Jace
I don’t know what to expect when I crack open the door to our bedroom, but it’s not this.
Rory is sitting in the corner, on the floor, in front of my daughter’s crib, hugging her knees to her chest. There’s a small stack of books next to her.
Even though it’s late, she’s wide awake. But when she sees me, her expression doesn’t change. She has a faraway look in her eyes, almost like she’s looking through me.
After I glance in the crib—my daughter’s sleeping peacefully—I crouch down in front of Rory and cup her face. “Baby, are you okay?”
She looks down and nods.
“Talk to me. I heard about the book. Edmond’s calling the police so we can report it. Maybe the person left fingerprints on the baggie.”
“Okay.” She still won’t look at me.
I sit in front of her. “Darlin’, I’m so sorry about tonight. I swear I had no idea Marlowe was gonna get up in my business. That’s not what we rehearsed at sound check.” I debate mentioning what happened in the VIP line afterward, but that feels like adding fuel to the fire, so I keep it to myself.
“Sure,” she says quietly.
That’s it? Sure? “I’m an open book. Ask me anything, and I’ll tell you what you want to know.”
Her eyes finally meet mine, but they’re remote. “Do you think I have time to take a shower before the police arrive?”
“I don’t know. Why don’t we go check with Edmond?” I get up and offer her my hand, but she doesn’t take it. I’m scrambling to think of something to connect with her. “Whatcha doing with all those books?”
She shrugs. “I figured if someone attacked me, I could throw books at them. I don’t really have anything else I could use as a weapon.”
My heart sinks. I never want her to be afraid. I pull her into my arms and hug her, but she doesn’t reciprocate. “Hey. I’m sorry you’re getting wrapped up with the Cherry Smasher. That asshole is pissing me off.”
When Rory doesn’t say anything, I realize that might not be what’s freaking her out. “Don’t give up on me,” I whisper. “We’ll figure out how to deal with Marlowe’s bullshit. You and I have a good thing. Don’t let her come between us, okay?”
She sighs and puts her hands on my waist. Her voice is a whisper. “It hurt to watch the two of you together like that.”
“I’m so fucking sorry, baby. I need you to believe me.
I had no idea shit was gonna go down like that.
I kinda went on autopilot. I couldn’t shove her away on stage, so I just went with it.
But I know now that was the wrong thing to do.
” I can’t bring myself to tell her what happened backstage. She’s already upset.
Rory tilts her head and glances up at me.
“Was it, though? I thought that’s the whole point of all of this.
For you to make a big splash so you can get your record deal, and that’s what stage time with Marlowe’s getting you.
” She pulls out her phone and scrolls to our social media.
“Your fans love you two together.” She scrolls through clip after clip of me performing with my ex that fans have posted.
Damn, it looks more intimate than I thought. No wonder Rory’s pissed.
I cup her face again. “It’s just an act. There’s absolutely nothing between me and her anymore.”
“Okay.” She wipes her eyes with an embarrassed laugh. “Here’s the truth. I can’t compete. I know that. I’m nothing like her, and I—”
I kiss her to shut her up. “Thank God you’re nothing like her. Look, I know you’re probably flipped out by the song I wrote about her, but the bottom line is, she and I were toxic together. Good for some song inspo and crazy enough to make me spiral afterward. That’s it.”
She fists my shirt. “If you ever want her—”
“I don’t.”
“If you ever want her,” she says more forcefully, “or anyone else, just promise me you’ll break things off with me first.”
“I’m not gonna—”
“Jace. Please. Promise me.”
I finally get a good look at her. Her eyes are glassy and swollen. She’s been crying. Fuck. I hate that I’ve hurt her. “I swear.”
When I hug her again, she lets me. After a minute, she wraps her arms around me too, and I sigh in relief and kiss her temple.
At least tonight’s over. I did the stupid song with Marlowe like Niles wanted, and it’s done.
Now we just gotta talk to the police.
One fire put out and one more to go.
The whole band is crammed in the kitchen while I glare at Cooper.
The fluorescent light overhead flickers.
“What do you mean we shouldn’t report this?
” I point to the offending gift. “Did you miss the threat to my goddamn wife?” I glance back toward the bedroom to make sure Rory hasn’t snuck up on us.
I don’t want her to overhear us arguing.
Layla woke up, and Rory’s putting her back down again.
