Hidden Kisses (Love in Sienna Series Book 2), page 3
I need to talk to someone about my feelings for Leah. Mikey is the only one I ever open up to, and we haven’t spoken in weeks. I need him back.
Mikey goes to the fridge and pulls out two beers. While he’s opening them, his phone starts ringing.
“Leave me the fuck alone,” he mumbles under his breath.
“Who is that?” I ask as I take my beer from him.
“My girl. The one you fucked,” he bites out.
Fuck. I deserved that. I set my beer down and rub a hand over my face. Does he know about the baby yet? Probably not. If he did, he would already be beating my ass.
“Have you spoken to her?” I ask, peeling at the label on the bottle.
“No, and I don’t want to be talking to you either. Thanks for the ride. I know I said we’d talk, but I can’t fucking do this, man.” He takes a long pull of his beer.
“You need to take her call.”
“I don’t need to do anything,” he says, shoving me.
I barely move. I just stare at him. Shit. He is fucking pissed. He needs to know he’s going to be a father. He also needs to know I lied to him. And neither of those things is going to make him happy, especially not while he’s this strung out.
“Calm down and take her fucking call, Mikey.” I don’t push him back. If it was any other situation, I would, but I can’t poke the bear right now.
“Get out of my house!” he screams.
“She’s pregnant,” I finally blurt out.
Fuck. I was not supposed to say that. Leah is going to fucking kill me.
I stare at him and see his whole face go red. Shit. I definitely shouldn’t have led with that.
“What the fuck did you just say?” He narrows his eyes at me.
I put my hands up and take a step back. Mikey drops his beer to the floor and clenches his hands into fists. His body is vibrating, and I can tell he is about to explode.
“You knocked up my fucking woman?”
He swings at me, but I quickly move out of the way. I have pissed Mikey off a lot in the past. This isn’t our first fight, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen him this angry.
“Listen, man, that’s what I came here to explain,” I say, trying my best to keep my shit together.
He swings at me again, this time landing the punch square on my jaw. Fuck, that hurts. I stumble backwards and grab my face.
“There is no explaining,” he growls. “You’re a piece of shit and you need to get out of here.”
“Come on, Mikey. Just let me explain. It’s all a misunderstanding,” I try.
He runs at me, taking me down the ground. He lands punch after punch on my face. I should hit him back, but I don’t. I just block the punches I can. Finally, I grab him and throw him off of me, stumbling to my feet.
“Please let me tell you the truth,” I say, feeling the blood run down my mouth. I’m going to be so pretty tomorrow, that’s for sure.
“Get. The. Fuck. Out. Of. My. House!” he yells at the top of his lungs.
I don’t want to leave. I need to tell him the truth, but he won’t fucking listen to me.
“Get out of my fucking house or I’m calling the cops.”
“At least talk to Tia,” I say, knowing there is no convincing him to listen.
Just tell him the truth.
I really should. I should just shout it out and force him to hear it. But I don’t. Instead, I just close the door behind me and slump to my truck.
I’m a fucking coward.
How could things get any worse?
I’ve been home for maybe a few hours when my phone starts ringing. I stare at the phone, and a name that rarely comes across my screen is there.
I’m sure Leah has found out by now that I told Mikey. I wonder how pissed she is.
“Hey, look, I’m sorry. It just slipped out,” I answer, not even bothering to say hello.
“It just slipped out, Johnny? You fucking promised you wouldn’t say anything.” I can hear the sadness in her voice. She must have been crying. “My best friend is furious at me and it’s all your fault.”
“I’m sorry, baby. I didn’t mean to. I went to tell him the truth about everything, and it just slipped out after he ignored a phone call from her,” I try to explain.
“Baby”? Seriously? I don’t use pet names, ever. What the fuck is happening to me?
“Don’t you dare call me ‘baby.’ I am nothing to you and you are nothing to me. Lose my number. Don’t ever talk to me again.” She hangs up.
“Fuck!” I scream at the top of my lungs.
