Beat of the Heart

  “Yeah, it’s right off the road in the same medical building as my dentist. Why?”

  Without a reply, I fumbled with the door handle. My shaky hands made it almost impossible to open it. Finally, it flew open, and I fell out onto the pavement. Glancing over my shoulder, I cried, “If I can’t get a ride home with Mia, I’ll call you, okay?”

  Rhys’s chocolate brown eyes widened to the size of his shiny Porsche hubcaps. “You’re seriously going to run the next half mile?”

  “Totally.”

  He shook his head slowly back and forth. “Be careful.”

  “Gotcha.” I slammed the car door, and then started sprinting down the side of the road. I mean, the issue wasn’t being in shape. After all, I usually tried to do a few miles on the treadmill at every tour stop. It was just I never quite pushed my body as hard as I was pushing it right now. The line of cars still hadn’t moved when I streaked into the parking lot of the medical building. I screeched to a stop to board the elevator. Thankfully from Mia’s texts I knew what floor and what suite number I needed to go to.

  After the elevator dinged on the third floor, I burst through the third office door on the right, skidding to a stop on the waxed hardwood floors just inside the entrance. I lunged over to the receptionist who stood frozen with a phone’s receiver in her hand. “M-Must find M-Mia,” I gasped as my lungs screamed in agony. Desperate to catch my breath, I doubled over at the waist, pressing my hands against my thighs.

  “AJ?”

  Jerking my head up, I gazed across the full waiting room. Dodging the shocked expressions from the other women and men, I sought out Mia. Finally, I found her. She sat in a corner chair, gaping open-mouthed at me. “Hey babe,” I replied lamely.

  As Mia’s brows shot up, the dude across from me snickered until his wife or girlfriend elbowed him in the ribs. Ignoring him, I somehow managed to pick one aching foot up and put it in front of the other to close the distance between Mia and me. It seemed like years before I collapsed down in the chair next to her.

  “I can’t believe you made it.”

  “Promised. I. Would,” I wheezed, wincing at the pain in my chest. When I opened my eyes, Mia, along with the rest of the waiting room, was staring expectantly at me. “Was afraid you’d already be done.”

  “Well, normally I would’ve already been taken back, but the ultrasound technician is stuck in some horrible traffic caused by a wreck.”

  I snorted thinking that I probably ran by his or her car on my way in. Mia reached over to grasp my hand in hers. “AJ, are you okay?”

  “Just. Fine.”

  As I continued sounding like I was hacking up a lung, Mia shook her head. “No offense, but you look like hell.”

  I winced. “I meant to wear something nicer.”

  She squeezed my hand. “Oh AJ, it’s not what you have on. I could care less how you’re dressed.”

  “Really?” When she started to bob her head, I grinned and added, “You wouldn’t mind if I were nude?”

  Instead of admonishing me, she actually giggled. “I don’t think you could have made any more of a scene nude than the way you just busted in here.”

  “Yeah, sorry about that.”

  She gave me a once over from head to toe and sighed. “I’m worried about you. Your face is beet red, you’re sweating profusely, and you’ve just caught your breath. You look like you just ran a marathon or something.”

  “I sorta did.”

  “Huh?”

  Now that I had my breath fully back, I explained about the delayed flight, the ticket, then the police escort and finally about the traffic jam that had caused me to run the last half mile to the doctor’s office. Mia’s hand flew to cover her mouth as her eyes widened. “Oh AJ, you went through all of that for me?”

  “Of course I did.”

  Mia’s bottom lip trembled, and I could tell she was about to let loose crying. “I, um, I need to run to the bathroom again,” she said, as she rose out of her chair.

  I slung both my arms over the backs of the chairs next to me. “I’ll be right here waiting for you.”

  With a jerk of her head, she replied, “Okay, I’ll be right back.”

  Feeling someone’s hot stare on me, I glanced up from the floor and over at the middle-aged woman directly across from me. Her shaking hands held the latest copy of Rolling Stone—the one our kick-ass PR firm had somehow managed to get us on. She appeared to be fanning herself because she kept pulling back the cover, staring at it, and then glancing at me.

  Deciding to put her out of her misery, I ran a hand through my sweat-slick hair to smooth it down before giving her my most winning smile. “Yup, it’s me.”

