I knew Lizzie wouldn't turn Kayleigh away, but I also knew young pregnancy was sometimes a stress trigger for her. She got pregnant at twenty when she was an intern for my father.

The whole thing was a big mess for Shayna and me. Our mother was heartbroken since she was replaced by a younger model. My father married her in Vegas shortly after his divorce from my mother was finalized. Lizzie was a young mother, but she adored my father. They had two more kids after Georgia.

It was easier to pawn Kayleigh off to Lizzie. She's already taken Kayleigh shopping, and they'd come back with a dozen bags from various department stores at the mall.

While I felt bad for Kayleigh, it was Lexi who'd asked for my help. She'd let me into the hurricane that surrounded her, and I'd shouldered a little of the onslaught of rain that pounded her.

In less than two weeks, I'd gained her complete trust. Or maybe she'd had no choice. Still, she hadn't run to Maddox, his fat wallet, and family connections. She was asking me for help instead.

I couldn't help but admire her persistence. She took on so much, barely leaving any room for herself. And she still shone brighter than the sun.

My dad was a little less enthused about having a house guest. Fortunately, he was incapable of telling Lizzie no.

The real problem was calling my mother. We'd barely spoken since I'd delayed coming home this summer. Still, she was my biggest resource.

I called Shayna first because I was a coward. At least she listened to the whole story before she threw in her two cents.

"You're doing a pretty big favor for Lexi," she said. "And this is much more about her than Kayleigh."

"You're not wrong," I said.

Shayna paused. "Parker, I think you did the right thing here. Even if it was for selfish reasons. You want to impress Lexi. I get it. She was great when I met her."

Lexi was amazing. There was just this cloud of ease wherever she went. Her friends would follow her into the fire.

"I know," I said. "But you remember what happened when you got involved with a showmance?"

She'd broken up with her boyfriend, Juan, in the middle of her last show. He'd cheated on her, and she was furious, but it brought her closer to Jack, so in the end, all things worked together for good.

"I don't think Lexi is anything like Juan," Shayna said. "And I think you have a lot in common."

"She's older," I said.

Shayna laughed. "A year doesn't make much difference, Park."

"We'll be going different ways as soon as the workshop is over," I said. "Did I tell you Uncle Justin called?"

I'd expected to go home at the end of my workshop. Maybe I'd pick up some work and then return to school in the fall. I'd been so busy with Kayleigh and the theater production I hadn't had time to think about Uncle Justin's phone call a few days ago.

He wasn't my real uncle. He was friends with our parents when they met, and mom made him our godfather. He worked at a nonprofit that centered on a children's after-school outreach program.

"He invited me to work at his program as a paid intern," I said. "He wants to start a soccer team for the kids, and they need a coach. Apparently, Justin thought of me."

Shayna was quiet for a moment. "Did you say yes?"

"I told him I needed a little time to think," I said. "It would be a chance to stretch those teaching muscles."

"Yeah," Shayna said. "I know you love mentoring. Uncle Justin was great to think of you."

"If I asked Lexi out and I left right after the workshop..." I sighed. "It doesn't feel right."

"What are her summer plans?" Shayna asked.

"I don't know," I admitted. "She might be open to leaving, but she has a job here."

"I have an idea, but it'll take a few calls," Shayna said. "Ask her what her plans are. Don't lose an amazing girl because you're scared, Park. Be fearless."

Getting a pep talk about romance from my sister was odd, but somehow, I needed it. I was ready to talk to Lexi by the time it was time for our rehearsal. It was bright and early when I pulled up to the theater early, hoping to find Lexi, but when I was about to walk inside when my phone lit up with a call from my mom.

To be honest, I'd been avoiding most of her calls since I'd decided to stay with Dad. I wasn't entirely sure she was okay with me staying with him. After all, he was the one who'd dumped her. He was a bit of a sore subject.

Like the coward I was, I'd left her a voicemail yesterday when I knew she was on call at the hospital and vaguely mentioned that I had a friend in need of some medical advice.