Now I have absolutely no chance with Leah, and I have probably lost my best friend for good. Great. Just fucking great. Isn’t this the best life a guy could ask for? All because I didn’t want to lose my career.
Well, I still have a career. At least for now. But is it worth it?
No. Absolutely not. I’d rather have no career and still have my best friend, but there is no going back in time. There’s no changing the mistakes I’ve made. I made my bed, so now I need to lie in it.
Being a female lawyer sometimes can be a shit show. The world is coming along in terms of female empowerment, but this is still a man’s world and I have to work my ass off to get the respect I deserve.
I’ve been working at this firm for five years now, and I still get looks when I get a good client. Or I hear people snickering behind my back and wondering who I had to blow to get the job. I let it all roll off my shoulders now. I am one of the best lawyers this company has, and the guys who talk are just jealous. There is only one other female lawyer at this firm, and she is brand new. She’s going to have to grow a thick skin to work here.
A knock on my door draws my attention. Looking up, I see my boss, Mr. Henderson.
“Ms. Gulfson, can you please come to my office?” he asks.
I’m hoping this is an update on a new client and not me getting in trouble. I’ve been told before that I can be…outspoken. I’m not going to sit around and bullshit a client. I don’t beat around the bush. I tell things how I see them.
I save my work and meet Mr. Henderson in his office.
“Hi, Mr. Henderson. How can I help you?” I say, taking a seat.
“Leah, you’ve worked here for five years. Please call me Lyle,” he says smoothly.
I smile. He says the same thing every time, but I like to keep the professional border there. I don’t need him thinking that, because I call him Lyle, it’s okay for him to start crossing more lines. No, sticking with boundaries is safe.
“So, there is a new client that we’re hoping to bring in and I think they would be perfect for you. You’re still friends with that music manager, right?”
“Yes. Tia. Who is the new client?”
“The new band Outspoken Chaos. According to social media, they are the next big thing, maybe even bigger than the Broken Hearts.”
I fight the urge to roll my eyes. That’s not likely. Tia used to manage the Broken Hearts before they split up, and they are rock and roll legends.
“They’re looking for a full-time lawyer to go over contracts with their new manager, along with being on call to settle any disagreements.” Mr. Henderson pulls out a folder and passes it to me. “They have an old member of the band that they believe is going to try and sue, so we want to get ahead of it and get a case set up now.”
I skim over the file and nod. “Yes, this client will be perfect for me. Thank you, Mr. Henderson.”
I’ve had a lot of clients who are in the limelight. Celebrities are kind of my specialty.
“Are you stretched too thin right now? I could give them to someone else if you’re feeling overworked.”
I shake my head. “I’ve got this. None of the clients I’m currently working with need anything right now. If I feel like things are getting too out of hand, I’ll call in Sophia to help me.”
Mr. Henderson nods. “Yes, that is a good idea. Thank you, Leah. You have the charm this client will enjoy.”
By charm, he means tits.
“I’ll get on this right away. Thank you again, Mr. Henderson.”
Getting back to my office, I sigh. My mind has been consumed with thoughts of Tia. She is still giving me the cold shoulder. I wish she would forgive me. I never should have opened my fucking mouth. Johnny is dead to me. I will never speak to him again.
As I’m about to open the folder on my new client, my phone rings. Seeing that it’s Rayna, I answer cheerily.
“Aren’t you supposed to be at work today? Did someone die and you got to go home early?” I tease.
Rayna is a nurse, and a damn good one. We met when I was still in law school and she was getting her nursing degree. We met at a dive bar discussing how much school can suck, and the rest was history. I don’t know how she does her job every day. I couldn’t handle the blood and needles, and don’t even get me started on the germs.
“Leah, listen. I should not be calling you right now, but Mikey was just brought in,” she says in a hushed tone.
My eyes widen and my pulse quickens. I close my eyes for a second, I need to get into boss mode. Now is not the time to overreact.
“Is he okay?” I ask.