  Her eyes widened in astonishment. “I-uh,” she stammered.

  “Nice to meet you.”

  “Yeah,” she squeaked before burying her face back in the magazine.

  Gazing around the waiting room, I surveyed the women of different ages and sizes of pregnancy, along with the ones who were there just for just routine checkups. My throat suddenly started closing up.

  Holy shit. The realization that I now sat in an OB/GYN’s office where I was about to learn the sex of my first child crashed over me. My legs involuntarily started bouncing up and down on their own accord. I jerked my hands off the chairs and started wringing them over and over. I fought the urge to text Bray to tell him I was having another impending fatherhood breakdown. I’d had several of those over the past week after finding out that Mia was pregnant. Bray had talked me down from the ledge each and every time. Although they’d been married at the time, Jude had been a total surprise for Bray and Lily, and one that freaked the hell out of Bray at first. I mean, we were barely twenty-two and just starting to make a name for ourselves. It was hardly the best time to start a family.

  My erratic heartbeat stilled a little at the sight of Mia exiting the bathroom. Her long, dark hair cascaded down her back—she had it down just like I loved it. Her dressy top was loose fitting and red—the color that made her dark eyes pop, and she even sported red heels with her black pants. Although I knew she probably thought she was as big as a house, her baby bump still wasn’t so pronounced. As she eased back down beside me, I couldn’t help reaching out and rubbing her tiny tummy. She froze at my touch.

  “I’m sorry,” I whispered, as I started to pull away.

  Mia grabbed my hand in hers and placed it back over her belly. “No, I want you to feel the baby if you want to.” She smiled. “You just surprised me by wanting to, that’s all.”

  Gently, I rubbed her stomach over her shirt. “Like I said before, I want to be a part of this child’s life.” I drew in a deep breath. “I want to be a part of your life if you’ll have me.”

  Mia’s mouth made a perfect ‘O’ of surprise just as the waiting room door opened. “Mia Martinelli?” a nurse questioned. Snapping her mouth shut, Mia shot out of her chair. She fumbled for my hand before dragging me along behind her.

  After we left the reception area, a nurse ushered Mia over to some scales. “Let’s get your weight,” the she instructed. When Mia stepped on, I started to look at the digital read out. “No, don’t look!” she hissed over her shoulder.

  I held up my hands in mock surrender. “Okay, okay,” I muttered, stepping back. Once her weight was recorded and she was off the scales, I took a few tentative steps forward, I said, “You look absolutely beautiful to me.”

  With a grin, the nurse patted my back. “Aren’t you a sweetheart?”

  “Thanks,” I replied before winking at Mia. She rolled her eyes but smiled in spite of herself.

  Out of nowhere, a young receptionist came bounding up to me. “Oh my God! It really is you. I almost didn’t believe the other girls when they said you were here.”

  “Oh, um, hi,” I said, extending my hand. I was in unchartered territory considering I’d never been ambushed by a fan in an OB/GYN office.

  “I’ve never missed seeing any your shows in Atlanta. In fact, my friends and I have
even driven to some in Alabama and Tennessee. I’m that big of a fan.” Digging in the pockets of her scrubs, she pulled out a sharpie and thrust it at me. “I would like totally die of excitement if you would sign my boobs.”

  When I dared to peek at Mia, she stood with her arms crossed over her chest, giving the bimbo a death glare. “I’ll be happy to sign anything but your boobs,” I said tightly.

  She pouted as she turned around and swept her hair over her shoulder. “Will you sign the back of my scrubs then?”

  I gave Mia an apologetic look to which she held up her hands. “Don’t mind me. I’m just here to see the gender of my unborn child. Excuse me, our unborn child.”

  Yep, I was in serious trouble. Capping the sharpie, I tossed it back at the girl. “This is really not a good time.”

  “Later then?” she pressed

  “How about never!” Mia blared.

  The nurse at Mia’s side stepped forward and gently shoved the girl back into the reception area. “Beth, please do not bother Ms. Martinelli and her guest anymore.”

  With an exasperated huff, Beth slumped back into her chair and whirled around to face customers. The nurse gave Mia and me an apologetic smile. “I’m so sorry about that.”

