Page 12 of From Angel to Rogue (Four Foxes #6)

KATY

“Yes, I’ll get it done and send you everything over in a few.” I rushed out of the taxi. “Thank you so much for the opportunity again, Adam. I can’t wait to see the guys on the cover.”

“My pleasure, sweetie. Looking forward to the piece.”

I heaved out a heavy sigh as I fast walked into the building and confirmed the meeting with the receptionist, who pointed me toward the elevators.

Our album had been out for three months and was doing exceptionally well.

We were charting numbers, selling copies in thousands, and we even had a tour lined up in a few months.

And as the band manager of the hot new popular name in town, I was running around the city like I had a hundred-meter dash to win.

It was tiring and exhausting, but it was a distraction, and it kept me busy.

Lan and the boys were always stuck in a studio or at some event or unnecessary party that the label insisted they go to. While I liked to shadow them, I also had other responsibilities as their band manager.

I’m going to give this job probably a few more months before I quit for good.

Because I was slowly losing juice now that we weren’t just another band chasing a record deal. Now we were a representative of a big-name label, and the burden of duties was on a scale that I couldn’t handle.

I had no clue when Lan was going to ask me to marry him, but I was ready to leave this job to someone well-equipped to handle it.

“Katy, so nice to see you.” Mark shook hands with me. “Let’s get on with the meeting. Everyone’s waiting for you.”

“Thanks, Mark.” I forced my confident Katy smile as I followed him.

Mark was the assistant to Philip Rogers and I was meeting with them to negotiate a merch deal for the guys’ tour.

What did I know about negotiation? Nothing.

The only knowledge I had was from the countless YouTube videos, where “industry experts” explained the dos and don’ts.

Hopefully, that was enough to ace this.

It was late afternoon by the time the meeting ended, and I couldn’t even catch my breath because I had another meeting in twenty minutes. I had to race across the city to make it in time.

Thankfully, I hopped into a taxi in minutes and was already opening my tablet to send our lawyers the contract details for the merch deal. I think the meeting went well. I spoke as practiced, but they were really interested in signing with Four Foxes, so it was a breeze.

My knees hurt from keeping the position of holding open my tablet, my phone, and my notebook on my lap as the car thrashed me around.

I should really hire a permanent car for myself or buy myself a car because this has added to the list of difficulties that came with this job.

Just then, my phone rang with a familiar ringtone, and I scrambled to find it among the mess I had created in the back seat. I exhaled when I finally found it in the depths of my bag.

I couldn’t fight my smile as some semblance of calm spread through my chest; simple moments with him were the best part of my day.

“Lan?”

“Angel,” Lan replied, and I could feel him smiling even though I couldn’t see him. “Where are you? I haven’t seen you all day, and I miss you so fucking much. The studio is a buzzkill without you.”

I chuckled. “I’ll be there to see you guys at the party this evening.”

“That late?” he groaned. “Just quit this job, and I’ll hire you to be my full-time girlfriend.”

My heart boomed. “I think I like that,” I answered honestly.

I was at the point in my life where I really didn’t care about being a perfectionist and trying to prove myself to Lan.

We have been together for almost five years now, and we were it for each other.

And in my heart, I knew he loved all parts of me, even the ugly ones.

“Fuck yes, quit now baby and we’ll get someone else on it.”

Maybe I should do it and throw it all away in this very instance, but my improper exit would only make it hard on the boys.

“I can’t do that, Lan,” I said. “But I’ll start the process.”

“Fine,” he huffed. “But I gotta go now. That bitch Cece has commanded our presence.”

“Cece is a friend, Lan,” I reminded.

I heard him let out an exhale. For some reason, Mikey despised Cece, our creative producer, and Matty and Lan barely tolerated her, and I pretended she was my best friend.

She was fine to me, but she wasn’t really my best friend.

I just hung out with her to make myself a part of the high society circle, whom I cared for even less.

Just then, my taxi slowed down at the entrance of a familiar club where we’ll have a show next weekend. “I’m here at the venue too, Lan. I’ll see you later.”

“Can’t wait. I love you, angel.”

“Love you, Lan.”

I handed two ten-dollar bills to the driver and dumped all my electronics into my sling bag as I exited the car and rushed inside the club.

“You must be Katy Evans,” a feminine voice said to me, and I looked up from my bag, whose zipper I had been struggling to close for the past two minutes as I waited at the bar.

A tall lady with a sleek black bob and a skintight dress smiled at me.

