Force of Forever (All In #0.5)

Or forge an entirely new path. One of his own making. His and Pia’s. He could veer onto an unknown route with curves and bumps he couldn’t imagine or plan for.

If Matt left OrbitAll, he’d be leaving the Geier Group as well. He wouldn’t split time between the desert and the coast, or Paris and the States, between a life in the office and a life outside of it. He wouldn’t subject a family—hisfamily—to a disjointed, uncertain childhood like his own or a half-assed partnership like his parents’. His mother wouldn’t let him, anyway. She’d replace him as CEO in a heartbeat with someone more dedicated to the cause.

Someone like Tate.

Matt’s brain launched into a succession of pathways and possibilities. Of plans. Of ways he could control how a change this massive played out and methods of making up for what Pia would need to go through alone until he could clear his path of debris.

He could feel the promise of this potential path seeping into his system, warmer and heavier than fear. More consuming. He could see the ending, or the beginning, for all of them. He saw new futures.

Matt.

Pia.

Tate.

But, fuck, it would take a hell of a leap of faith from every one of them.

Or one really strong, convincing push.

14

Pia hung up, stunned into silence.

Ami’s long, frustrated sigh was the only sound in the room. She knew from Pia’s outburst that the call had not gone well.

Never, not in a single conversation, had Matt ever come across as cold. The man had exuded heat from the moment he’d first opened his mouth to say hi on that plane.

Until now.

None of the sweet words he’d shared in Paris made up for the words hehadn’tsaid on this call.How can I help? What do you need? We’re in this together.

Pia didn’t need anything from him, but she’d wanted Matt’s reassurance.

He couldn’t give her that. She would be going through this pregnancy alone.

She turned and saw tears in Ami’s eyes. Not alone, she reminded herself. Just without Matt.

She ignored the icy knot in her gut, and how her heart ached like it had been set adrift in frigid waters. At least she knew where Matt stood. Knowledge meant she could move forward and make plans.

“Want a secretly pregnant roommate?” she asked Ami with a lightness she didn’t feel. “Maybe my parents won’t notice my growing belly if I don’t live here anymore.”

Ami wiped her eyes. “Yeah, and babies are super quiet after they arrive. We can definitely keep your condition under wraps.”

Pia lifted her laptop off her desk and collapsed onto her bed. “I’m serious. I’m going to look for an apartment. It’s time. Let me know if I should look for a two-bedroom.”

“You mean three-bedroom,” Ami corrected softly.

The knot in her gut squeezed tighter. “You’re right.”

“I think you should wait.”

“Until what? When?” Pia asked, starting to lose her grip on her emotions again.

Ami held up placating hands. “Just…wait. You’ve taken enough action today.” She crossed the room and joined Pia on the bed, gentle in movement and tone. “For now, let’s watch this stupid karate movie and eat chocolate for three, okay?”

Pia nodded and closed her laptop. She was sure that of the two of them, Ami was thinking more clearly.

After the movie ended and she was on her own again, Pia took one final action. She made a list of everything she needed to do and learn now that she was a mom. Taking Ami’s advice, she divided the list into chunks, allowing herself no more than three or four tasks per week.