Reed’s expression went rigid as the name flashed on his screen.

Then answered.

“You ungrateful brat,” the voice snapped from the other end. “You got a girl pregnant and didn’t think to tell me?”

Reed’s fingers tightened around the phone.

“Bring her home. Now.”

Aria froze, her breath catching as every word carried across the silence.

Brat?

She turned slowly to him, shock flickering in her eyes.

Aria’s lips twitched, amusement bubbling up before she could stop it. A second later, laughter burst out of her, bright and uncontrollable.

Reed turned to her, a lazy, almost indulgent look slipping onto his face.

For a moment, the call faded into the...