Jace
Leaning back against the kitchen counter, I watch Rory play with Layla in the living room. We hit the road tomorrow, but for the last few days, she’s been coming over to hang out with Layla so my daughter can get used to her. I hadn’t thought to do that.
But it’s been a whirlwind. More like a tornado.
Rhett contacted a family law attorney to help us figure out how to legally get custody of Layla.
The lawyer said Deanna should sign an affidavit of relinquishment, which shows the court her willingness to give up custody.
It stressed me out, and I worried Deanna would want Layla back, but she didn’t have a problem with it.
We also filed docs establishing paternity.
I’ll likely have to wait for the sixty-day revocation window to expire, which is the time Deanna is given to change her mind. Given how quickly she signed the affidavit, I don’t think that’ll be an issue. Then we’ll get a court date where a judge hopefully will grant me official custody.
In the meantime, I packed my gear and moved Rory’s stuff to a storage shed on Maverick’s farm. Honey’s babysitting Rory’s houseplant.
“Rory’s great with the baby,” Rhett says quietly. “Bet that will give you some peace.”
“I can’t believe she’s going along with this.” As I stare at my little bookworm, I’m glad I bought her a pretty ring even if I had to hock some stuff to afford it. I thumb the band on my ring finger as I watch her.
As busy as I’ve been, I have to admit I keep thinking about our wedding. About our vows. About that kiss.
Fuck, that kiss. I’ve never believed people who say they felt a spark kissing someone, but I get it now.
Rory looked beautiful on our wedding day. She had a flush on her cheeks, and her eyes were so bright, they looked like copper pennies.
Rhett grabs two beers from the fridge. “Follow me outside. Wanted to talk to you about a couple of things.”
Here we go. Rhett wants to make sure I stay out of trouble. I’ve been waiting for him to break out the big-brotherly advice. “Sure.” I follow him, and we sit across from each other at the picnic table in the backyard. “What’s up?”
“Just wondering if y’all have figured out the rules yet.” He hands me a beer.
“Rules?” I pull at the collar of my t-shirt. Following rules isn’t usually my strength.
He pops the top off the bottle neck and takes a long draw. “Yeah, rules. Parameters. Things you and Rory set out so no one gets hurt when this is over.”
“Is this what you and Paige did before you fell headfirst in love with her? Because I don’t need that. I’m not gonna fall in love or get hurt or anything.”
“Not you, doofus. Her.”
I frown. “Pretty sure she doesn’t even like me very much. You know, as a human.” It’s funny that my family used to think she had a crush on me because she barely tolerates my presence. I sniff under my arm. I don’t stink. I shower daily. There’s no legit reason she shouldn’t like me.
He chuckles and sets his beer down. “I gathered that, but y’all will be living in close quarters for a long stretch. Plus, you’re gonna have to pretend to be a couple. When you kissed her at the courthouse, she looked like she’d been struck by lightning.”
Chuckling, I buff my nails on my tee. “What can I say? I’m a good kisser.”
“I’m serious, Jace. She’s not like the girls you usually run around with. Groupies know the score with you. They know you’re not looking for commitment, and they’re good with that. Rory’s more introverted. She’s not gonna toss her bra in your face when you’re on stage.”
Maybe it’s ’cause I haven’t had sex since last fall, but the thought of Rory whipping off some lingerie derails my thoughts. I bet she has great tits. Small but high and firm with cute little nipples. Suckable.
Son of a bitch.
I shake my head hard enough to knock some sense into it. “We’re just playing pretend. No one’s gonna get hurt.”
“I think y’all need to discuss how affectionate you’re gonna be in public. Set out expectations. What’s the sleeping situation gonna be?”
I peel the label off my beer bottle. “Frank said we’re probably getting bunks, so the baby will sleep with me or Rory.”
He scratches the back of his head. “Who’s getting the master bedroom?”
“I don’t think there is one, but if there is, it might be full of equipment.”
“Maybe we should know that. My guess is you’ll get the master if you have one ’cause you’re the lead singer, and everyone else in the band is replaceable except you.”
I rear back. “No one is replaceable.”
“Bro, the reason Frank was acting like his hair was on fire when you said you wanted to bring Layla is because he knows this deal is dead in the water without you. Since you’ll have your wife and child with you, you should get the master.
And if that happens, you need to talk to Rory about how y’all will handle that. ”
“Sure. Fine.” I have a wife and child. That seems bonkers.
Because Rory’s been staying with Honey and Beau since we moved her out of her apartment.
It’s not like she’s been in my bed, and I can’t see her doing that willingly, but I don’t think this needs to be a federal case.
I’ll pull Rory aside in a little while and get her thoughts.
But we get caught up moving the last of her things from her old apartment. News flash: She has a lot of fucking books and crafts. It takes longer than I thought it would to wrap that up. Then I have my shit and Layla’s stuff we need for the tour.
The day is never-ending, and the next morning is pure chaos. The kids want to see us off, so my entire family heads to the parking lot behind the Prairie Rose Trading Post where we’re loading the tour bus.
I stand there, absorbing it all. “Holy crap, this is really happening.” The exhaustion from the last few weeks evaporates as I think about what this tour means.
Mav hugs me with one arm since he’s holding little Leo. “So fucking proud of you, man.”
“Thanks.” I felt the same about him when he was drafted into the NFL.
Then it’s Beau’s turn. He just got off shift and is sporting his Wild Heart Fire Department t-shirt. He scruffs my head. “Kick ass on the road. Call us if you need anything.” He points at me. “Don’t get arrested.”
“No shit.” Chuckling, I hug him, feeling more choked up than I expected.
Rhett and Isaiah are talking, and I don’t interrupt. Just hug each of them and motion to Isaiah. “Keep an eye out for Rhett. Don’t let him work too hard.”
Before I walk away, Isaiah taps my shoulder. “Good luck out there. We’re all rooting for you.”
“Thanks. That means a lot.”
The kids take turns hugging me and giving me gifts. “Love y’all. Be good for your parents.”
Finally, I turn to find Rory, who’s holding Layla. She looks like a natural with my baby on her hip. I have a good feeling about this.
They’re surrounded by Paige, Baylee, and Honey, who stop talking when I join them. “If y’all don’t mind, I’m gonna grab my wife.”
My heart rate speeds up, and my skin gets tingly.
My wife. Damn.
Not gonna lie, I like how that sounds.
Trust me, no one’s more shocked by that than me.
The girls holler and clap, and Rory flushes a fetching shade of pink. I take the baby out of her arms, and the girls each hug Rory. Then I hold out my hand. “Let’s do this.”
She looks like she’s gonna lose her breakfast. “What if your band hates me?” she asks softly as we cross the parking lot.
“Impossible. You have great taste in music.”
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little apprehensive about how the guys will feel about Rory. She’s not like the party girls we usually hang out with. I’m hoping they like her, though. She’s making a lot of sacrifices to help me.
She tugs on my arm. “What did you tell them about me?”
I’d already given them the heads-up about Layla and how that went down.
Broke the news I’d gotten married. Kinda suggested it was to get help with the baby but that I’d been seeing Rory for a while.
“I said we’ve been dating since the fall and that’s why I wasn’t partying with them after our gigs.
” Which is code for fucking around. I squeeze her hand.
“It’ll be okay. Just act how you would if we were really together. ”
She groans behind me as I climb the stairs on the bus. When I see my bandmates, I grin like a lunatic. “Who wants to go on tour?”
They all cheer.
But Layla starts crying.