It’s time to face the fact that no matter how great our love might be it just might not be able to hold up when faced with the very real possibility that Mia might be carrying his child.
“God, what now?”
GODDAMN VULTURES.
Mia called an hour after we hung up to let me know that reporters had swamped my gate. The paparazzi are in full bloodlust over the rumors of my ‘love triangle.’ I had spent enough time looking at the shit on the web to know they were painting Willow as the other woman while Mia was suffering through my infidelity.
What a bunch of bullshit.
Lies I’m at the mercy of because I can’t say shit. A bed I made for myself because I didn’t do anything to ensure that Willow would be prepared for them when the news hit. But even if I had and she was by my side, I would never throw Mia to the wolves by giving life to their scandalous rumors.
My publicist had told me to keep my mouth shut, deny it all and let my little fling just go home. His advice was to use this to keep the fire blazing while he uses the attention to get Impenetrable into as many hands as possible when they started asking questions. Turning my personal hell into his gain.
Needless to say, he was fucking shocked when I fired him right then and there. No one, and I mean no one, will use Willow in a negative way just to pad his pockets. I could give a shit about Impenetrable right now, not when my future is hanging on by a thread while this shit storm boils over and starts to take out everything around me.
“Let’s go, Cam,” I shout through the house and wait for him to come into view.
“Didn’t Kole tell you it might not be a good idea?”
I look over at Cam sharply. “Does it look like I give a shit?”
Cam’s all-knowing glare is the only response that I get.
“I can’t just sit here and not go to her, Cam.” I lean back against the wall that takes us to the garage and drop my head back. “What am I supposed to do? Just bring Mia here and let the press go apeshit that on the heels of Willow’s exit Mia came running to me?”
“That’s not what I’m saying.”
I open my eyes and take a deep pull of air. What I wouldn’t give to get this helpless aggression out. “What should I do then?”
His usually impassive face breaks into an eerie grin; the look in his eyes cool and calculated. “You give her the grand gesture.”
Cocking my head, my brow pulls tight. What the fuck is he on?
“You know, if you spent more time reading those romance books, you would have figured this out before now. You’re a man who is known to avoid those assholes. You never comment when asked to confirm whatever it is that they want. Willow knows that, you’ve told her that, but what you haven’t showed her is that the chance you had her take on you would be worth it because you believe in it enough to finally allow the world to have you without hiding. I get it, Kane. Your whole life is out there for their sick pleasure to feed themselves on every move you make. You deserve to have your own shit, but there is nothing wrong with telling them they’re right about Willow. You can give them that and still keep your privacy. More importantly, you can give her that.”
“Grand gesture?”
“That’s what I said.”
Stepping away from the wall, I walk over to where Cam’s standing, trying to figure out where in the hell my silent friend went. “And what am I supposed to do about Mia?”
He sighs. “I’m not telling you to go out there and give them all of you. Just do what you need to in order to leave no doubt about what is between you and Willow. The rest of them can fuck right off.”
It sounds so easy. Open my mouth and confirm my relationship.
“Let me call Mia,” I say and walk back toward the front of the house while I wait for her to pick up. I step over Kyle and just barely resist kicking him in his stubborn head.
“Hey. Are you almost to Kole’s?” she asks, a loud yawn ending her question.
“Mia, just go home. You need your rest.”
“No. I need to fix the mess that I’ve created. Plus, I can always crash in one of Kole’s many guest rooms.”
I look through the door and see nothing but darkness outside my house. The front gate sits too far from my house to give me a view of what’s waiting for me. “How bad is it out there?” I ask knowing that she will understand.
“Not too bad if you consider the police were showing up when I passed your street. I didn’t even turn down there knowing they knew my car, but you could see them even a half mile out.”
“Shit,” I bark.
“Are you having trouble leaving? I’m sure Cam could just call the local PD and have them take care of it.”
“It’s not that. Cam had an idea, and I think it might work. Especially knowing how many of those motherfuckers are out there.”
Her sigh comes through the line, and I know she’s just gearing herself up. I wait, needing the time myself to deal with the fact that I’m actually considering this.
“What’s the idea, Kane?”
“I’m going to walk out there and give them what they want?”
She gasps. “The baby?”
I’m shaking my head before I remember she can’t see me. “Fuck, no. I wouldn’t do that to you, Mia. I’m going to go out there and tell them with no uncertainty that yes, I’m with Willow Tate, and they can fuck off.”
“Maybe you should leave that last part off.” She laughs.
“Yeah, you’re probably right.”
“What did Trace say about this?” Her question spikes my temper when I remember how he wanted to play my life like a fucking puppet master.
“Trace got fired about an hour ago. For once, I’m not thinking about what is best for my career, Mia. It could fuck off because all that matters is making sure the woman I love knows just how much.”
“Well, then, Kane, let me settle in and wait while you go do the big badass romantic scene to win the girl.”
I let out a rough laugh. “Very funny. I know, I used to make fun of these scenes when I got stuck playing some lovesick pussy, but I’m willing to admit that it was easy to make a joke of a character’s actions when you had no fucking clue what it was really like to feel the emptiness that led to their declaration. I would do a lot more if it meant she was back in my arms, Mia.”