“He overdosed, Leah. You’re closer to Tia than I am, and I thought she would take the news better from you than me.”
I almost drop my phone. Fuck. I have no idea how Tia is going to take this.
“Thanks, Rayna. I’m on it. Block off his room and do not let anyone in except his family. I’ll figure out a way to get myself and Tia in.” I run a hand over my face. “Can you make sure his nurses aren’t gossipers? I can’t have this getting out.”
“Got it. I’m one of his nurses already. I’ll make sure my help is someone I trust.”
“Thank you, Rayna. I’ll see you soon.”
I sit at my desk, staring off into space, for a second before calling my secretary. “Hannah, please cancel everything I have for this afternoon.” I know there is only one meeting and a pro bono case that can easily be transferred. “There was a family emergency. I’ll be out all weekend.”
Thank God it’s Friday. I don’t typically work weekends, but this will keep me from getting calls over the weekend.
“Got it, Leah. I hope everything is okay,” Hannah answers.
I sigh. “Me too.”
I drive like a bat out of hell to Tia’s house. I didn’t bother calling her right away, because I didn’t want her panicking the entire hour that it takes me to get to her place.
Entering her neighborhood, I finally make the dreaded call.
“Look, I can’t talk right now. I’m late meeting Crystal for her doctor’s appointment,” she answers, still sounding pissed off.
“I’m on my way to get you. Text Crystal and tell her you have to miss this one. We need to go to the hospital now.” The words come out on autopilot. I still don’t think I’ve processed everything.
“What’s going on? Why do we have to go to the hospital?”
I take a deep breath. This is not going to be easy. “It’s Mikey. He overdosed and he’s in the hospital. I’ll be at your place in 2 minutes.”
I hear the phone crash and the sound of sobs. My heart is breaking for my best friend. I know how much she loves Mikey. He is the father of her unborn child.
I drive a little faster than I probably should, but my best friend needs me.
I knock just once when I get to Tia’s apartment before letting myself in. My breath leaves me when I see her in a ball on the floor. Covering my mouth, I fight back a sob. My poor girl is so broken that she can’t move.
I bend down and reach an arm around her to help her stand. “We have to go, hon. You know you’re going to want answers, and we have to be there for him.”
I feel the tears trying to break from my eyes, but I fight them back. I have to be strong for her. She needs a rock right now.
I try to keep my focus on the road, but my attention is often drawn to Tia. She looks so out of it. I can tell she is in shock.
Taking her hand, I lead her into the hospital. I’ve been thinking about how we are going to get into Mikey’s room, and I hope my plan works.
“Can I help you?” the receptionist asks.
“Hi. I’m Leah Gulfson, Michael Ecosta’s attorney, and this is his wife, Tia Marie Ecosta.”
The nurse narrows her eyes. “I was under the impression that Mr. Ecosta was single.”
Time to put my acting lessons to use.
“My clients eloped a couple of weeks ago and haven’t informed the public yet. As you can see, Mrs. Ecosta here is pregnant. They were trying to keep to themselves for a small amount of time.”
The nurse looks at Tia’s small baby bump and nods. “I’ll get the doctor. Please stay here.”
I take a deep breath. Thank God that worked. I’m trying to think of anything else I might have to do when an older couple approaches us.
“Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Ecosta. I’m Tia Marie, Mikey’s manager. We told a small fib to the nurse, saying I was Mikey’s wife, so we could get information. I’m really sorry. We are just very concerned for him.”
“Oh, my God, it is so nice to meet you. Mikey has said the most wonderful things about you.” She looks at Tia’s belly. “But he never said I was going to be a grandmother.”
The doctor comes out, interrupting their conversation. “Mrs. Ecosta?”
Mikey’s mom steps forward. “I am Mikey’s mother, and this is my lovely daughter-in-law. Please tell us how Mikey is doing.”
I see the tears filling in Tia’s eyes as she mouths, “Thank you.” Mikey’s mom could have easily blown our cover, but she played along perfectly.