  “It’s not your fault. I’m kinda used to it by now,” I replied.

  “Well, I’m certainly not,” Mia hissed.

  Oh great, in Mia’s eyes, I had royally fucked up now. Sensing we needed a moment alone, the nurse motioned us into the ultrasound room. “You know the drill by now, Ms. Martinelli. The tech will be with you in a few minutes.”

  “Thank you,” Mia replied.

  When the door shut behind us, I inhaled a deep breath. Mia chose to ignore me. Instead, she hopped up on the table. Swinging her legs back and forth, she eyed me contemptuously. “Amorcito mio, I’m really sorry about that.” I took a tentative step forward. “It’s just that I’m used to interacting with fans and getting into a certain zone when I’m with them. I wouldn’t have wanted to take anything away from this day for you or for me.”

  Mia weighed my words before reclining back on the table. The paper crinkled beneath her as she unbuttoned her pants and slid them down, tucking them under her bump. I couldn’t resist stepping forward to lay my hand on her bare belly. She watched me intently, searching my face. I didn’t know if she expected to me to pull a douche move and be disgusted by the sight of her stomach or what. It was still so fucking mind blowing that my kid was in there. That somehow, during our whirlwind two weeks together, we had managed to create a life.

  “Mia,” I pleaded. “Will you at least call me a few choice words in Italian and except my apology?”

  When she finally smiled, I felt like a ton of bricks had been lifted off my chest. “Okay, I’m sorry for overreacting. I guess you couldn’t help it. I mean, that chick really railroaded you.”

  I nodded. “I’ve had PR people drill it into my head never to turn away fans, so that’s why I did that. I would never dream of disrespecting you and this special day.”

  “Thank you, AJ,” Mia replied.

  The door opened, and a tech in green scrubs appeared. “Hello Mia.”

  “Hi Karen.”

  “Big day today, huh?” Karen questioned, as she flopped down on her stool.

  “Yeah, it is.”

  Karen eyed me as she picked up a bottle of some gel looking shit. “And who is this?”

  “I’m AJ, the father,” I replied before Mia could try to figure out what to call me.

  “Nice to meet you.” With a grin, Karen glanced between us. “Regardless of what the sex is of this baby, I can guarantee with you two as parents, it’s going to be attractive.”

  I laughed. “Thanks. We do have some good genes to bring to the table, huh?”

  Mia rolled her eyes at my cockiness. “Thank you, Karen. As long as it’s healthy, I’ll feel extremely blessed.”

  “Okay then. Let’s get started,” Karen replied, after squiring the jelly shit on Mia’s belly. Once it was covered, she picked up a wand and began running it over Mia’s stomach. The instant the baby’s grainy image flashed on the screen I was mesmerized. Seriously, I couldn’t take my eyes off of him or her, and I fought to breathe. It was the most surreal experience of my life. Nothing compared to it—not even being on a stage in front of thousands and thousands of people. “Wow,” I wheezed.

  “Pretty amazing, huh?” Mia asked.

  “Yeah, it’s fucking intense.” When Karen glanced over at me, I held up my hands. “Sorry.”

  She laughed. “Don’t worry. I’m used to it.” As she rolled around the wand, Karen pointed to an area on the screen. “There’s the heartbeat.”

  I could hear it echoing all around me through the sound system. “Sounds strong.”

  “It is,” Karen replied.

  When I glanced down at Mia, she was smiling at me. She squeezed my hand. Tears glimmered in her eyes. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

  “Me too, amorcito mio. Me too.” I brought her hand to my lips and kissed along her fingers.

  “So are you two ready to find out what your baby is?”

  Since I couldn’t form words, I had to resort to nodding while Mia replied, “Yes, please.”

  Karen pressed harder on Mia’s abdomen—the image on the screen shifted to a straight shot at what I assumed was the butt. We had a clear shot between the baby’s legs.

  “Looks like you are having a girl.”

  Tears spilled over Mia’s cheeks. “Really?”

  “Yes.”

  It took me a moment to even process the technician’s words. I was going to have a daughter. An image of Melody’s sweet smile formed in my mind along with her calling for Bray. I wanted to have a Daddy’s Girl just like her. I could almost see a dark-haired, dark-eyed girl with pig-tails gripping my hand in her tiny one—a little girl who was a perfect mix of mine and Mia’s DNA.

