Chapter 26
Hunger – not always related to food
Aurora
“A re you hungry?” Jett asks as we drive out of the city toward Winter Falls.
My stomach growls in response and he chuckles.
I slap him. “No laughing at the pregnant lady. I’m growing a human being over here.”
He immediately sobers. “Sorry. What do you want to eat? Fender told me about this great hamburger place.”
I narrow my eyes on him. “When did Fender mention this great hamburger place to you?”
“I messaged him while you were in the restroom. You were in there a long time. I thought you drowned.”
More like I was answering emails and messages from Mike. But I know better than to say Mike’s name in front of Jett. Someone gets a bit snippy about how much I work.
“What did Mike want?”
I feign shock. “Mike? What?”
“I can always tell when you’re lying.”
“I’m not lying.”
He pulls my hand away from my sweater. “You always pluck at your clothes when you lie.”
“Do not.” Great. I sound about the age of the baby I’m growing. Way to be a grown up.
“Hamburger place?” he prods.
“Sounds good.” I speak in a loud voice to cover the sound of my stomach growling. Judging by the grin on Jett’s face, he isn’t fooled.
It isn’t long before he pulls into a roadside diner.
“This place is cute. I didn’t think roadside diners still existed,” I say as we walk hand in hand into the restaurant.
“Go ahead and find yourself a seat,” a waitress hollers as we enter.
We settle at a booth near the window. The booths are red leather, the tables are Formica, and the floor is squeaky vinyl. I feel as if we’ve traveled back in time.
“I love these kinds of places,” I say as I scan the room. The walls are filled with pictures of 1950s movie stars and there’s an old-fashioned jukebox in the corner. I point to it. “Do you think it still works?”
“It works,” the waitress says as she slaps two laminated menus on the table. “I’m Lucy. What can I get you to drink?”
I gaze longingly at the coffee pot she’s holding but I don’t order any. I’ve had my one cup for the day. “Ginger ale, please.”
Jett orders a coke and she leaves us to peruse the menu.
“I already know what you want. The biggest bacon cheeseburger they have.”
He shrugs. “I enjoy a good burger.”
I open my mouth to respond but then there’s a thud on the window next to me. I nearly jump in my seat in surprise. I glance over to discover a teenager with her face pressed to the window.
“Crap.” Jett groans when the girl points at him. “I think I’ve been spotted.”
“Did you bring a hat? Sunglasses? Or some other kind of disguise?”
“I didn’t think to. I’m so used to no one making a big deal out of the band when I walk around Winter Falls.”
I can’t complain. I’ve become complacent as well. Normally, I carry a large bag with everything I could possibly need to wrestle the band under control – disguises, hangover remedies, condoms, etc. – but I didn’t bring my bag today.
“Do you want me to hide in the bathroom while you greet them?”
There’s now a small group of girls gathered outside. They’re squealing as they jump up and down while pointing at Jett. It won’t be long until they invade the diner.
He growls. “You’re not fucking hiding in the bathroom.”
I point to my stomach. “I can’t exactly keep my condition a secret.”
“And?”
“What do you mean and?”
“And what’s the big deal? The world is going to find out I have a baby on the way sooner or later.”
“Later would be better. We’d have a chance to control the narrative.”
And I could prepare myself for Mike losing his ever-loving mind.
Jett barks out a laugh. “As if there’s any controlling the media.”
He’s not wrong but I’m not ready for the world to know I’m carrying the baby of the drummer of Cash & the Sinners. I’m not ready for the pure vitriol that will be thrown at me once the news is out. How I’m not pretty enough. Not skinny enough. How I used my position to catch a rockstar.
“Hey.” He grasps my hands and squeezes. “What’s wrong? Do you not want people to know you’re carrying my baby?”
His eyes are full of hurt and, despite the situation, warmth flows through me. He doesn’t care if people know I’m carrying his baby. He’s claiming Little Bean as his own.
“No, no. I’m not embarrassed of you or us or Little Bean. It’s just…” I wave a hand in front of me to indicate my body.
“I’m confused.”
I blow out a breath and explain, “I’m not exactly what anyone would call skinny.”
“Your body is sexy as hell.”
My stomach dips as excitement flows through me. “You think I’m sexy?”
He chuckles. “Hell yeah. I—"
“As much as I’m enjoying this conversation,” Lucy says and I notice she’s standing in front of the door keeping the teenaged fans outside. “I don’t think now is the time to have it.”
My face warms. “Sorry.”
“No need for you to be sorry.” She points to the back hallway. “There’s a back entrance. I figure if I let them in when you exit the backdoor you should have enough time to make it to your car.”
Jett growls. “The woman carrying my baby is not fleeing a restaurant.”
“It’s fine. I can run. My legs work.”
“No. I’m keeping you and Layla safe.”
“Layla?”
He grins. “You gotta admit Layla is a kickass rocker name.”
I groan. “You’re going to buy her a drum set before she can walk, aren’t you?”
“Or a guitar. I’m not picky.”
An image of Jett teaching our baby to play the drums pops into my head. He’d be such a good teacher. Patient and supportive. Love for the two of them fills my heart with happiness.
Not this again. I don’t love Jett. It’s the hormones talking.
“Come on.” Jett holds out his hand. When I grasp it, he pulls me out of the booth.
“Where are we going?” I ask when we start toward the door.
He squeezes my hand. “I got this.”
Seriously? Jett has this? I’m the one who usually handles these types of situations. I’m the one who usually is the recipient of the rage from the fans who don’t want me. They want the band. This’ll be interesting.
Lucy frowns at us. “Are you sure? I can hold them off until you sneak out of the back. There’s no reason to play the hero, Jett.”
“Jett?” He raises an eyebrow. “You know who I am.”
“Fender comes in here all the time. When you looked familiar, it wasn’t hard to figure out who you are.”
“Thanks for your help, Lucy.”
“No need to thank me. This is the most excitement we’ve seen in ages.”
“Nonetheless.” He winks at her.
“You ready?” she asks and he nods. She opens the door and the teenagers scream.
It is him!
Oh my god!
I love you, Jett!
Will you sign my boob?
Jett ignores the shouts. He wraps a protective arm around me and begins to make his way through the crowd.
“Excuse me, darlings. I need to get my lady home.”
Your lady?
Who’s his lady?
Is this woman his lady?
I groan at the obvious disgust in their voices. I fist my hands to stop myself from cradling my belly. Better a fat girlfriend than a pregnant one.
Jett ignores their shouts and leads me to the passenger door. He opens it and helps me inside. Once I’m buckled up, he shuts the door.
I assume he’s going to give his fans some attention now. After all, I’m safely burrowed away in the vehicle. I can wait a few minutes.
But he doesn’t. He saunters around the car waving at the girls but doesn’t stop until he’s sliding into the seat next to me.
“Don’t you want to spend some time with them?” I ask when he switches on the vehicle.
His brow wrinkles. “Why would I want to spend time with them when I have you? You’re the one I want to spend all my time with.”
My heart melts at his words. I’m the one he wants to spend time with. Me.
I reach across the console and squeeze his thigh. “Thank you.”
He scowls at me. “No need to thank me.” He waggles his eyebrows. “Unless you want to thank me naked.”
There’s the Jett I know and love.
Love? Welp. There’s no more denying it. I love Jett Peterson, drummer for the world famous Cash & the Sinners band. The man who wouldn’t even consider having a girlfriend a few months ago, let alone having a child.
This situation has disaster written all over it. But I’m all in.
Please don’t break my heart, Jett.