“Wait, you’re not a professional photographer? I thought you said you know a lot about photography?”

  “Well, I do, it’s just that—”

  “Bryan?”

  A woman was stalking down the beach toward us. The guy looked sheepish and moved even farther away from me.

  I waved at her, friendly and nonthreatening so she’d know I wasn’t after her man. “Hi there! He was just giving me some tips. You’re lucky to have such a knowledgeable photographer in your crew.”

  She narrowed her eyes at the guy. “Yeah, my fiancé is full of surprises.”

  Gross. We both glowered at him as she dragged him away.

  Now that I’d been interrupted, I took a few minutes to scroll back through what I’d taken. They were beautiful even before I punched them up with some light editing.

  I needed to stop finding ways to stall and submit the damn application. I had more than enough options to choose from; I was just delaying it due to nerves. Only a couple of weeks left before the deadline.

  I flipped to the calendar on my phone. I had so much going on that I’d be lost without it. Lately I’d been less plugged in to it, thanks to Theo. I scrolled back a few weeks to see if I’d missed anything and …

  Oh no.

  There was definitely something I’d missed, and it wasn’t work- or internship-related.

  It couldn’t be!

  With everything going on I hadn’t realized that my period was late. And not just a few days. I was late late.

  Could I be…? My heart raced as I tried to cross reference timeframes and my dates with Theo. Oh, it was definitely possible.

  But it didn’t make sense. I lowered myself onto a rock and stared at the last sliver of sun heading for the horizon, debating with myself. I was on the pill. The pill was effective. This had to be a false alarm.

  I squeezed my eyes shut and let the truth wash over me. Yeah, I was on the pill, but I wasn’t as consistent in my schedule as I should be. When life got busy, I got sloppy. There were days when I remembered to take it a few hours late, or the following morning. Sometimes I forgot for a few days. It didn’t matter when I was on my own, but now that Theo and I were, uh, enjoying each other, those inconsistencies could mean the difference between the life I’d envisioned for myself and … well, whatever having a baby with a billionaire could mean.

  I glanced down at my midsection. Were there signs I hadn’t picked up on? Realistically, I had to admit that it wasn’t likely I’d even notice given how busy I’d been. Eyes closed and head back, I tuned into my body to see if there was anything I’d been missing.

  Nope. All I felt was hunger. My stomach growled to prove the point.

  I packed up my stuff and rushed to the drugstore where I bought three different types of pregnancy tests. There was going to be no room for doubt.

  I debated calling Theo, to let him know. I felt a little sick to my stomach as I envisioned the conversation and then second-guessed if what I was feeling was worry-nausea or if it was related to something more life altering.

  No, I wouldn’t stress him if I didn’t have to. It was probably going to be a false alarm, so there was no sense in getting him worked up.

  I tried to envision how Theo would take the news if I did turn out to be pregnant. We hadn’t discussed the possibility because we’d never considered anything beyond our little arrangement. We were involved in a contractual obligation with clear start and end dates, nothing more. There was no point in having big life discussions because there was nothing real or lasting about what we were doing together. I didn’t even know if he liked kids or imagined ever having any of his own at all, much less with me as the mother.

  I took the first test, then set it on the counter in the bathroom and practically ran out of the room. I paced around my small apartment while I waited for the results, my hands migrating to my stomach as if I might be able to feel the contents of my womb.

  My phone rang, and I jumped thinking it was the timer going off.

  Of all the people to call me now, it had to be her.

  “Hi Mom.”

  “Hi sweetheart. Real quick, have you ever made beef stroganoff?”

  I frowned at the bizarre question. “Mom, you know I don’t cook.”

  “I know, but I had this crazy thought that you’d made it before.” She laughed at herself. “I’m so silly! Anyway, I’m making it for my boys tonight and I was wondering if I could skip the mushrooms. What do you think?”

  I realized that the call was her way of letting me know that things had evened out at home. She was back to cooking elaborate meals for Nick in the hopes that he’d remain in a good mood.

