discarded the luggage in the bedroom, he found his mail and sorted through it. He was searching for the letter from the lab. He mentioned it on the drive back, telling me that if the results weren’t available, he would follow up with Chris.
When he reached the bottom of his stack, he pressed his lips together, his shoulders slumping. “Looks like I didn’t get a letter.”
“Guess that means we need to find Chris. He’s probably in his office. Give me a second to put this mail on my desk.”
Ayden followed me into the office as I set the stack of mail near my computer. Judging by the papers, folders, and pens scattered all over the place, I assumed my father had worked in here. It’s where I worked when I needed to focus.
I would clean the mess later. It could wait, but Ayden couldn’t. I grabbed his hand and led him out the side door. The community grounds were abuzz with employees and guests. We passed several people on our way to Chris’s office, smiling and waving at each one. We were a couple of blocks away when I heard someone calling my name.
My father stood on the other side of the water fountain near the gate surrounding the community. He was chatting with the postman, collecting today’s mail. After he waved goodbye to him, he jogged toward us.
“Hey, Dad.”
“Hi, princess. I’m glad to see you two made it home safely.”
“We arrived a few minutes ago.”
Dad smiled at us as he sorted through the mail. “Do you want me to take this to your suite?”
I glanced at the pile of letters in his hands and nodded. “Yes, please. Would you mind leaving it on my desk?”
“Sure will. Where are you two heading?”
Ayden met my eyes when I looked at him, unsure of what to say. My father knew Ayden had planned to have a DNA test done on the baby my sister had lost, but that was before she miscarried. He had no clue that Chris had performed the test with the fetal remains.
“We’re on our way to see Chris.”
His brow wrinkled. “Is everything okay with the baby?”
“Yes, the baby is fine.”
“Well, I won’t keep you. Oh, before I forget, this is for you, Ayden.” My father handed a letter to him. “It came certified, so I had to sign for it.”
Ayden studied the envelope and then glanced at my dad. “Thank you, Shane. I’ve been expecting this.”
“No problem. I’ll catch up with you soon.”
We waved to him as he headed back toward the arena. Once he was out of hearing range, Ayden looked at me. “It’s from the lab. I hope it’s the results.”
“Open it,” I encouraged him. There was hesitation in his eyes, but he finally tore one end of the envelope. As he pulled out the letter and unfolded it, I felt someone watching us. When he peered up from the letter and scanned our surroundings, I assumed he sensed the same thing. I spotted Izzy a second later.
“Oh, joy. Look who made it back.” Izzy narrowed her gaze as she walked closer.
“Come on, Ayden. Let’s go to the suite. We can finish what we were doing in private.”
“Don’t leave on my account. I was just on my way to find Dad.” Izzy studied me for a moment as I grew uncomfortable in her presence. “Wow, sis. You should avoid carbs. Just because you’re pregnant doesn’t mean you should let yourself go.”
I ignored the dig. Izzy wanted a reaction from me, but I refused to give her one. The way she glared at me was unsettling. I covered my belly from her prying eyes in hopes she would stop staring, but I noticed her squinting her eyes.
“Hang on a second. What is that?” She pointed toward me. “Did you guys get married?”
Ayden’s arm wrapped around me as he pulled me toward him and away from Izzy. “Yes, we did.” I knew he wanted to rub it in her face, but he was trying his best not to agitate Izzy. “Now if you’ll excuse us—”
“I guess I should congratulate you.” Her nostrils flared as she took turns glaring at Ayden and me. “I won’t, though. Neither of you deserves anything but misery.”
She stalked off before either of us could respond. It was just as well. Neither of us wanted to talk to her. We had more important things to do. Ayden had a letter from the DNA lab. Hopefully, it was the results, not a letter stating inconclusive results, like the first test.
“The coast is clear. Open the letter.”
He nodded, then unfolded the paper again. As he skimmed over the words, my gut twisted. He wasn’t saying anything, and his face was void of emotion. I didn’t know what to think.
I shifted my weight from one foot to the other, trying to remain patient. After what felt like an eternity, he lowered his hands to his sides. The ground became his focal point as he struggled to form words.
Fearing the worst, I touched his shoulder and gave him a gentle shake. “No matter what it says, we’ll get through it. I promise.”
“It wasn’t mine.” He released the breath he’d been holding and finally met my gaze. “I’m not the father. Hell has a better chance of freezing. See the percentage?”
When he pointed to the figure on the paper, I smiled. “You’re definitely not a match.”
Did that mean my ex-boyfriend was?
Memories of the day Izzy accused Ayden of sleeping with her played through my mind. He’d pleaded with me to believe him when he said he didn’t sleep with her. I’d been too angry to listen. Thank God we found our way back to each other.
The memories faded as Ayden embraced me. I sensed how relieved he was to learn the truth. He was happy because this chapter in his life could be closed. It was time to write a new story—our story.
Chapter 21
~Ayden~
After months of heartache and turmoil, the scales of justice had finally tipped in my favor. Now it was time to celebrate. Just as I eased away from Mia, I saw someone moving in my peripheral vision. When I focused on who was walking in our direction, I realized it was Chris.
“Mia, Ayden, you made it home. Welcome back.”
“Thank you, Chris.” Mia greeted him with a smile as he joined us.
His attention shifted to me a second later. “Glad I caught you guys. Have you checked your mail yet?”