“Yes.” I reached forward, holding out a hand. “And you must be Umi. So nice to meet you.”

“Likewise,” she replied, waving a hand. “Take a seat. Would you like a drink?”

“Ah, no.” I shook my head, plopping myself on the tall bar seat. “I’m only nineteen.”

She arched her sleek brow. “That never seemed to be a problem in this city, but you’re young to be a band manager.”

“I grew up with the boys,” I said with a smile. “And Lan’s my boyfriend.”

“I wouldn’t recommend,” she quipped as she ordered the bartender to bring her an extra dry margarita and a glass of ice-cold water for me.

“Wouldn’t recommend what?” I asked when her eyes slid back to me.

“Mixing business with pleasure.” She paused, tilting her head. “It never ends well.”

I wouldn’t really take unsolicited advice from a stranger, but what she said rang true. She seemed wise beyond her years. I mean, she should be. After all, she was a self-made businesswoman who owned five of the most popular clubs in LA.

“I know,” I admitted after a beat. “I never really wanted this. Let’s just say I was desperate for some validation. But I think it’s time for me to leave it to someone else.”

“The road to seek validation is never ending, trust me.” Her sharp red nail trailed over the rim of her cocktail glass, which the bartender just slid toward us. “It doesn’t matter how much you do. It’s never enough.”

I nodded, taking a sip of my water. Was this what they meant when they said pouring your heart out to a stranger in a bar? Or maybe I was doing it because I was in desperate need of girl talk. I hadn’t had one in a long while.

My chest tightened at the thought of Evy’s betrayal.

But I loved her still, and maybe that was why it hurt too much knowing she broke Emmie’s heart and left as if we didn’t mean anything to her.

I still had Lily, but she still lived back in Bellevue, and my life was in LA, where my boy was.

And he was my number one best friend, so that soothed the ache a bit.

But I couldn’t really moan and bitch to him about everything like what nail color to wear for the summer or about the spicy book scenes we recently read or how much you craved extra chocolate during your periods or how you wan… I stilled, feeling my face being robbed of color.

When was the last fucking time I had a period?

Was it two or three months ago?

It didn’t matter how hard I thought, I couldn’t remember.

I couldn’t be… I couldn’t be… I mean, Lan and I were always intimate like that, but I had on birth control patches.

“Katy.” A concerned voice reached my ears.

I looked up to see Umi watching me with a frown.

“I think I might be pregnant,” I blurted without thinking. I could hear my heart thundering in my rib cage.

A sigh of relief escaped her lips. “I thought something was terribly wrong. I mean, that’s good news, right or not… Not everyone wants a child at your age.”

“I mean, I still don’t know for sure,” I said frantically. “I just don’t remember when I had my last period.”

“Ah okay, don’t worry about it.” She smiled, leaping to her feet as she gently urged me up. “Let’s go find out.”

“Now?” I blurted, following her. “But… but what about the meeting?”

She waved a hand. “Not important. I’ll send the contract to the label and they can deal with it.”

I trailed Umi’s step as she led me through a few corridors down the back till we ended up right outside two huge double doors.

“My office,” she murmured, gesturing me inside. “I happen to have a few too many pregnancy tests. You’ll never expect the things that happen in clubs,” she said, rummaging through her drawers. “Yes, found it.”

“Here, two, just in case.” She handed me the kits. “Take your time.”

I flashed her a grateful smile. “Thanks, Umi,” I said, slipping into the tiny bathroom attached to the office.

Ten minutes later, I stared at the two pregnancy tests on the bathroom counter, both saying the same thing.

Two pink lines.

There was a thunder in my heart I couldn’t explain. Pregnant.

I was definitely pregnant.

I inhaled sharply. A baby was growing in my belly right at this moment.

Overwhelming happiness flowed through my blood as tears welled in my eyes.

I smiled, cupping a hand over my lower belly. Hey, there little one. I’m going to be your mom. Your daddy’s name is Lan.

I knew it was stupid to talk to a fetus whose ears weren’t even developed by now, or had they developed? Who knew how far along I was?

But who cared? I was going to talk, knit so many sweaters, and buy so many adorable clothes.

I caressed my flat stomach one more time before I exited the bathroom, grinning and crying at the same time.

Umi gave me a knowing smile as she pulled me into a hug. “Good news, I assume?”

“Yes,” I blubbered. “I’m going to be a mom.”