  “I guess?” I said. “I’m not familiar with the recipe, though.”

  “Nick hates mushrooms, as you know, so I thought I’d leave them out.”

  “Good plan,” I said. “You and Rafe doing okay?”

  “We’re great!” she said, a little too quickly. “How about you? How’s Theo?”

  I glanced at the closed bathroom door. “Fine.”

  “I’m glad, honey! Rafe really likes him.”

  A lump formed in my throat. “It’s mutual.”

  Her voice went muffled for a moment. “Okay, I need to run. Nick said the smell of the onions and garlic cooking is stinking up the house, so I need to figure something out. Bye honey!”

  I stared at the phone in my hand as the parallels between our lives started to shift into focus.

  Mom’s pregnancy with Rafe had trapped her in a relationship that she was still trying to navigate all these years later. Would I be stuck in the same position if the test was positive?

  Of course, I couldn’t compare Theo to Nick, but still.

  The timer went off, and I steeled myself for what I was about to discover.

  I’d left the plastic stick so the result display was facing the wall. I took a few deep breaths and tried to convince myself that I’d be fine no matter what the test said.

  I glanced in the mirror as I reached for it and was shocked by how good I looked despite the stress of what I was facing. Eyes clear and bright, skin glowing, hair shiny. There was no way I could be pregnant because I’d always heard that the first trimester was totally draining.

  I felt more confident as I flipped the test over in my hand. I was fine. There was no way it was possible. No big deal.

  Until I saw that single word on the display.

  Pregnant.

  28

  THEO

  I was surprised the party hadn’t been busted by the cops yet.

  I got as close to the modest bungalow as I could considering the street was lined with cars. There were kids hanging out in the front yard and loud music coming from inside. The wave of nostalgia caught me off guard considering what I was there to do. I remembered my own house party days, when our parents were away and we all got up to no good.

  Things were different for me, though. I didn’t start partying until I was in high school. Rafe was way too young to be drinking. My only comfort was that he seemed to realize that himself—eventually. It was why he had called me, why I was here.

  I pulled out my phone to text him that I was waiting a block down the street. After five minutes with no response I dialed him.

  “Hello?” Rafe’s voice slurred.

  “Rafe, did you get my text? I’m outside waiting. Do I need to come in there and get you?”

  I cringed. Total dad vibes, which was not my intention.

  “No, do not come in! I’ll be right out.”

  I hung up and watched the antics in the front yard. Red Solo cups and kids clumsily flirting with each other. It was a rite of passage but again, Rafe was too young to be taking part in it.

  A few minutes later he finally came out with his skateboard clutched to his chest like it was a security blanket. I tooted my horn once and chuckled at the way all the kids froze and looked around in a panic.

  Rafe looked wobbly as he walked toward my car, and I worried he was about to get sick.

  “Hey,” I said as he opened the door and peered in at me.

  “Theo, my man!” He grinned stupidly as he dropped down into the seat. “Wassup? You good?”

  “Let’s not worry about me,” I said as I pulled onto the street. “Seatbelt.”

  “Yessir,” he laughed.

  “What have you been drinking? Because you smell like a bachelorette party.”

  “Nooo,” Rafe slurred. “Nothing like that, bro. Just like, one or two little drinks. Little tiny things, like for a baby.”

  “Shots. You mean you were doing shots.”

  He made a finger gun at me and winked. “If you say so!”

  “Rafe,” I sighed. “That’s dangerous. What did you drink, and how many?”

  “So like, one came from a white bottle and it tasted like gasoline and coconuts.”

  “Malibu, got it. Anything else?”

  “Yeah, uh, another was gold-slobber or something. Gold-blobber? That one was like gasoline and cinnamon.”

  “Goldschlager. Fantastic. Anything else? I hope for your sake the answer is no.”

  “Umm … lemme think.” He started humming the Jeopardy theme song and cracked himself up.