He rolls his eyes. “She’s not your wife, not really. And we don’t need the bad publicity. It’s just some dumb prank that went too far. Rory shouldn’t get her panties in a twist.”
I clench my fist. I love Cooper. I’ve known him almost my whole life, but I’m ready to punch him in his fucking face. “What the hell is your problem? What did Rory ever do to you?”
Frank moves between us. “Gentlemen, come on. We’re all friends here. Cooper’s just tired, Jace. He means no disrespect. Do you, Cooper?” He shoots my drummer a look, and Cooper shrugs.
“Whatever, boss. I’m just saying I don’t think we need to make a federal case of this. We get weird gifts all the time. Just last week, Shane got some frozen underwear with a marshmallow filling. Kinky and strange, but okay. This is the same shit, different packaging.”
Is my friend really that dense? “Don’t you think this is different? This is obviously from the Cherry Smasher. Remember her? She put a knife through our tire?” I look at Frank. “Don’t you think this is worth a call to the cops?”
He blows out a breath and rubs his jaw. “Maybe. But I do have one concern.”
“What’s that?”
“What if it gets out that you’re married?
The police are going to ask those kinds of questions.
Your band is on the rise, and this whole thing could go sideways fast. If you’re married but Marlowe’s your side piece?
If people think you’re cheating?” He winces.
“I’m not saying we can’t report this, but you should think this through first.”
Fuck!
“We shouldn’t do it, then.” Rory. I turn and find her looking more tired than I’ve ever seen her.
I pull her into my arms. “Baby, I want you to be safe.”
She nods. “I should’ve called Edmond tonight. That’s why I got locked out of the bus for so long. It was raining, and I was upset. I promise to call him before I head back from the shows. I’ll feel better if—”
“You got locked out?” Why am I just learning this?
She shrinks back. “I thought you knew that.”
I find Edmond sitting in the lounge, looking sheepish. “Where were you while Rory and my daughter were outside standing in the rain?”
Before he responds, Rory puts her hand on my chest. “It’s not his fault. Don’t yell at Edmond. He always helps me on and off the bus with Layla’s stroller. He’s always been kind to me.”
I glare at Cooper because I know what she’s not saying. That Cooper’s a dick to her. “Are you the one doing this?”
“Doing what?”
“Are you trying to freak out Rory so she quits the tour? Did you give her this creepy gift?”
A dark laugh bellows out of him as he shakes his head. “What the fuck is your problem? You really gonna let a chick come between us like this? After ten years in a band together? After growing up together?” He spits on the floor. “Fuck this.”
After he storms out, Shane sighs. “I’ll keep an eye on him. Make sure he doesn’t end up drunk and in jail.” He takes off after our drummer. Derek just shrugs and grabs a beer out of the fridge.
Frank scrubs his face. “Jace, I feel for you, but you shouldn’t accuse your bandmates of shit like this. They were all with you in the arena when this happened.”
“But maybe someone paid that girl to do it.” I feel like I’m losing my fucking mind.
“Do you really think Cooper would go through all that trouble to run off a woman who’s watching your child? He might not gel with Rory on a personal level, but that seems out of character. Everyone knows we’d be up shit creek without someone to watch Layla.”
That’s just it. I don’t know anything anymore.
Rory takes my hand in hers and gives me a hesitant smile. “I’m okay. Layla’s fine. I’ll be more careful. If this is as bad as it gets, I can live with it.”
“I’m getting you some pepper spray.” I wrap her in my arms and kiss the top of her head. “I hate that you’re involved now.”
Frank pats her on the shoulder. “Appreciate the can-do spirit, kid. It wouldn’t be a bad idea for you to wait for us to be done with the VIP lines before you return to the bus. If there’s an unhinged person running around, I don’t want to take any chances.”
She sighs but nods. “If you think that’s best.”
“Just until this blows over. Maybe a week or two.”
I fucking hate this so much. “Come on, baby. Let’s go to bed.”
Frank holds up his hand. “Jace, sorry to do this to you, but I need you to review those expenses.” He points to the folder next to the fridge. “If you can’t concentrate tonight, then first thing in the morning. Before we get to the hotel.”
That makes Rory perk up. “We’re getting hotel rooms?”
Frank nods. “While we’re rehearsing and recording, yeah. It’s cheaper than the bus.”
I flip open the folder and scan the spreadsheet. It’s the usual. Gas, food, merch, the tour bus rental, security, and our driver’s rate. The amounts are staggering, but that’s why our merch sales and VIP tickets are so important. I sign it at the bottom and hand it to Frank. “Here.”