“Congratulations,” she whispered. “This is something you want, right? Don’t worry about anything if this isn’t something you want right now. I’ll help you with anything I can.”

“No, Umi.” I smiled softly. “It’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

She smiled back. “Good, I know a good doctor in the city I can set you up with. She sees me, too, if that’s something you want. For checkups and stuff.”

“Yes, that would be wonderful. I don’t really know many people in the city,” I said, biting my lips.

“I need to tell Lan first. He’s going to be shocked, but he loves me and wants whatever I want, so he’ll be okay.

More than okay. He knows how much I want this,” I rambled, too nervous and excited to think straight.

“Calm down.” Umi chuckled. “I’ll make a call and send you the info.”

I nodded shyly, still a ball of nervous energy. “Thank you, Umi, for all your help. I couldn’t be more grateful.”

“Maybe this is a sign from the universe for you to do whatever you want.”

“I agree.”

It was close to midnight when I arrived back at our temporary house that belonged to the label. My never-ending meetings never really did end, and much to Lan’s disappointment, I couldn’t make it to the party. But I knew they were all back home since we had an early day tomorrow.

The house was big enough to fit an entire school of children, and it was modern and white and too expensive to look like a home. I pretended to love it because this style was the rage in the city, but internally, I felt it was nothing special.

More like a hotel than a home.

I preferred warm, cozy fireplaces, kitchens that smelled like chocolate cupcakes, and a house small enough that I got to see my loved ones all the time.

As I dragged my heavy feet up the stairs toward our bedroom there wasn’t a face in sight.

My heart melted at the sight of Lan snoring softly on top of a mountain of pillows. The light was still on, and he was shirtless, his chin pointed toward the door. Like he was waiting for me but fell asleep.

Knowing him, it was probably what happened. Lan always waited for me till I made it back home. He didn’t like it one bit that I was busy around the city this late. We’ve had arguments about it, but now we don’t have to anymore.

I softly closed the door behind me and took a moment to stand there and look at my boy.

His hair had grown longer, a sleepy mess with a few strands falling over his face, his full lips in a pout slightly parted as he snored away with his hand curled over his chest, a place where I usually slept with his hands just like that, only wrapped around me.

I dragged my eyes lower to admire his beautiful, carved body that had so many new tattoos now, thorny vines with roses that he got for me along with my name in a typewriter font just under his ribs, which was followed by a fiery flaming bike with wings, Lan’s new obsession.

I wanted to surprise Lan with the baby news like I had seen some girls do it on social media. I even saved a few for a rainy day. I guess the rainy day was here now.

He was still sleeping when I took his discarded T-shirt and hopped into the bathroom to wash off the day. After a warm shower, I towel-dried most of the wetness of my hair and peered at myself in the mirror.

My blond strands wavy and wet, my green eyes sparkling, my cheeks full—I looked happy…happy and glowing.

My breath hitched when my eyes drew to my stomach. It was as flat as it could be. I always had a slight curve in my lower belly, something even crunches wouldn’t fix, but other than that, nothing.

I cradled my hand over my stomach and turned to my side.

Still nothing.

Hmm, are you a boy or a girl?

It doesn’t matter, but still, I would love it if you were a girl. We can play dress-up… but then, a baby boy who looks like Lan. Oh my, he would be adorable.

We’ll tell Daddy tomorrow, okay?

It’s going to be a surprise.

After talking to my baby more, I threw Lan’s T-shirt over myself, too tired for skincare as I exited the bathroom.

I switched off the lights and crawled into bed beside him, the motion finally stirred up Lan, whose eyes wrinkled before they blinked open. The confusion in his eyes vanished the moment they landed on me.

“Angel,” he whispered, smiling as he pulled me into his arms.

And I went like a sappy fool, draping myself over him as I buried my face in his neck.

My Lan, cedar, and leather.

So warm and safe, like home.

“Sorry I fell asleep,” he said in a groggy voice. “Waited for you.”

“It’s okay.” I traced soft kisses over his jaw. “Sleep, you must be tired. We have an early day tomorrow.”

“Yeah,” he groaned, his hand molding at my nape as he tugged me even closer. “I love to make music but hate everything else.”

“I know,” I mumbled, kissing his cheek. “Sleep, baby,” I whispered, but he was already knocked out.

I smiled, sliding his hair back into place before I lay my cheek flush on his chest, listening to the sound of his heartbeat as sleep came for me.

We are going to have a baby, Lan.