A Million Little Things (Mischief Bay, #3)

“She and Steven haven’t been going out very long. It doesn’t make sense for them to stay together, considering her change in circumstances.”

“You’d rather he abandon her?” Miguel’s voice was deceptively soft.

“Why does it have to be abandoning? Why can’t they just break up? Like it or not, Chad is going to be in her life forever. The child is going to be Chad’s, not Steven’s. Being a stepparent isn’t easy. Why would he take that on? It’s not like he’s the one who got pregnant.”

Oops. Wrong thing to say.

“You blame my daughter?”

“She is the one who had sex with her ex.”

“It was a mistake. You’ve never made one?”

“Not like that.” She felt her temper rising and tried to keep calm. “Look, Zoe’s great. I really like her. But I’m also worried about Steven. He’s thinking about this idealistically and has no idea what he’s getting into. Neither of us think Chad is a great guy, but he’s the father and his rights will always come first. He will always have the final say over another man. Steven and Zoe barely know each other. I think they both need time to assess where they are.”

“You’re protecting your son.”

“Yes.”

“As I will protect my daughter.” He studied her. “Where does this leave us?”

“You mean can we get past this to still be friends?”

He nodded.

Oh. She hadn’t thought of that. “Do you want to?”

“I don’t know.”

An honest response that hit her like a slap. She wasn’t sure what she felt about Miguel. He was very handsome and interesting, and when she was with him, she was reminded that there were still possibilities. Not that they were involved in that way, she told herself. Still, she’d enjoyed her time with Miguel and didn’t want to see it end.

“After all, this is so new,” he told her. “It doesn’t make much sense for us to keep seeing each other, considering our change in circumstances.”

He was using her own words against her. Before she could figure out what to say in return, he stood.

“Goodbye, Pamela.”

And just like that, he was gone and she was alone—again.

*

Although Steven had warned her that Pam wasn’t in a good place about the pregnancy, Zoe was determined to talk to her about it. Whatever happened with Steven, she and Pam were still friends. At least she hoped they were. So she dressed for Nicole’s class and made her way to Mischief in Motion. Maybe sweating together for an hour would give Zoe the courage to approach Pam.

When she arrived at the exercise studio, she found Pam was already there. The other woman stiffened when she saw her, as if surprised. She gave a tight smile before turning away. Not exactly the warm greeting Zoe had been hoping for, but at least Pam didn’t disappear.

Fifty minutes and much muscle trembling later, Zoe gathered her limp self together and walked over to Pam.

“Hi,” she said, hoping she sounded braver than she felt. “I know this is awkward, but I really miss us hanging out. I was hoping we could figure out a middle ground.”

Pam collected her tote. Zoe did the same and they walked out together.

“I’m not sure there is any,” Pam told her when they reached the sidewalk. “My main concern is Steven.”

Which kind of hurt but made sense. “He’s your son. I get that. You know I didn’t plan this, right? It wasn’t supposed to happen.”

“You still slept with Chad. You could have used a condom and you didn’t. I thought only my generation was irresponsible.”

The unfair judgment made her eyes burn. “Is that what you think?”

“I don’t know what I think,” Pam told her. “Are you going to marry Chad? It’s what your father wants.”

“Why are you talking to me like this? Why aren’t you being my friend?”

“Because at the end of the day, Steven is family and you’re not. I have to take care of him. I have to keep him safe. I want him to be happy and that can’t happen with you. I’m sorry, Zoe. Bringing you two together was a mistake. One I wish I could undo.”

Zoe told herself the pain was just hormonal and that she didn’t actually care what Pam thought. Sure they’d become friends, but for what? Five minutes? She had other people. She didn’t need Pam.

Only Zoe had come to see Pam as a surrogate mother. Jen was Zoe’s best friend. Was Pam going to get between them, as well? Because Pam was making it clear she was going to try to keep Steven from making what she saw as a huge mistake with his life.

“I didn’t plan this,” Zoe repeated. “I didn’t do it on purpose.”

“No one thinks you did. My problem is I know what it’s like to have a child, Zoe. I know how things change. There’s no way this is right for Steven. I’m sorry you’re going to have to go through this alone, but that’s the way things are.”

Lulu popped her head out of Pam’s tote just then and gave a little bark. Zoe didn’t know if the dog was greeting her or telling her off. Based on how things had gone thus far, it wasn’t hard to pick.

“Pam, please,” Zoe pleaded. “I really need you. I want us to stay friends.”

Pam’s expression hardened. “It’s better if we don’t. I’m sorry, Zoe. Goodbye.”

*

If Jen could just figure out a way to have sex with her husband, her life would be perfect. Okay, not perfect. If Jack could talk and she could figure out a way to have sex with Kirk, then her life would be perfect. Seriously. But neither was happening, and to be honest, she was starting to be more concerned about the sex.

She couldn’t remember how long it had been. That wasn’t happy news. And if she couldn’t remember, he couldn’t either. Unless he was getting it somewhere else.

“Don’t go there,” she told herself as she peeled off the brightening facial mask she’d applied twenty minutes before. Lucas would have said something. God knew he wasn’t afraid of speaking the truth.