“I think you may have a fan club sitting in the audience next month.”
“Who?”
“Darby and Ashlyn raved. Mom and Jill got the green-eyed monster looks and didn’t like feeling excluded. Lynda wasn’t as vocal in her jealousy but was equally interested in seeing your show. Maya, being a typical teenage girl, decided she wasn’t missing out and made Pierce promise she could jump on the bandwagon.”
The earlier flutters in my stomach dive. “Oh, my.”
“I recognize that tone.”
“You just told me your mom, her best friend, your sister’s mother-in-law, and your niece are coming to Vegas to see me perform. It’s a little nerve-wracking.”
“I’ll be with them. And it will be after the wedding.”
The nerves settle because he’s right. I’ll be spending a lot of time with these women in a few weeks. “Very true. I hope Darby and Ashlyn didn’t embellish too much.”
“Impossible to do. You’re phenomenal, and fair warning, Maya is star struck.”
“Over me?”
“Hell yes. I think her exact words were ‘It’s beyond rad my uncle is dating an actual professional dancer’. You should have seen her face when she saw your picture. She made Pierce promise to stop on the way home and get flowers. My guess is when school starts she’ll be setting the trend with flowers in her hair.”
“Nothing wrong with being a trendsetter.”
“I got a glimpse into Pierce’s struggle.”
“How so?”
“Maya’s mom, Connie, is a fucking cunt. Can’t stand her with every fiber of my soul and nothing is redeeming about her, but she’s not ugly. You’ve seen Pierce. Maya got the best of both parents, which means she’s growing into a beauty. Flowers in her hair will only add to it and bring more attention her way.”
I let out a little laugh at his description. Darby showed me photos of Maya, and she’s not growing into a beauty, she’s already there. “Pierce is in for many more years, considering he’s about to have another little girl.”
“Darby is using that exact argument to slow down his family plan.”
“Is it working?”
“Not by a long shot. I’m understanding his determination.”
My breath catches at the inference, and my body jerks awake.
“Shit, I know that sound, too.”
“I’m good.” The croak in my voice gives me away.
“You’re a terrible liar.”
“It’s unfair how you can be thousands of miles away and catch on.”
“I spent a week learning everything I could about you. What you like on your pizza, the way you curl into the pillows when I get out of bed, how your eyes change based on your mood. Your walk, your talk, the way your entire body vibrates when you laugh out loud. Any time of the day, I can picture a thousand different images in my head. I don’t have to be there to pick up when your mood shifts.”
“Unfair,” I repeat but know I can do most of those things with him as well.
“Baby, this is new and you have a justified and warped view on family, but do you want kids?”
I swallow hard, coating my throat and trying to calm the panic. Evin’s around family and children all the time. His nephew is practically named after him. He has a twin. I’ve seen firsthand how his business personality is bold, disciplined, aggressive, sharp, and demanding. But to those he cares about, it’s different. He’s one-hundred percent a family man.
“Fuck,” he hisses through the line, the bitter tone giving me goosebumps. “Those fuckers crushed that.” His disgust is raw in his assumption.
“No, sweetie, that’s not it,” I rush to say.
“Poppy—”
“Wait, let me finish. I didn’t hesitate because of my history. You took me off-guard and the glaring differences in our lives slammed into me. We are both surrounded by family every day. Mine is non-blood related. Regardless, your situation includes children, lots of them. Mine doesn’t. In my years here, I’ve only known a handful of women that had babies. They worked for as long as they could, but the schedule and intensity became too dangerous. Then they never returned. I’m not saying that they couldn’t hack it, but their priorities changed.”
“Poppy—” he tries again, but I keep going.
“My family didn’t warp my opinions. I don’t hold resentment on my upbringing. Growing up a dreamer, I always pictured myself having kids. Marco and Karen didn’t strip that from me. But choosing this career switched my perspective.”
“I’d never ask you to give up your career.”
“Hypothetically, knowing my training regimen and performance role, if we found out I was pregnant tomorrow, would you want me on that stage?”
His growl is my answer.
“Considering until a short time ago, there wasn’t a man in my life to have these discussions, it never occurred to me. Now, my perspective is different.” I hold my breath and wait for his reaction and not believing the words that tumbled out. Did I admit to possibly rethinking my entire career and future?
“Jesus, baby, I wish I was there to show you how that makes me feel.”
The enormity of the situation sends my heart racing triple time. “Evin, did we just have a heartfelt discussion about the possibility of children in my future, or our future?” The question is ridiculous, but I need to hear him confirm.
“In my mind, those are the same.”
My racing heart swells, and I resist giggling like a girl whose high-school crush has taken notice.
“For the record, until a short time ago, there wasn’t a woman in my life to have these conversations. My perspective has changed, too.” He steals my words, his voice warm and tender.
“Stop being so sweet.”
“Keep it to yourself.”
I decide to change the subject before my heart bursts. “Going back to your family night, was our relationship the only topic of conversation?”
“Dev saved me. I’m depositing money in his college fund today.”
“Do tell how an eight-month-old saved you.”
“Apparently, he said ‘mama’. It sounded like more of a babble followed by spit bubbles, but I took his distraction. He’s a total badass.”
I can’t stop laughing, picturing his sweet little face. “Yes, I can see he’s growing into a real man now.”
It’s his turn to chuckle. “You better get some rest. I’m gonna run before work.”
“I hate you’re starting your day as mine ends.”
“Call me when you wake up.”
“Isn’t your calendar slammed today?”
“Never too slammed to take your call.”
“Okay, I’ll call.”
“Sweet dreams, Poppy.”
I listen to him disconnect and curl around my pillows. For the first time in a long time, my mind wanders to the possibility of a life outside of performing.
“This is extraordinary!” I admire the stained glass.
“It has a matching blown glass vase.” Ryanne holds up another stunning piece.
“It’s perfect for a wedding present.”