The doctor looks at all of us and nods. “Please come with me.”
We enter a small room with a few chairs. I hate hospitals. Everything is just so sterile. Give me a courtroom any day. A hospital room? Not my favorite place.
“Mr. Ecosta was found by his housekeeper, unconscious with an empty bottle of pills next to him. There were also remnants of other drugs, and many empty liquor bottles. We’re not sure how long he was unconscious for when he was brought in. We pumped his stomach to get everything out. His vitals are all normal, but he still has not woken up. The housekeeper found a note on the coffee table. I’m sorry to inform you that this was an attempted suicide.”
Mikey’s mom breaks out into wails. I hold Tia tight. She needs me to be strong for her right now. Her sobs are quiet, but I can feel the tears on my shoulder.
“Once the police officers are done with the investigation, we will be able to provide you with the note,” the doctor continues.
Mikey’s father nods.
“I wish I could tell you more, but until Mikey wakes up, this is all I have. You may go in to see him two at a time.”
Tia’s body starts to shake, and before I know what is happening, she is collapsing. I let out a shriek as she falls from my arms.
The doctor quickly calls for a nurse, and they take Tia to a room. I’m crying now as I follow. I pray that she’s okay, and that the baby will be okay.
My feet thump to the beat of the music. I steady my breathing, trying to push myself harder. With every step I think about my life. I’ve been able to focus on baseball and our team is doing amazing. We flew back last night and are getting ready for a week of home games.
Coach told me to make sure to keep my head clear and to stay away from stressful situations. I’ve always been close with Coach Gibbs, but I can’t tell him about what’s going on. I just have to focus and keep all the drama out of my head.
I’m focusing on my speed when my phone rings, pulling my attention.
I look and see Amber’s name. I am not fucking answering. That bitch has done enough damage. Why the hell is she contacting me? I haven’t told anyone, and I did what she wanted. Mikey still refuses to talk to me, and now I have no one.
I run faster, anger fueling my pace.
The phone goes silent, but she calls back. I’ve had enough.
“What the fuck do you want, Amber?!” I yell, getting looks from people in the park.
“I was on my way to Mikey’s house when I saw an ambulance. I think he’s in trouble, but I can’t go to the hospital. Can you go for me?” she says in a syrupy sweet voice.
I’m pretty sure she’s stalking Mikey. I didn’t realize how crazy she was until she started blackmailing me.
Please, God, let Mikey be okay.
“I’ll go, but no way in hell will I tell you what’s going on,” I bite out.
“Remember, I have those pictures, Johnny.” Her tone turns icy.
“Fuck the pictures, Amber. Share them. I don’t give a shit. I’m going to check on my brother.”
I hang up. I hope I can get some information when I get to the hospital.
When I get to the hospital, I see Mikey’s dad.
“Hey, Henry. I heard Mikey was here, but I don’t have any details. Can you tell me what’s going on?” I ask.
His face falls. I’ve never seen him like this before. I’ve known Mr. Ecosta since I was a little kid. After my mom died, the Ecosta household was like a second home to me. Actually, more like my only home, because my house definitely wasn’t a home.
“He overdosed. It was an attempted suicide. He’s stable, but he hasn’t woken up,” Mr. Ecosta finally says.
I freeze. What the fuck? Mikey tried to kill himself? I feel shaky. Henry grabs my shoulder and pushes me to sit in a chair.
“Why would he do that?” My voice is small. I’ve never heard it like that before.
“I think it has to do with his girl, Tia.”
I look at him and nod. “Is she here?”
He nods back at me. “Yes. She’s in a room because she passed out when she found out it was a suicide attempt. They wanted to monitor the baby.”
I need to come clean. This is my fucking fault. They would still be together and he wouldn’t have tried to take his own life if I hadn’t been so fucking selfish.
“I read the letter, son. Why would you sleep with his girlfriend? You’ve always been a fuck-up, but you’ve never done anything like this to Mikey before,” he says, obviously confused.
