Rory
After the entire morning goes by without a word from Jace, who left me breakfast and another brief note, I decide I’m done waiting.
When Susan shows up, I’m itching to go. “Thanks for watching Layla. I won’t be gone long. I just need to run a few errands.” Thankfully, the baby woke up in a good mood, so I’m hoping that lasts.
“No problem, dear. I love our little Layla, and I have my knitting to keep me busy.”
I’m not telling her that I’m stopping by the studio in case she calls Frank. I need to see what’s going on with my own two eyes. All I’m getting are clips from Marlowe that basically look like she’s about to run off with my husband.
But I understand how publicity works. Everything’s curated to tell a very specific story. For all I know, Jace and Marlowe are bickering every two minutes, and I genuinely have nothing to worry about.
And thanks to Frank’s itinerary, which he printed for everyone before we disembarked the bus on Sunday, I know where the studio is. But I’m nervous. I’m not the band-rehearsal-crashing type of girl, and I almost puke in the Uber.
Hopefully, this won’t be like that label event where the waiter wouldn’t let me in. Because I can’t call Jace to come get me because I’m assuming he still doesn’t have his phone. Will Frank let me in? Or will he think I’m a distraction?
By the time I get there, I’m a sweaty mess. It’s a million degrees outside, and my hair frizzes out the moment I step out of the vehicle. As I stand in the street, lightning strikes in the distance. The air is so humid, it’s hard to breathe.
I’m just wearing a t-shirt, shorts, and Chucks because I was too upset to put more effort into my outfit, but when the studio buzzes me in, I start to wish I’d put more thought into my clothes.
The girl at the front desk smiles at me, and I return it. “Hi, I’m with Wayward Sons. Could you direct me to their space?”
“Oh, sure. Just down that way in studio A.” She leans over the counter and pops her gum. “They’re so popular. I’ll be surprised if they get anything done. They’ve had a ton of visitors.”
Interesting.
I duck into a bathroom to check my hair and dab on some makeup. I wish I was wearing Honey’s dress and the heels I donned for Taylor’s reception. I’m starting to realize that clothes can feel like armor, and right now, I look like a kid about to walk into the lion’s den.
After I apply some mascara and lipstick, I tie my hair into a ponytail so it’s not so frizzy. This will have to do.
As I head to the studio, my heart thrashes against my chest. Calm down, Aurora. You’re just dropping in to see Jace. No biggie.
Studio A has a door with a window, so I peek in.
The room is split in two. The part closest to me has a giant console with lots of little buttons that some guy adjusts.
I don’t know if he’s a sound engineer or producer, but he looks serious.
Then there’s Frank and a man in a suit. Behind them, lounging on leather couches, are Marlowe’s bandmates and a few glammed-up girls I recognize from the tour, including my favorite person, Karina.
It’s nice to know Karina gets to hang out at Wayward Sons’ recording sessions, but I can’t.
I close my eyes and pray I’m not about to humiliate myself.
Here goes nothing. With my heart in my throat, I open the door. When Frank spots me, I hold my breath and pray he doesn’t kick me out.
To my surprise, he smiles and waves me in. Thank God he’s in a good mood.
“Glad you could stop by, Rory. I told Jace you should be here recording and getting some behind-the-scenes clips, but he thought you needed to rest.”
Hold on. Frank wanted me to come but Jace vetoed that? “I’m always happy to help.”
He pats my shoulder. “Thanks, kid. Appreciate it.” Motioning to the man on the other side of him, he says, “I’m not sure if you remember Niles.” He tilts his head and widens his eyes, as if to say, Hey, the boss is here.
I wave. “Nice to see you again.”
Niles swipes his hand up, which I think is supposed to be a greeting but comes across like he’s swatting a gnat, and continues talking to the guy at the console.
Frank points to the other side of the glass partition that divides the giant room. “I’d love for you to go in there and get clips of Jace and Marlowe singing. They just finished eating lunch, so we should be good to go.”
I glance through the glass. On the other side, Jace and his ex are laughing and having a grand ol’ time. He takes a sip of a drink and hands it to her. She winks at him and takes a drink. And now they’re sharing beverages.
To think I sat in the hotel room all week, waiting for him to come home like some sad 1950s wife with lunch ready, hoping he’d have half an hour to spend with me.
“This will be fun,” I say, a little manically, but Frank thinks I’m being serious and gives me a thumbs-up. “I don’t have that nice camera, but I can use my phone.”
“That’s fine. Just post some clips today when you get back to the hotel.”
“Yes, sir.” I salute him because I’m losing my shit. I waltz into the studio and grin at the happy couple.
Jace pales when he sees me. What? He’s not excited I’m here? “Rory, I…”
“Don’t let me interrupt. I want to capture all of your great chemistry. Let’s do this.” The man literally has no words. “Carry on. Pretend I don’t exist.” Which they’re already doing.
He clears his throat. “Who’s watching Layla?”
“Susan.” Does he have something to say about that? No?
A voice comes over the speaker, and I realize that’s Niles.