Frowning, Rory chews on the inside of her cheek. “Don’t you want to review that more carefully?”
“It’s almost the same every week.” I grab her hand. “See you in the morning, Frank. Sorry for the drama with Cooper. I’ll talk to him in the morning.”
“Thank you. Appreciate that.”
When Rory and I are back in our room, I check on Layla, who’s sleeping soundly again. I run my hand over her back. “I love her so much. It’s almost like I can’t remember a time when I didn’t have a daughter.”
Rory stands next to me. “She’s such a good girl. Easygoing and sweet. I love taking care of her.”
My throat closes up when I think about all the bad things that could’ve happened tonight. “I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to either one of you.” I turn to her. “Are we okay? You and me?”
She looks away, and for a heart-stopping minute, I’m afraid I’m losing her. “If performing with Marlowe was a one-time thing, then yes, we’re fine. I can live with it. But if you expect me to go through what I watched tonight for the next two months, then—”
“I won’t let it happen again.”
“You can’t promise that. This isn’t your tour. Niles makes the rules.”
I’m really getting tired of Niles. I scramble to figure this out before Rory bails on me. “You’re right. I can’t control whether I perform with Marlowe, but I can make sure I have my own mic. That would help, right? So she’s not right up in my face the entire time?”
She considers that. “You’re right. It would help.”
Good, we’re getting somewhere. I sit on the bed and pull her into my lap. “What if news that I got married leaked? If Marlowe wants to play games, maybe that’s the ace I need to throw down.”
Rory grabs my face and studies my eyes. “Don’t do anything rash. You’ve worked your entire life for this tour and these opportunities. If it leaks that you’re married, and Niles has an inkling the news came from you, he might torpedo any shot you have of signing with the label.”
“I feel like a pawn. Like he’s using my personal life to sell the tour.”
She gives me a sympathetic smile as she laces her hands behind my neck.
“If this was easy, everyone would do it. Obviously, the music industry is intense. It reminds me of the tagline of that TV show, Survivor—you have to outwit, outplay, and outlast everyone else. And maybe if we think of this as a game and try to be more strategic, we’ll get through it. ”
“You mean together. We’ll get through it together.
” I cup Rory’s beautiful face. “I think one of the reasons I spiraled after Marlowe is because I didn’t have any closure.
One minute we were an item, and the next she was gone.
But I got that closure tonight. Seeing her on stage as I sang that song crystalized all the shit I hated about our relationship.
” I was one hundred percent honest with Marlowe when I told her she taught me what I didn’t want in a relationship.
“You’re the opposite of her in all the best ways, Aurora. You’re what I want.”
At first, she just stares at me, but then she pulls back. “Look, you and I got wrapped up together because you needed a nanny, and I don’t want you blowing smoke up my ass because you’re afraid I’ll quit. I won’t—”
“Baby, no. I swear I’m being honest when I say I want you. I choose you. Not because you’re great with my daughter or because you keep me grounded on this tour, but because I like you. A lot.”
“Just…” She glances away. “Marlowe is, like, knockout gorgeous and really damn talented. My God, her voice is phenomenal. And I think she wants you again.”
I turn her to face me. “Marlowe is playing a part. She doesn’t want me, not really.
She might regret ghosting me back then, but I think that’s as deep as it goes.
She wants stardom and chart-topping hits, not domestic bliss and certainly not a man with a one-year-old.
” I point to the crib. “And Layla and I are a set. My daughter is non-negotiable.” I lick my lips, nervous that Rory might not be on board anymore.
“The question is, are she and I something you want?”
Her eyes get glassy. “Like I said, I can’t compete with Marlowe.”
Leaning down, I kiss her. “There’s no competition. You already won, baby. You already have me.”
A tear slips down her cheek. “If you’re sure you’re not settling.”
Cupping her face, I wipe it away with my thumb.
“You’re not the consolation prize, Aurora.
You’re the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
” That gets me a genuine smile. I kiss her again, soft and slow, until she sighs and kisses me back.
“So tell me, how do you feel about dating a single dad with great taste in music? I hear he’s kinda cute. ”
She chuckles and shakes her head. “I mean, you’re not a troll.”
There’s my girl. “Maybe not, but I feel like I smell like one right now.” I lift a brow. “Wanna take a shower with me?”