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“There’s quite a long story with it,” I tell her, not wanting to do this out here. It’s just us for the most part, people coming and going, but Tinsley Monroe, world-famous pop star and actress that she is, will draw eyes and attention as she always does, and I don’t want anyone to figure out it’s me in this disguise. Not a stretch since Tinsley and I are best friends and all but inseparable.

It’s a good disguise, but nothing someone couldn’t see beneath if they really tried.

“Wait. I’m so confused. How did I not know this? You know about it.”

“Yes. I know about it.” Tinsley turns to me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t see Keegan until he was already out of my arms and running for you.”

I wave that off as I tuck my little lad tighter against me.

“Didn’t see me?” Keegan sputters. “As in, you don’t want people to know. So you’re hiding it?”

3

Igive Keegan a short, tight nod. That’s it. My only response to her question whether I’m hiding my son from the world.

“Wow. Okay.” Keegan stares at me as if she’s unsure what to do or say next. “You have a son. I feel like I just said that, but it bears repeating. Or maybe it doesn’t, and I’m having an out-of-body experience.”

“As I said, it’s a long story, and right now, I don’t have much of a choice but to keep it a secret.”

She blinks and studies me and then Fenric. “This is just so crazy,” she muses, her tone absent, almost lost before her eyes snap back up at me. “Are you okay?”

I don’t know how to answer that, and she’s the first to ask, so I go with honesty. “Not really, no.”

No one knows about him other than a select few, and I’ve kept it that way intentionally. Everything with him is at risk, and I have to play it just right. But now Keegan knows. And while I trust she won’t go and run her mouth—she is a Fritz, and those people know scandal and secrets like a second language—I still didn’t want this.

At least not yet. Not until I felt like I had a better handle on things and a solid plan. Which I’m working on. I’ll do anything and everything for Fen. Even put the job that’s been my answer and salvation second. I might not have a choice soon.

Fen’s bright gray eyes peer up at me through the fan of his dark lashes, and he smiles the smile that never fails to make my chest clench and my stomach squeeze tighter. He pulls on my nose, not liking my disguise, but I make sure he watches me put it on so he knows it’s still me.

“How are you, lad? Cold?”

He doesn’t answer with words, but he smacks his mittened hand on my cheek as if to say,yes, arsehole, of course I am.

I peer at Keegan, who is still staring at me as if I’m the apparition of Jesus before her eyes, and then over at Tinsley, who shrugs, at a loss for what to do.

“You have a son,” Keegan all but whispers. “He’s beautiful, by the way. He looks like you. The real you, that is. Not this big-nosed hipster getup you’ve got going on.”

I cough out a small laugh. “Thank you. This is Fenric, or Fen, as I’ve grown fond of calling him. But I really can’t discuss this out here, and we are late for an appointment. Can I ring you later? Make sure your wrist is okay?”

“Your wrist?” Tinsley jumps in. “What happened to your wrist? And now that I’m asking, what happened to your coat? Shit, babe, you’re a mess, and I loved that coat.”

“Ugh. Me too.” Keegan holds up her right hand. “I slipped leaving the coffee shop, and fell on my hand and wrist while my yummy drink drenched me. These boots are not meant for walking on ice. It’s fine.” She examines it, though most is still hidden beneath her ruined coat. “I’m sure it’s fine.”

“Go to the hospital.”

I point at Tinsley and then Keegan. “Ah, see, I’m not the only one who thinks you should go.”

“I’m not going. I spend enough time in hospitals, and if it’s still bad in the morning, I’ll get it X-rayed when I go in for my shift.”

“Stubborn as always,” Tinsley gripes. “Fine, but Loomis isn’t the only one who’s going to check up on you later. Speaking of that, though, we really do have to go.”

“Yes. I’m sorry, Keegan. I am. I wish I could stay and tell you more.”

“I understand, and you don’t need to feel like that,” she says genuinely. “You don’t owe me any explanations.”

I frown, as does Tinsley, both of us feeling a bit helpless and not knowing what to do.

“It’s not that, Keegan. I swear.”