It was better just to answer rather than avoid her again, so I pressed the button to answer the call and held my breath.

"Parker, sweetie," Mom sounded tired, but that was normal. "How are you?"

"It's been hectic, and I have half an hour before my rehearsal starts," I said. "How was the hospital?"

"Rough night," she said. "There was a big fire in an apartment complex on the other side of town near where Uncle Justin works. There were several kids they brought to me."

My mother was a superhero. She worked as a pediatric surgeon, so she mostly patched up kids. It was hard work sometimes, but she never gave up and saved as many kids as possible.

"Sorry about that," I said. "I know that's not an easy part of your job."

"I know," Mom said. "But you called about a friend needing a doctor consultation. What's going on with that?"

I took a deep breath. "One of the girls in our group is pregnant."

Mom was quiet for just a moment. "Was it planned?"

"I don't think so, but it wasn't my place to ask," I said. "She's staying with me at Dad's house because she doesn't have anywhere to go, and that was the right thing to do."

She couldn't fault me for that. Leaving Kayleigh to sleep in her car wasn't a good option for anyone. Maybe after a few days, I could get her back in an emotional state where she might be able to patch things up with Jude, but I wasn't thinking about that yet.

"How far along is she?" Mom asked.

"At least four months," I said. "She didn't give me an exact number. I'm not a baby expert. I don't even know what type of questions you're supposed to ask someone who's pregnant."

Mom laughed softly. "But it sounds like you're doing all the right things."

"Maybe you and Dr. Santos could come and maybe reassure her," I said. "I think she's scared. You don't have to bring your boyfriend. I just thought maybe..."

Mom cut me off. "I'll have to check with Roman, but I believe we both have Saturday off. You've been off at college, so I forgot you haven't had time to meet Dr. Santos."

"I hope he makes you happy, Mom," I said.

That was all that mattered. Mom hadn't dated much after her divorce. I was convinced for a while that maybe she was still in love with Dad. After all, she hadn't wanted a divorce. Dad made all the decisions, and she had to accept that he was leaving her to start a new family.

"Roman makes me very happy, Parker," Mom said. "We're planning to fly to Chicago in a few weeks for a conference. It's not much of a holiday, but we'll be together."

"When you visit, do you want to meet at the school?" I asked.

I wasn't sure what the protocol for the ex-wife visiting the city where the ex-husband lived was. I'd driven myself to college. Mom had only seen Dad if he'd come to see us and that always made her tight-lipped, and she'd drink wine afterward for the next week.

"I can visit your father's house without being an emotional wreck Parker," Mom said. "It's been over seven years, and I am an adult."

"Mom, I know it'll be hard," I said. "You don't have to lie to me."

"Parker Franklin Christian-Porter, I can handle Frank," Mom said. "I'd be more worried about what me showing up will do to that little waif that married him."

Somehow the idea of my mother calling Lizzie a waif made me think that she was far from over the hurt my father had caused.

"So, Saturday then," I said. "Thanks, Mom. I look forward to seeing you."

"Knock those theater kids dead," she said. "Bye, love."

I let her hang up. She and her boyfriend were planning on coming. That checked one of the boxes on my to-do list. Now all I had to do was find Lexi.

Entering the department building, I half expected to hear a hammer clanging echoing from the open theater door from Chase working on the set or see Maddox running from the green room with a bolt of fabric in his arms. Instead, it was quiet except for Lorne sitting on one of the couches in the lobby.

He looked up as the door swung shut behind me. There were dark shadows under his eyes as if he hadn't been sleeping, and his hair was half sticking up and half flat like he'd slept on it funny and hadn't been bothered to fix it.

"Have you seen Lexi?" I asked.

"Have I seen Lexi," Lorne said each word slowly as if I were a toddler. "Let me think. No. I haven't seen Lexi even though she and Emma Kate are supposed to be running this show."

So clearly, Lorne was in a bad mood. I wasn't usually his favorite person, to begin with, but this level of malice was almost unprecedented.