  When I glanced at Mia, her mouth turned down in a frown. “Are you disappointed it’s not a boy?”

  “Are you kidding me? Our baby is going to be the first granddaughter on my side of the family—we’re going to rack up some serious shit.”

  Mia grinned. “Only you would say that.”

  I smiled. “I couldn’t be happier that I’m going to have a baby girl.”

  “I’m glad. To be honest, I really wanted it to be a girl.”

  “Yeah, I think it’s a good idea not to unleash any AJ Juniors onto the world for a while.”

  With a laugh, Mia replied, “You never know. Our daughter could take after her father.”

  I shuddered. “God forbid.”

  Mia’s hand came up to tenderly rub my cheek. “Don’t sell yourself short, AJ. There are a lot of wonderful traits she could inherit from you.”

  At her sincere words, I leaned down to give her a chaste kiss on the lips. When I pulled away, confusion and affection pooled in Mia’s eyes. I could tell she was still fighting with exactly how she felt about me. Once Karen finished cleaning the goop off of Mia’s stomach, Mia adjusted her top and sat up on the table. “I wanted to run something by you. I kinda already picked out a girl’s name, and I wanted to see if you wouldn’t mind.”

  “Okay.”

  Wringing her hands, she added, “I mean, we can totally brainstorm names together. I really do want your input.”

  “Would you just spit it out, Mia?”

  “Okay, fine. Isabella Sofia—for my grandmother.”

  I smiled. “It’s beautiful. And my abuela’s name is Isabella.”

  Mia’s eyes widened. “Really?”

  “Sounds like fate, huh?” I reached over to touch her belly. “I think Bella Resendiz has a nice ring to it.”

  “Me too.”

  I was glad to hear she wasn’t going to argue with Bella having my last name. There was no way in hell my kid was going by Mia’s last name or anyone else’s for that matter—including that douche ex-fiance who was sniffing around.

  “Here you go,” Karen said, handing Mi
a a few snapshots and a DVD of the ultrasound.

  “Thank you,” Mia called as Karen left the room. She gave me one of the pictures. “In case you want to flash Bella around.”

  I smiled. “I’d love, too. The guys are definitely going to want to see her.”

  “I have to get back to work, but do you want to grab some lunch first? The crew at Mama Sofia’s is anxiously awaiting the news.”

  I grimaced. “I can’t. I’ve got a lot of shit to do before we leave in the morning.” When Mia refused to look me in the eye, my heart clenched in my chest. All week on the phone and through texts, whenever I would mention Mexico, she would become cagey. “You are coming with me, right?”

  She nibbled on her bottom lip. “I’m not sure.”

  At her hesitation, I clenched my jaw. “You’re still not sure about me, are you?”

  “That’s not it.”

  “Yes, it is. Jesus Christ, Mia, after all I went through to get here today, you still have your doubts about my commitment to you and Bella?”

  She sighed and turned away from me.

  “It’s never going to be enough is it?” I demanded.

  “AJ, please.”

  Grabbing her by the shoulders, I forced her to look at me. “No matter what I do, you’re always going to let the ghosts of your past fuck things up for us, aren’t you?”

  “No, I’m not.”

  “You don’t want to go back to Dev—he’s just a means to an end where you don’t have to make a choice.” I gripped her tighter. “Dammit, Mia, I want to be with you and only you. I’ve never cheated on you, and I’ve never lied to you. I’ve made some mistakes where we’re concerned—that’s the truth. But what happens between us next is all up to you.”

  “What do you mean?”

  I dropped my hands from her shoulders. “I’m not going to let you keep playing with my feelings. I will be a father to Bella, but whether or not, I’m your boyfriend or your future husband or the man you might love, ends today. If you don’t come with me to Mexico—”

  Mia shook her head wildly. “Don’t you dare give me an ultimatum!”

  “You’re leaving me with no choice. You keep saying we barely know each other. Fine then, come to Mexico with me for two weeks. Get to know me, get to know my family, get to know part of Bella’s heritage. Prove to me that you’re really trying.”