I turn to watch him talk into a little mic on that giant console.
“Okay, guys, do it again. Marlowe, let’s really work it this time.
Flirt with Jace and the camera so we can get some good footage.
Then we’ll isolate your vocals next and get some harmonies.
If we need to isolate any instruments, we’ll do that tomorrow.
The videographer will be here Friday morning, so we’ll do the official music video for ‘Red Light’ then. ”
So now they’re recording his song together. Did Jace really not have five minutes to give me a heads-up about this? He couldn’t borrow someone’s phone to call me?
I don’t even realize the rest of the band is here until they start playing.
Get it together, Rory. I remind myself of Cooper’s words, that Jace can handle anything for five minutes. Hopefully, that’s how long this will last. Cooper’s an asshole, but that’s solid advice.
Five minutes. That’s all this is.
I swallow down all the snarky things I want to say to Jace and hit record.
“Guys,” Niles interrupts, and everything stops. “I want close-up videos. Honey, can you move closer?”
Is he talking to me? I turn around, and he waves me forward. I nod because who wouldn’t want a front-row seat to their damn husband flirting with another woman?
We start again, but when Jace starts singing, Niles interrupts again. “Jace, what are you doing, man? Why do you look like death warmed over? Do what you were doing before lunch. Smile, flirt, and be the charismatic guy I know you to be.”
Yeah, Jace. Act like you were before I got here. I’d love to see that.
Jace stares at me, and I shrug. Like I have a say here. This is his gig. I’m just the damn nanny and social media PA.
He scrubs his face, and when he pulls down his hands, he grins, but there’s something so empty about his eyes, it makes my heart hurt.
“Great. Like that!” Niles says.
Jace plays his guitar and sings while Marlowe flirts with him. Draping her arm over his shoulder. Resting her head on his shoulder. Running her hands through his hair.
He laughs and shakes his head playfully. Smiles at her. Winks.
I’m going to be sick.
By the third time, I’ve had enough. The moment the last note plays, I storm out.
I’m almost to the main door of the building when I hear Jace behind me. “Rory, wait.”
I hold up my middle finger and keep going.
When I’m on the sidewalk outside, he turns me to face him. “Let me explain.”
“Explain? Let me guess. You’re just doing your job, right?”
“Pretty much, yeah. But—”
“Nope. I don’t need to hear anything else.” I pull up my Uber app to get a car. “Go do your job because I need to go do mine.” I wave my phone at him. “Have to go post those flirty little videos. That’s going to be fun.” I almost choke on the sarcasm in my voice.
“Baby—”
“Don’t fucking call me that. Not while you’re pretending to the whole world that you’re screwing her!
” I point at the building. To my horror, my eyes well with tears, and I swipe them away.
Then I utter the most ridiculous grievance from this afternoon.
“Why were you sharing a drink with her?” Surely there were worse things that happened, but that’s what comes out of my mouth.
His brows tighten. “What?”
“You shared her drink. Why?” I press, my voice hardening. The longer the image sits in my mind, the hotter I get.
He runs a hand through his hair. “She knocked hers over and asked if she could have a sip of mine. Said her throat was hoarse from singing.”
That woman has an excuse for everything. I take a deep breath, hoping my voice doesn’t crack. “If Marlowe asked you to light yourself on fire to keep her warm, would you agree?”
His frown deepens. “Rory, I’m so sorry about all of this. I wanted to explain everything last night, but…” He moves closer, and I hold up my hand.
“You know what? If Marlowe is who you want, go for it. You hired me to be your nanny. Maybe you didn’t want more than a friend with benefits to break your sex fast, and I was convenient.
Except you didn’t think this through. You didn’t realize how intense everything would be since we lived together.
You didn’t even sign a damn prenup.” I laugh so I don’t sob.
“I’m going to make this easy for you. When we get back to Wild Heart at the end of the summer, I’ll file for divorce.
Then your bandmates won’t hate me because they think I’m with you for your money. ”
The Uber arrives, and I open the door, but Jace slams it shut. “It wasn’t like that. Don’t fucking walk away, Aurora.”
Why does he sound pissed? I’m the aggrieved partner. “When I agreed to marry you, you swore you wouldn’t humiliate me. What do you think happened back there in the studio?”
His eyes clench shut. “Give me a chance to explain. I swear it wasn’t what it looked like.”
My ex said those words right after he pulled his wet dick out of my stepsister. I whisper because I can barely get the words out. “Jace, I can’t go through this again.”
“Please, Rory. I swear I’ve been faithful to you.”
I stare at my feet as tears drip down my face. When I look at him, my heart breaks. His eyes are shiny, his face ruddy. God, am I really going to give him another chance? I’m an idiot, so yes. “Will you be home—”
“Jace!” Cooper shouts behind us. “Get your ass inside before Niles loses his shit again.”
My heart sinks because I already know what he’s going to choose. What Jace will always choose.
I smile through my tears. “Duty calls.”
And I get in my Uber and drive away.