  “Rafe, focus,” I ordered through clenched teeth.

  “I am, I am! Why do you think I was singing that? Anyway, I think I had like one or two beers. And that’s it. Then I called you.”

  “I wish you’d called me before the first shot, so I could talk you out of it.”

  “Nah, it was fun.” He paused. “But also kinda scary. And my stomach feels weird.”

  His head lolled every time I took a corner.

  “Good,” I muttered. “Maybe that’ll teach you a lesson.”

  He sat up in a panic and looked out the window. “Wait! Are you driving me home? Theo, no, you can’t make me go there now.”

  I frowned at him. “Do you really think I’d drop you off on your doorstep when you’re wasted? No, we’re going to my place. You can sleep it off there.”

  “Okay, thanks.” Rafe had his eyes closed and was panting like he’d just finished a run. “My parents think I’m at Colton’s house for the night.”

  We drove in silence, and I glanced at Rafe thinking he might have drifted off, but his eyes were open and staring out at the road ahead of us.

  “Why didn’t you call your sister?”

  He barked out a laugh. “Max? Are you kidding me? She’s worse than my mom. She woulda kicked my ass.”

  “Maybe that’s what you need.”

  He scowled at me. “What do you mean by that?”

  I debated keeping my mouth shut. At the end of the day, was it really any of my business? I’d only known Rafe for a few weeks—what right did I have to lecture him? But on the other hand, I felt like I couldn’t miss the chance to school him. God knew he didn’t have a father who’d give him good advice. It might not be my role, but someone had to step up. And if I was the closest thing to a responsible male adult in his life, so be it. “Rafe, I’m sorry but you’re too young to be going to parties and drinking. It’s not safe.”

  He let out a sharp exhale and threw his head back. “Whatever.”

  “I’m serious. You don’t know your limits. Kids your age take risks. Things get out of hand, and that’s dangerous.”

  He shrugged.

  We were back to the Rafe I originally met. Silent and grumpy. He didn’t like what I had to say, so he was shutting me out. There was more I wanted to tell him, a longer lecture, but I knew he wasn’t in the right headspace to receive it. Maybe I’d do it over breakfast, when his head was pounding and he was fully aware of how bad binge drinking could be.

  We pulled into the underground parking garage, and Rafe rolled his head to look at me before we got out of the car.

  “You’re not going to tell Max, are you?”

  “Don’t know yet,” I replied.

  “Theo,” he pleaded. “C’mon.”

  “Okay, I won’t tell her if you promise me not to do this again. At least hold off until high school.”

  He didn’t respond.

  “Your choice,” I said as I got out.

  “Fine, okay, you win,” he said, tripping over his own feet as he followed behind me. “I won’t.”

  “You won’t what?”

  “Drink until I’m older. But can I still go to parties?”

  I frowned at him. “If you think you can resist the peer pressure. But Rafe, you’ve got to remember …” I broke off.

  “What?”

  It wasn’t my place, but he needed to hear it. “Your father drinks, and from what I’ve heard, he drinks a lot. Because of that you might have a, uh, genetic pull to drink more than the average person.”

  “Okay.” Rafe’s bottom lip jutted out. “Whatever.”

  “Let’s go,” I said, starting for the elevator.

  Rafe dragged his feet, glancing around at the luxury cars in the packed parking garage.

  He pointed at an orange car tucked in a corner. “That’s a Lotus!”

  “Yeah, it’s mine.”

  The sports car was barely street legal, which was why I rarely drove it, except when I could rent a racetrack.

  “Wow,” he breathed as he walked closer to admire it.

  “Glad you like it. You want to know how I got it?”

  Rafe looked up at me and nodded his head.

  “Not drinking when I was thirteen. C’mon, let’s go upstairs.”

  Rafe bent over at the waist and moaned a little during the elevator ride to my condo. I knew exactly what was coming.

