Rory
Tonight went better than expected. I saw my dad, and it didn’t hurt that Jace told off everyone. I confronted my family years ago about taking Taylor’s side, but talking to them felt like I was hitting my head on a brick wall.
It really hit me today—Hayden and Taylor aren’t worth my time or inner turmoil. Having Jace by my side made me realize that. The best thing is I didn’t ask him to defend me. He took it upon himself to tell off the people who had hurt me. Having his support meant everything.
The only moment that caught me off guard was Jace joking that we should get married and have a reception.
I wasn’t sure if he was serious. He can be a little impulsive, and I don’t want an off-the-cuff offer.
It’s not the same as a declaration of love, and call me dumb, but that’s what I’m holding out for.
In any event, tonight went better than I could’ve imagined. And if Jace is considering getting married for real, maybe we’re on the right track. At some point, maybe he’ll give me a genuine offer.
I’m feeling so good about myself, I’m not going to second-guess my decision to encourage Jace to share Marlowe’s Uber. He went through a lot of trouble for me tonight, and a man only does that if he truly cares, right? I think I’m starting to really trust him, and that’s a huge leap for me.
Smiling to myself, I’m headed toward the elevator when the hotel receptionist calls out, “Ma’am. I have a package for you.”
At first, I’m wary because the last time I had a delivery, it was from Jace’s stalker. But this one is in a pretty pink gift sack with cascading polka dots instead of a nondescript grocery sack. There’s even fancy tissue paper. Did Jace get me another gift?
Grinning, I reach for it. “Thank you.”
I don’t want to wait to open it, so I do the honors at the front desk. But once I remove the decorative paper, I’m confused by what I see.
Reaching in, I pull out… a shredded garment and a card.
It takes me a second to realize what I’m holding. It’s my lavender sweater.
The one I lost in Fort Lauderdale.
On the other side of the country.
Someone took scissors or a razor blade and destroyed it.
My hands tremble as I open the card. The handwriting is a weird block lettering. THOUGHT YOU MIGHT MISS THIS. IF YOU DON’T GET YOUR HANDS OFF WHAT’S MINE, THIS IS WHAT I’M GONNA DO TO YOU.
What the dickens is going on here? I read it again and again, looking for clues to who could have left such a psychotic gift.
“Miss, are you okay?” the woman behind the counter asks.
I force myself to breathe. “Did you see who dropped this off?”
“It was waiting for you when I came on shift.”
“What time was that?”
“I clock in at three.”
That makes no sense. How did someone know we were staying here? We hadn’t even checked in by three.
I glance out toward the curb. Did Marlowe do this?
As quietly as possible, I unlock our hotel room, but it makes a loud noise when I swipe the keycard.
Dang it. I hope that doesn’t wake up Layla.
I rush through the door and shove that “gift” and my purse in the hallway closet.
Knowing the band’s stance on not calling the police and potentially getting bad publicity, all I can do is pray I’m doing the right thing by not reporting this.
Fortunately, Susan is sitting on the couch on the opposite side of the long room, and she can’t see the entryway. I don’t want her asking about the package.
“Thanks so much for babysitting,” I whisper as I smile down at Layla, who’s asleep on one of the queen beds. Susan tucked pillows around her. “Did she give you any trouble?”
As our manager’s wife gathers her things, she waves a hand. “Not at all. That baby is such a darling. Oh, did my husband reach you?”
“Yes, ma’am. Jace returned to rehearsal.”
She presses her hand to her chest. “Thank goodness. You know these musician types—they can be so flakey. I told Frank not to be upset. Jace is a good kid. Did he join you at that reception? He raced out of here in his suit so fast I didn’t get a chance to ask.”
I don’t want to lie when Jace might tell Frank a different story, so I search for a way to deflect. Luckily, I trip because I’m not paying attention to what I’m doing and nearly crash into the coffee table, but I manage to stay upright.
“Oh, dear. Are you okay?” Susan comes over to check on me.
“Yes. I’m just a klutz in heels. I haven’t eaten, so I’d better do that. I, um, I get low blood sugar.” Really, Aurora? That’s the best thing you could come up with?
“I have some candy in my purse.” She roots around in her large canvas tote and pulls out a butterscotch candy.
It looks like it’s seen better days, but if my mouth is full I can’t answer any questions, so I pull off the banged-up Werther’s Original wrapper and pop the candy in my mouth.
Did I just get a mouthful of lint? Yes. “Tank yuu,” I mumble around it as I hug her and usher her toward the door.
“I’m going to get some rest. I’m soooo tired. ”
“Of course, dear. And please eat something more substantial.” She pats my hand so sweetly, I feel guilty for lying.
“Let’s hang out again later this week.” Jace and I had better get our story straight before then. What’s he going to tell his band about why he ditched rehearsal?
I press my hand against my stomach. I’m not built for subterfuge.
Once Susan leaves, I cover Layla with a blanket, hoping she doesn’t wake up at five a.m.
I consider my shredded sweater and admit I’m out of my depth, so I kick off my heels and get out my phone. When Baylee answers, I sigh in relief. “I need your help.” I’ll have to talk quietly so I don’t wake up Layla.
“I’m here with Paige and Honey. Tell us everything! How is it living the country star life?”
