Until he tacks on one final demand. “Then stay out of my face the rest of today.”

That sends her spiraling. “Stay out of your face?” Anika screeches. “Stay out of your face?” She slams both palms into his chest, causing him to lose footing and stumble back. “Oh, I’ll stay out of your face all right. But it won’t just be for today.”

Oh no. Nausea bubbles in my throat because I know what’s coming next.

“I fucking quit!” Her lip quivers, and her eyes are rimmed in red. “I can’t work like this.”

The tremor in her voice brings tears to my eyes, and I don’t even like the girl. What the hell is wrong with me?

She gives me a scathing look before storming toward the door.

“Ah, piss off, Annie.” Lyle cuts a hand through the air. “You don’t quit, and you know it.”

“What are you doing?” I ask, rushing over to my husband. “Stop goading her.”

“You don’t know Anika like I do. She lives and breathes this band.” He pats the top of my hand that’s clutched onto his arm. “She’s just blowing smoke.”

Maybe he’s right. He does know her better than me. And maybe she does have a flair for the dramatic. But I saw the pain in her eyes; witnessed the look of pure devastation on that woman’s face.

All I know is I can’t leave things as they are. My conscience won’t allow me to overlook the way we’ve hurt and betrayed her.

“I’m going to go talk to her.” I give his arm a squeeze before moving for the door.

Lyle stops me in my tracks. “Just let her be.”

“Even if she does just get over it, it doesn’t mean what we did was okay. This is my fault. I asked you to lie to her, and it’s on me to make it right.”

“Argh,” he growls gripping two fists full of his hair in frustration. “This is not a good idea.”

I pinch his chin in my hand and rise up on my toes to press a kiss to his lips. “I can handle my own, Mr. Livingston. But I appreciate your concern.”

“Fuck,” he groans.

“Where are you going?” I ask when I hear him padding though the house behind me.

“Gonna go sit on the couch so I’m close by in case I have to break up a cat fight.”

“Suit yourself.” I shrug, smiling to myself over the way he’s fretting unnecessarily over this. I’ve never been in a physical fight in my life and don’t plan to start one now. I don’t know Anika well at all, but I just can’t see her attacking a pregnant chick. Even if said chick is me.