"Sorry I asked," I said, preparing to head down the hallway to the green room.

Maybe Lexi was down there, and Lorne was playing dumb. Or at least I could find Maddox to use as a buffer between Lorne and me.

"Sorry," Lorne stood. "Sorry doesn't begin to cover what you've done, you meddling moron."

I held up my hands in surrender. "I promise, dude, I didn't do anything, and if somehow I did, I'm sorry for whatever I did to offend you."

Lorne bawled his fists. "You mess with Kayleigh, and you mess with all of us."

By us, I had to assume he was talking about himself and Jude. Their terrible little trio was already causing me enough of a headache without Lorne charging at me, horns out like I was holding a matador cape.

"Kayleigh chose to come with me," I said. "You should talk to her."

"So, you admit she was at your house?" Lorne's nostrils flared.

I took a deep breath that did very little to calm me. "She would be sleeping in her car otherwise since she wasn't asking Jude or you for help. I just did what any good guy would do."

"Oh," Lorne spat. "So, you're the good guy now. I outa..."

I cut him off. "This is ridiculous. I offered Kayleigh a bed. I don't want anything from her. You should be thinking about why she didn't ask you for help."

"She doesn't want my aunt to take away her part," Lorne said. "Miranda is a virgin. If Kay starts showing, it'll be kinda obvious she's a bad choice for the role."

He made a good point. It was no wonder Kayleigh would rather sleep in her car than let Dean Ryder or Dr. Tunstelle know she'd gotten pregnant. She was terrified she wouldn't be able to play Miranda.

"I just offered Kayleigh a place to crash," I said. "I'm not in love with her or anything."

Lorne turned red. He looked like he was about to say something but completely deflated. That's when the truth suddenly dawned on me.

"You're in love with Kayleigh," I said.

He didn't deny it. When he hung his head, I knew I'd come to the right conclusion. This play was officially reaching soap opera levels of insanity. The main girl was pregnant and caught in a love triangle between her two best friends.

"How long have you been in love with her?" I asked.

"A while," Lorne said. "I tried to date Lexi to make her jealous, but that didn't work. She only had eyes for Jude before the pregnancy. Then they found out they were expecting and started drifting apart. I don't want to hurt Jude, especially since it's early into their breakup. I don't want to deprive some kid of their dad because I was selfish."

His eyes were glistening. I wasn't sure what I would do if Lorne, of all people, started to cry. It was easier to work with him when he was yelling at me. That was familiar. This was not.

"Does she know?" I asked.

"I think so," Lorne said. "I'm afraid that's what drove her away from Jude. I don't think he realizes that, though. I mean, you don't just tell your best friend you're in love with his girl. Especially if she's having his baby."

He was doing the right thing. At least what he thought was right for Kayleigh. This was more about her than him.

"I'll see if I can't get Kayleigh to agree to sit down with you and Jude," I said. "My mother is a doctor and coming down on Saturday to see Kayleigh. Maybe you can all be there."

"You won't tell her?" Lorne looked like someone had stuck a foot through his soul and shattered broken glass everywhere.

"I won't tell anyone," I said. "I'm good at keeping secrets. Take a walk and clear your head before rehearsal. You still have time, and I'll cover for you if you're late."

Lorne took my advice. He headed for the door and walked outside. I couldn't imagine what he was going through.

I'd only been in love once, and it had broken my heart. I'd been avoiding romance ever since, except now I could see myself in my mind with Lexi. There was a future there.

It probably wouldn't get easier for Lorne. He was in love with a girl that might not have him. Still, maybe he could get some clarity now that he'd gotten all that off his chest.

Hey everyone!!! I finished up finals, so I'm hoping to work on this book more since I have time during my holiday. This chapter was fun because it involved three conversations, and I really have fun writing dialogue. It was fun to hear from Shayna again and bring Genique (Parker's mom) into this story. What are your thoughts about Lorne? Is he doing the right thing? Would love to hear your opinions. See you soon.

---Eliana