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‘I wasn’t going to, sweetie. But do you need a hug?’

‘Yes please.’ She leaned against her mum. There really wasn’t anything quite like a “mum hug” when you were feeling sorry for yourself.

‘Tell me.’ She stroked her hair, rocking her gently. ‘Tell me, whatever you need me to hear. Tell me how I can help. Tell me what I can do to make this better for you, sweetheart.’

‘I don’t know, Mum, I really don’t know.’ Tears crowded into her throat, choking her. ‘I thought we had something . . . that he cared about me. I thought he’d changed. I thought . . . Then she just clicked her perfectly manicured fingers, tossed her perfect blonde hair and he followed her perfect, skinny arse. He barely even looked at me.’

‘Then he’s an idiot who doesn’t deserve you.’ She hugged her fiercely.

‘I told him to go, Mum.’ The tears streamed hot and angry down her cheeks. ‘He should have argued. He should have called. If he really did care about me, wouldn’t he have stayed?’

‘I don’t know, sweetheart, I really don’t.’

‘I got him so wrong, Mum,’ she bawled, not caring that she sounded like a whiny child. ‘I thought he was so much better than he really is. I’ve made such an idiot of myself. I should have listened to you.’

‘I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I’ve honestly never wished I was wrong about something, or someone, as much as I do right now.’

* * *

‘So what happens now?’ Rick rubbed his eyes tiredly. They’d been talking for hours — well, she’d been talking, and he’d been trying to pay attention and find something to care about in what she was saying. In truth, his eyes and attention kept being dragged back to the tiny bump that was apparently housing his son or daughter. The idea was utterly bizarre and amazing to him. How could there be a mini version of him in there that would be a living, breathing actual human that he would have to take care of in a few months? Who he would be responsible for, and have to care for, and teach things to, and look after.

A living being that would tie him to Yvette for the next two decades — if not forever. A scary thought.

‘Well, obviously we’ll move back in together, film a pregnancy announcement, let all our fans know we’re back together — which should easily go viral. And then I think we should capitalise on that to announce our engagement, although obviously we won’t have the wedding until after I’ve had some time to get my figure back.’

‘What? No.’

‘I’m sure it would only be a few weeks. I’ll get a personal trainer and chef. Don’t worry, darling.’ She stroked his arm, making him cringe. ‘I’ll be looking fabulous again in no time. I’m sure I’ll just snap right back.’

She was completely misunderstanding, and Rick needed to stop all of this immediately. ‘Yvette, I’m sorry if I’ve misled you, but we’re not getting married.’

‘I know we’re not, darling, not until after the baby is here and I’ve got my shape back. Didn’t you hear me? And how sweet to have our little baby at the wedding. I’ve already checked, and Dior do some just adorable baby dresses and suits.’

‘No, Yvette,’ he tried to explain. ‘We’re not getting married.’

‘Of course we are, baby. We’re Maverick and VettyBaby, and we’re having a baby. We’re going to go beyond viral. We’ll be blasting into space. Isn’t it wonderful?’

‘Yvette.’ He caught her hand in his, mostly to get her to stop stroking him like a pet. ‘I really, really need you to listen to me, and focus. Yvette, we can’t get married.’

‘Of course we can, silly. People do it all the time. And I am pregnant with your baby.’

‘Yes, I know other people get married all the time. People who are in love.’ He tried to find the words to explain.

‘Exactly, people like us. I mean, I am carrying your baby,’ she repeated, more firmly this time.

‘Yes, I know that, but . . .’ He took another deep breath. ‘Yvette, we were over. If you hadn’t found out you were pregnant, would you even have bothered to talk to me again?’

‘Of course I would, Ricky baby.’ She pouted. ‘And I don’t know why you keep saying we were over. I was just on a little holiday while you were doing your animal thing. I was always coming back. It’s you and me, baby. And we’re going to be huge! Online, I mean. I’m not going to get huge,’ she tittered. ‘I’ll just be one of those girls who has a cute little bump, then snaps right back — don’t you think?’

‘Sure, whatever.’ She probably would be as well. ‘But Yvette, there isn’t a “we”, there isn’t an “us” anymore.’

‘I don’t know why you’re saying such unkind things.’ Her eyes filled with tears. He hated it so much when she cried. ‘Of course we’re in love and getting married. I wouldn’t be having your baby if we weren’t. I wouldn’t be able to cope with that.’

There was something in the way she said it that sent chills down his spine. ‘What do you mean by that?’

‘Just what I said.’ Yvette glared at him. ‘I don’t know how I could go through it all if you weren’t with me. I’m not sure if I would want to go on without you. I need you to help me cope with this, because if you push me away, I won’t be able to. I can’t go through a pregnancy and get fat and have a baby by myself. I won’t do it.’

He had never seen her look so cold and calculating, and would never have thought she was capable of what she was hinting at. What she was threatening. To his child. He felt sick. He took another deep breath, trying to quell the nausea he felt as he opened his arms to her. ‘Yvette, I promise that you don’t have to go through this alone. I’ll take care of you. Both of you.’