Unfinished Ex (Calloway Brothers, #2)(96)

She hands me a blouse and pants. “You’ve pushed this about as far as you can, Nicole. Barry is oblivious. Or he simply doesn’t care what with the candidates for Tim’s job milling about. But Henri made a comment about your face looking heavier. And Jenny asked me if I thought you were okay after she caught you napping in your dressing room. And really, what does it matter if you make an announcement with you leaving in a few weeks and all?”

I drape the clothes over the back of my chair and sit. “You’re right. I guess it doesn’t make a bit of difference. I’ll tell them after third hour.”

Marty and I chat about nothing important while I get my hair and makeup done. The baby is really kicking today. Maybe even hard enough for Jaxon to feel. Thinking about him not being around to feel every kick, every milestone, makes me sad.

The room clears, and Marty and I are alone right before I go on.

“Thank you for coming. It’s nice to know I still have a job with WRKT.”

“You don’t. We hired someone. I said Jaxon called me to ask me to take you back. I never said I agreed to.”

“You hired someone? Without telling me?”

“Nicky, I know what we talked about before, but you don’t want to go back there. We both know it’s beneath you at this point. You’ve got other offers. Take one.”

I shake my head. “I’ve already turned everything down.”

He opens my door and pushes me toward the studio. “Looks like you’ve gotten yourself in a bit of a pickle then.”

“Nicole, on in two,” Barry says, passing in the hallway. He takes a moment and stares me down from head to toe, almost like he’s finally noticing what he hadn’t before, that I haven’t worn a skin-tight dress in weeks.

“I’ll wait here,” Marty says, moving off in the corner behind the cameras. “Do your thing.”

I go through the motions for my spots in the first two hours. By the time hour three rolls around, the guilt consumes me. The regret. The stupidity of my actions. I’ve painted myself into a corner I’m not sure I can get out of.

“Quit fiddling with your damn necklace,” Barry’s voice echoes through my earpiece. “And don’t forget to announce Makenna’s return.”

I paste on a smile. “It’s my pleasure to be the bearer of great news. Makenna Kendall, who graciously allowed me to fill in for her over the past several months, will be returning to XTN

January third. I hope you’ll all join me in welcoming her back.” I pause before doing my usual sign-off. I inhale a shaky breath. “I have something I’d like to say before turning it back to Roman. There is someone out there I need to apologize to. You see, I was offered my dream job, and I turned it down for the man I love. But I’ve come to realize that the man I love wouldn’t want a woman who turned down her dream job.”

“What the fuck are you doing, Nicole?” Barry says in my ear.

I rub sweaty palms down the side of my slacks, then I flatten my blouse against my stomach and turn. “I’m pregnant.” I ignore Barry’s shouting and the gasps in the studio and focus directly into the camera hoping he’s watching. “I don’t know what’s going to happen, Jaxon. But whatever happens, I know I want it to happen with you by my side. Even if it means being a thousand miles away until I can work my way back here. I get it now. I get that I can have you and our daughter and still go after my dreams. You were right.” I cup my bump. “She needs me to set an example. So, if I promise to take the next offer that comes my way, no matter where it might be, will you take me back? Because being a family with you is something I’ve wanted since I was thirteen years old.” I wipe the tears that have surely smeared my makeup, making me look utterly unprofessional. “And now, back to Roman.”

The studio is silent except for Roman’s voice. All eyes are on me. I see Barry having a conniption up in the booth. I race past Marty and everyone, needing to get to my dressing room before I collapse.

Xuan Le comes out of the booth and catches up to me.

“I’m sorry,” I tell her. “I’ll clear out my dressing room and be gone in an hour.”

“The hell you will.” She follows me in and shuts the door. “Who do you think kept the cameras rolling? Not Barry. He was having a coronary and ordered them to cut over to the news desk. I kept them rolling, Nicole.” She points to my door. “What you did out there is exactly why I hired you. Do you know how many women and girls you just inspired?”

I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. Mascara tracks run down my face. I look like the living dead. “You still want me here for the next two weeks?”

“Nicole, I want you here for the next two decades. We haven’t filled the position yet.”

“But I saw Neil Pittman talking with Barry yesterday.”

“Wishful thinking on Barry’s part.”

I swallow. Can I do this? Can I take this on and still be a good partner and mother?

I must hesitate for too long. Xuan Le paces. “Fine. I can offer you twenty percent more than before. And four months maternity leave. And a lighter travel schedule for eighteen months. What do you say, Nicole?”





Chapter Forty-one



Jaxon




My phone blows up with texts and emails. Shit. Someone must have spilled the beans. If it’s Hudson McQuaid, I will thump the ever-living shit out of him. The doorbell rings, and I ignore it. I almost don’t answer the phone when my mother calls, but I know how persistent she can be.