Page 23 of Vegas Baby

I’d been so eager to help her, to be with her that I’d set myself up for heartbreak. I practically asked her to use me and run. I was the idiot who got involved knowing she was going through way too much for her to ever stick around. And it’s left me feeling like I can’t trust myself, much less women.

But maybe it’s time to start taking steps back toward life before Kira.

Fuck that. That’s never going to happen.

It’s time to start taking steps toward life after Kira. Accepting my utter failure is the first step. Lots of beer is the second. And maybe Ty is right, and strippers are the third. Kind of doubt it, but I guess anything’s worth a shot at this point. Because God knows I can’t keep living the half-life I have been since she left.

17

KIRA

“She’ll never replace you.”

I look over to find Michael at my side, his eyes on Coralie as she practices a complex series of moves that she’s been struggling to make look as effortless as they should in front of an audience.

“She’s getting better,” I respond, resting a hand on top of my rounded belly. “And good thing, because I don’t think I have much longer to train her.”

Michael looks at me with a fond smile. “You could train her for years; she still wouldn’t have your talent, grace, or stage presence.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “What is it you need, Michael?”

He tips his head back and laughs. “From you? Not a thing, Kira, my dear.” He rests a hand on my shoulder. “But I think you need to know that you’ll always have a place here.”

I scoff a laugh. “Yes, because Cliff doesn’t want me to sue the production company for his slipup.”

He lifts a shoulder. “That too, I suppose. I just don’t want you to carry more stress. I think you’ve had quite enough to last a lifetime.” He kisses me on the forehead. “I’m going to go clean up. Can I take you to dinner when you’re done?”

I smile faintly in his direction, noting the hope in his voice. Always the hope, despite his knowing that my sole focus is having this baby. My mind can’t think past such a huge change right now, and I certainly can’t fathom Michael going from friend to anything else. Not as I’m about to become a mother. Not after all I’ve been through. Not when I’m not even sure my heart doesn’t still belong to someone else.

“Thank you, but I’m going back to the apartment to rest,” I reply, rubbing my baby bump for emphasis.

And just as every other time, I see the disappointment in his eyes, but as usual he hides it with a smile as he heads back to the dressing rooms.

Coralie finishes her sequence and alights on the stage with a grin. “Well?” she asks hopefully.

I smile wide and move toward her. “That was beautiful, Coralie. You’re getting —” A sharp bolt of pain shoots through my middle and I double over.

I hear Coralie rush toward me, one of her arms wrapping around my back as her other hand grasps my own. “Kira! Are you okay?”

I breathe through the pain for a moment until I’m able to speak. And then I nod, straightening up. “I’m okay. I’m not due for a couple weeks yet, but they warned me there might be false contractions.”

Coralie looks skeptical. “Are you sure? I could go get Michael.”

I shake my head and release her hand. “No, no. He’s headed out. Don’t trouble him. Let’s just finish up here and —” Another pain cuts off my words, stronger and more spread out than the first. This time Coralie has to catch me before it brings me to my knees. It lasts longer as well, and deep in my bones, I know my time is up. “On second thought, maybe I need to get to the hospital.”

Coralie calls out for Cliff, who appears from backstage, frowning. But his frown turns to concern when he sees me crouched with Coralie supporting me. And he freaks out.

“Oh my god! Is it time? It’s time, isn’t it?!” He starts hopping around.

I sigh heavily. “Yes, I think so. I —”

“I’ll call an ambulance,” he assures me, pulling out his cellphone and running back from where he came before I can protest, presumably to get Michael.

I close my eyes and breathe as another contraction hits. Hoping that the ambulance that comes for me is just an ambulance. And not a reminder of everything I left behind.

18

SEBASTIAN