  I led him down the hall quickly, to the guest room with the most accessible bathroom. “You’re going to be in this room. Let me get you something to wear.”

  By the time I got back to the room, Rafe was dozing, sprawled out on the bed, still dressed.

  “Bro, wake up,” I said as I grabbed his shoulder.

  He sat up in shock and looked around. “Wha? Where am I?”

  “My place. Go rinse your mouth out and change.”

  “Oh,” Rafe wobbled in place for a minute. “Hold on a sec. I don’t feel so good.”

  “Bathroom is right there,” I said, grasping his shoulder again and turning him so he could see the door. “Go.”

  He didn’t move for a few seconds longer then took off, slamming the door behind him. I heard retching noises.

  “Good,” I said to myself. “That’ll teach him a lesson.”

  I waited to make sure he was okay. When he finally came out, he’d changed into the t-shirt and shorts I’d given him. He looked a little less green.

  “Feel better?” I asked him.

  “Yeah.”

  He sounded sheepish and looked every bit of his thirteen years. He was still just a boy.

  “Sorry you had to pick me up, Theo.”

  “It’s not a problem. I want you to be safe. I’m glad you reached out to me.”

  I bit my tongue to keep from lecturing him even though I really wanted to.

  “That was not fun,” Rafe said, pointing over his shoulder toward the bathroom.

  “Yeah, but the good news is now, especially if you drink some water, you’ll be less hung over tomorrow. No one will know what you got up to tonight.”

  “Seriously?” his eyes were wide. “You’re not going to say anything?”

  I sighed. I’d thought long and hard about that question, but this was the answer I’d settled on. “Listen, I’m not going to lie for you, but if no one asks I won’t say a word. Assuming you’re not going to do it again. Right?”

  “Right,” he yawned.

  “Get to sleep. I’ll be up for a little while longer, right down the hall. Let me know if you need anything.”

  He was already eyeing the bed. “Okay.”

  “What time should I get you up tomorrow? Remember, we need to act like you’re coming home from your friend’s house.”

  “Like, nine maybe?”

  “Works for me,” I nodded. “I’ll have breakfast delivered. Now sleep it off. Wake up tomorrow with a new attitude.”

  Rafe had climbed into the bed looking like he was already dozing. I flipped off the light and was halfway out the door when he called to me.

  “Hey Theo?”

  I paused and glanced back at him.

  “Thank you. A lot. You didn’t have to come get me, but you did. So, thanks.”

  After his tough guy act it was such an unexpected, heartfelt thank you. It didn’t matter how things were going to end between me and Max, I wanted this kid to know that I would always be in his corner.

  “It was no problem. I’m here for you. If you ever feel like you have no one else to turn to, I want you to remember that I’ve got you.”

  He smiled at me as his eyes drooped then finally closed.

  I hoped he’d remember it in the morning.

  29

  MAX

  “Hey, you,” Theo said, pulling me into a hug. “This is a nice surprise.”

  I tried to act normal, but I felt like I was about to explode. Theo thought I’d stopped by his condo unexpectedly because I was in the neighborhood for a job, but the truth was I needed to see him in person, to tell him what was going on.

  The piece of both of us that was growing inside of me.

  “Can we sit and talk a bit?” I felt jumpy and a little sweaty, like I was coming down with something.

  He squinted at me. “Is everything okay? You seem … off.”

  “I’m fine, just lots on my mind between the rest of the magazine job and finishing my application. It’s all positive stuff, though.”

  At least I thought so. I hoped he’d agree with me.

  “Why don’t we go to the balcony? It’s cool in the shade.”

  I followed him out and saw papers strewn across the long teak table.

  “Were you working out here? Am I interrupting something?”

  “Not at all,” he shook his head and started hastily collecting everything. “Just client stuff.”

  I could see sketches on a piece of paper that was tucked under an empty glass. I pulled it out and studied it, not sure what I was looking at. It didn’t seem boat-related.

  “What’s this?” I asked, holding up the paper.