A Million Little Things (Mischief Bay, #3)

“This isn’t what either of us wanted,” she began, her voice deliberately quiet and calm. “It’s a shock and you need time. I get that. Like I said, I’m keeping the baby. Anything else isn’t an option for me. But you already have two kids you love very much. If you want to sign away your rights, I’m okay with that. I have a lawyer who can—”

“No.” His gaze was direct. “No, I won’t sign away my rights.” He stood and wiped his palms on his jeans. “I have to think this through. I have to figure this out. I wasn’t expecting—” He crossed to her small kitchen, then walked back. “Hell, Zoe. Pregnant?”

She shrugged.

“I need to think,” he told her. “Let me get back to you.”

She stood. “Sure. There’s plenty of time. I’m only two and a half months along. There’s nothing to be done right now.”

“Okay. I’ll call you.” He crossed to the door, then turned back to her. “You’re doing all right?”

“I’m fine.”

He nodded and left. She stood by the door for a few seconds, in case he came back. When she heard the sound of his car, she walked into her kitchen.

Mason sat on the wide windowsill. He blinked as if asking how things had gone.

“I don’t know,” she admitted. “He didn’t yell, which is always good. I don’t think he’s going to give up the baby, which means we’re stuck with him for a very long time.”

Mason walked over to rub against her. She stroked his cheek before picking him up. The sound of his soft purr calmed her.

“I love you, too,” she whispered.





Chapter Seventeen

Pam found that reminding herself that Zoe hadn’t gotten pregnant on purpose did less to alleviate her anger than she would have hoped. What on earth had the girl been thinking? Worse, Pam knew she was partially to blame. Oh, not for the pregnancy. That was all on Zoe and Chad and possibly the inept drug company that had failed to do one seemingly simple job. No, her culpability came from the fact that she’d been so sure she knew best. She’d been so sure that Zoe and Steven would be a great couple. She’d thrown them together, and look! It had worked. Now they were dating and despite Zoe’s pregnancy, Steven still thought he might stay with her.

Pam had sent him several long, logically written emails explaining why being with Zoe was a huge mistake. She’d pointed out all the reasons he would regret it later. So far he’d ignored her—well, except for a brief text telling her that while he loved her, she needed to back off. Now she had a whole truckload of anger and nowhere to put it.

She thought about talking to Jen but was concerned her daughter would take her friend’s side. There was no way Pam could speak to Zoe herself. She would start shrieking and that never went well.

She cleaned her condo, worked on several projects for MWF, then took Lulu for a walk. While they were out, she got a text from Miguel, asking if he could stop by. They agreed he would be at her place in twenty minutes.

She didn’t rush home. There was no point in checking her makeup or putting out food. His wasn’t a social call—not the way it had been before. She guessed he wanted to talk about Zoe and Steven—parent to parent. The problem was going to be that they were on opposite sides.

He was waiting in the building lobby when she and Lulu returned. He smiled at her in that charming way of his. Her feckless stomach seemed to flop over, which the rest of her ignored. This was not a time to be flirtatious, she reminded herself. This was war. Or at the very least, a pending skirmish.

“How have you been?” he asked as they rode up in the elevator together.

“Fine. And yourself?”

“Excellent.”

They reached the top floor. Pam led the way to her condo and they went inside. She opened the patio slider, but stayed in the living room. Lulu drank from her water bowl, then got into her bed, as if prepared to enjoy the show.

Miguel, as handsome as ever, damn him, waited for her to take a seat before he did the same. Then he smiled again.

“It seems we have something to talk about,” he began. “You know about Zoe?”

“If you mean that she’s pregnant, then yes.”

“Good. I thought you’d been told.” He paused to study her. “You’re not happy with the news?”

“Are you?”

“I am.” The smile returned. “I’m going to be a grandfather and what man wouldn’t want that? I’m hoping for a little girl. Just like her mother. Although a boy would be nice, too. The toys are more interesting.” He raised a shoulder. “I’m easy to please.”

Pam realized she hadn’t thought about Zoe having a baby. Oh, she’d been dwelling on the pregnancy for days now, but not the actual baby. The sweet smell and shape of a newborn, the soft skin, the little hands. Her wall of determination started to crack, but then she reminded herself about what this would mean to Steven and her resolve strengthened.

“What about Chad?” she asked.

“Zoe should marry him.”

“What?” Pam’s voice was a yelp. “You want her to marry Chad?”

“Of course. He’s the father of her baby.”

“He’s a jerk. You can’t be serious. He cheated on his first wife for years. He lied about being married. He refused to let Zoe get to know his children. He strung her along for five years. Why on earth would you want a man like that in your daughter’s life?”

Miguel stared at her as if she’d grown a second head. Or maybe a third. A blurt too late, she realized maybe Zoe hadn’t exactly shared all that with her father. Because what daughter would?

“Pretend I didn’t say that,” Pam muttered, feeling her cheeks flush.

Miguel’s jaw clenched. “She didn’t tell me all that.”

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. I’ve been upset. I shouldn’t have said any of it.” She felt horrible for betraying a friend’s confidence. She never did that. Zoe being pregnant didn’t excuse her.

“I never liked Chad, but things are different now. I thought...” Miguel muttered something under his breath. “This complicates things.”

“I agree. Zoe needs time to figure out what’s best for her.”

His head snapped up as he glared at her. “What does that mean?”

“Just that she has a lot on her mind.”

“You’re worried about Steven.”

“Of course. He’s my son.”

“Zoe’s my daughter.”