I chuckle. “It’s really not that glamorous. Especially when the band returns for the night smelling like booze and bad decisions.”
They all laugh, and I curl up on the couch. “I need your advice. We have a situation.”
“Can we video-chat?” Baylee asks, and I agree. They call back a minute later, and when I swipe my finger across my screen, my three friends smile back at me.
“Hi, guys.” After some small talk, I stop beating around the bush. “Before I tell you this, you have to swear you won’t tell anyone.”
Baylee makes a circle in front of her, Paige, and Honey. “Cone of silence over here. We got your back. Do we need to kick someone’s ass?”
“If I knew who was doing this, I’d let you at him or her.” Sometimes, I think this weirdo is a woman. Other times, I think it’s a man. I pull out today’s delivery. “We have a stalker. Or Jace had one, and now this person is fixated on me. I’m not really sure how to describe this.”
When I finish explaining everything, Honey throws up because she’s pregnant, Paige looks scared, and Baylee’s pissed. She narrows her eyes. “Why haven’t we called the cops yet?”
“Because the band’s afraid of getting bad publicity.
” I rush to explain. “Jace just sang a duet with Marlowe, and she got up close and personal with him on stage. So now Frank is worried if it gets out that Jace is married, it’ll look like he’s cheating with Marlowe.
” That was a lot to say in one breath. Did that even make sense?
“Girl, what? Why would people think Jace is cheating?” I’m not explaining this well. I try again. This time, Baylee makes a fist. “Do I need to have a talk with Jace? Because I will.”
Paige shakes her head. “Calm down, Bruce Banner. Don’t want you to Hulk out.” She leans closer to the screen. “Did Jace tell you not to call the cops?”
“No. Actually, he fought hard to call the authorities. He was really upset that Frank and the guys thought it was a bad idea. Jace wants to escort me everywhere now. Oh, and he got me some mace. But the band has solid reservations, and that’s why I didn’t call the police tonight.
Plus, everyone’s at rehearsal, so I can’t check with them first.”
Honey returns, looking a little green. “I heard everything.” She tries to smile. “I love that Jace wants to protect you. Beau is like that too.”
Paige nods. “All the Walker men are super protective. Except Isaiah. Don’t know for sure about him. He’s always holed up in the Airstream.”
“So what do I do about this?” I hold up the shredded sweater. “Do I report it? Throw it away? Tell Jace? But if I tell him, he’s going to go to Frank, and then the guys are going to think I’m starting trouble again.”
“They can’t possibly think this is your fault.” The irritation in Paige’s voice sparks gratitude in my heart. It feels good to have friends on my side.
“Maybe not directly, but Cooper rolls his eyes at me anytime I breathe.” At least, that’s how it feels.
“Do you have any idea who might be behind this?”
I rub my temple where it’s starting to throb. “It changes all the time. At first, I thought it was this mean groupie, Karina, and I’ve even wondered if our drummer was trying to scare me off. And tonight, I thought it was Marlowe.”
“Hmm.” Honey leans forward. “What if you wait to tell Jace about the latest delivery until he’s not around the rest of the band?
Ask him to keep this to himself, and then see if anyone acts weird.
Because whoever did this is trying to get a rise out of you, right? What if you don’t give it to them?”
I consider her suggestion. “That’s a good idea. We’re in a hotel for a few days, so we’ll have more privacy to talk.”
“Maybe it’ll give you a clue as to who is doing this. Obviously, keep yourself and the baby safe. Can someone escort you when Jace is away?”
“We have a security guard. I’m thinking of bribing him to walk me and Layla to and from the venues. Otherwise, I feel safe on the bus and here in our hotel room. I’m not going to unlock the door for anyone or go anywhere alone.”
When I get off the phone, I decide to wait for Jace to return because I want him to know what’s going on. But I’m so tired, I must doze off because at two in the morning when Layla wakes, he’s still not home. Gosh, he was serious when he said he’d be home late.
But the next morning when I wake, the blankets on his side of the bed are messed up, and Layla’s sitting in her pack and play in front of the couch.
What time is it? I grab my phone. Nine in the morning.
Jace must’ve come home, crashed for a few hours, and gotten up with Layla at the crack of dawn.
I glance around and notice a to-go cup of coffee and a plate of croissants with jam and butter on the coffee table. Next to it is a letter. The Cherry Smasher must be getting to me because I brace myself for something mean, but it’s a note from Jace.
Hey, baby,
Got you some breakfast. Sorry I got home so late, but the guys loved the new songs and we were having a good rehearsal. They were butthurt I took off, but I told them I’d give them money for a strip joint next time we had a break in the schedule, and they finally cooled off. Haha.
I roll my eyes. Of course Jace offered them tits and ass. That’s the only thing that seems to work on his friends. I scan the rest of the letter.
I already fed Layla and changed her this morning. Still haven’t found my phone. Call Frank if you need to reach me. I’ll try to stop by this afternoon.
xoxo, Jace
I read the letter five more times, pausing on the xoxo sign-off.
Smiling, I hold it to my chest. It was really sweet of him to bring me breakfast. Plus, he let me sleep in when he could’ve asked me to watch Layla—I know the man must be wiped out after working nonstop.
I’ll see him later today, and we’ll figure out how to handle my stalker.
Only Jace doesn’t come home.