Beat of the Heart (Runaway Train, #2)(72)

“Thank you. I’m feeling good, too.” He did a quick sweep of me from head to toe. “You’re looking mighty fine yourself.”

“Aw, thank you.”

His brows lined together as he surveyed me again. “You know, there’s something different about you.”

I sucked in a breath and prayed he wasn’t about to go for the old, ‘you look like you’re glowing’ pregnancy cliché. “I’m seeing a nutritionist,” I blurted. When Dee gave me a funny look, I added, “Lots of vitamins and organic food—that sorta thing.”

“Well, even though it doesn’t sound like much fun, you should totally keep doing it because you look absolutely beautiful.”

“You’re too sweet,” I replied, shuffling my coat to cover my bump.

Frank glanced down at his watch. “I better get you back there if you want to see the guys. It won’t be long before they’ll be taking the stage.”

When Frank opened a door on the right side of the hallway, it took everything within me not to bolt and run. After all that had happened between us, how was I going to see AJ again? The last time he’d seen me I’d been handcuffing him to a shower in a fit of jealous rage. Now I was not only going to have to face him, but also tell him I was pregnant. Dee’s hand pressed against my shoulder blade and leaned in close to me. “You can do this, baby girl.”

“Thanks,” I whispered.

I finally stepped forward into the room on my trembling legs. People were milling around everywhere, but through the crowd, I immediately honed in on AJ. My heart did a ridiculous flip-flop as my stomach lurched into my throat.

His back was to me, and he was encircled by a group of finely dressed men and women. It was certainly a change of pace to see men in suits and women in dresses. Unblinking and unmoving, I stared at AJ—remembering exactly what my fingers felt like in his dark hair and how it felt to grip onto his broad shoulders. To my horror, one of his arms was slung around a brunette’s waist while his other arm held her extended hand. As he pivoted around the group, I got a glimpse of him showing off something on her hand.

A ring.

A very sparkly diamond ring on her left hand.

The others around him were grinning, and I could read their lips saying, “Congratulations”.

He was engaged.

And although I couldn’t see her, I just knew the brunette had to be Kylie. Her hair color and her height were exactly the same.

I whirled around to go and ran right into Dee. His gaze wasn’t on me, but instead, he was staring dumbfounded at AJ. “Oh motherf*cking shit,” he muttered.

“Let’s go!” I cried.

When he remained rooted to the floor, I pounded his chest with one of my fists. “Move,” I ordered.

“Don’t you want to—”

“No, no, no! I just want to get the f*ck out of here.” My voice choked out with the sobs that were racking my chest. Once I got out in the hallway, I collapsed back against a wall and then the hysterics overtake me.

Dee pulled me into his strong embrace. “Mimi, you can still go talk to him.”

“And ruin his life?” I hiccupped.

“It might not be true. I mean, I haven’t heard anything in the news about him being serious about a girl.”

I shook my head. “Their PR people kill any stories like that so they can appear more desirable to their female fans.” Pulling away, I wiped the tears from my cheeks with the back of my hand. “Jesus, Dee, he had an arm around a girl sporting a fat-ass diamond. I think there is no other truth, but that he’s engaged.” Stormy emotions of anger, bitterness and regret raged through me. “God, I was so stupid to think he wouldn’t move on. Or more importantly go back to his old girlfriend.”

Dee cupped my cheek. “I’m so f*cking sorry, Mimi.”

“It’s for the best really. He deserves to be happy.”

“You could have made him happy,” Dee argued.

“Not really. Not with all my baggage and shit. In the end, it would’ve been too much for him.”

“So you’re never going to tell him about the baby?”

Part of me wanted to conceal it from AJ forever. That way I wouldn’t have to ever see or hear from him ever again. But deep down, I knew that could never happen. He was a famous musician who would always be thrust in my face. At the same time, I knew I couldn’t deny my child its father.

I drew in a ragged breath. “I’ll let the dust clear on his engagement, and then I’ll call him.” Dee gave me a skeptical look. “I won’t be selfish and deny him the chance to be a father. I promise.”

“Okay then.” Dee glanced around. “Are you ready to get the hell out of here?”

“Yes. Please.”

As we started down the hallway, Frank stepped in front of us. A smile stretched across his face. “Boy, I bet AJ was sure surprised to see you, huh?”

I exchanged a look with Dee. How was I supposed to play this one? “Um, he looked kinda busy, so we’ll catch him after the show.”

Frank’s salt and pepper brows furrowed. “Oh okay.”

Wagging a finger, I said, “Don’t say anything. Surprise, remember?”

“Sure, sure. My lips are sealed.”

“Thanks, Frank. Take care.” I gave him a quick hug before grabbing Dee by the sleeve and hauling ass down the hallway before I ran into anyone else.