Chapter 21
Tate
It’s been just over a week since I left Summer in New York and now I’m waiting for her at the airport in Nashville.
We have a gig tonight, we’re off tomorrow, and actually have another gig on Tuesday, so she’ll get to see us play twice.
And she’s not flying out until late in the day on Wednesday, so we’ll have half of today and two full days together before she has to go.
The two days I spent in New York went well.
We talked. A lot. About everything.
I got to see Tricia and the gang at the nursing home, played for them again, and this time someone took video that they put on social media—and it went viral.
So the band is getting a ton of hits online, and the general consensus is that it’s sweet.
A few assholes have something to say about me just trying to get attention but whatever.
I’m not going to address that kind of nonsense.
“Summer.” I call her name and she runs straight to my arms. “Hey, beautiful.”
“Hi.” She looks up at me, her eyes shining.
She looks so much healthier now. The dark circles beneath her eyes are gone, and though it doesn’t appear that she’s gained any weight, at least she’s not looking gaunt. She told me she’s sleeping better and hasn’t thrown up since I was there, so I’m just happy she’s doing better.
I press my lips to hers, drinking her in.
Still as gorgeous as ever, and I’m excited about introducing her to the other girls. She’s met the rest of the band and they’re excited to see her too.
“Look what I brought,” she whispers, like it’s a big surprise.
She’s carrying a huge shopping bag, and I gape at her.
“Tell me there’s pie in there.”
“Six of them.”
“You are going to be so popular with the crew.”
She laughs. “As long as I’m popular with you.”
“That’s a given.” I take the shopping bag from her and we walk toward the exit hand-in-hand. “You didn’t check a bag?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “My little crossbody purse is in with the pies and it’s summer—I don’t need a lot of clothes for two days.”
“You don’t need any clothes, as far as I’m concerned.”
She chuckles. “Really? Because I don’t think I’ll be too popular with the other girls if I show up to your gigs naked.”
“Technically, I don’t care what they think, but yeah, it might be a little uncomfortable.”
“So, uh, everyone knows I’m pregnant?” she asks quietly.
“I had to tell them. Angus already knew, and I couldn’t ask him to keep a secret from Ryleigh. Besides, I want you to get to know everyone and starting off with secrets and lies isn’t healthy. For any of us.”
“Okay.”
“Look, everyone is cool. The guys remember and like you, and they’re in love with your baking skills. The ladies are sweet, so they’ll give you a chance regardless.”
“Okay. I trust you.”
That’s nice to hear.
Because I’m doing my best not to be that other Tate, the one who was such a dick to her.
I still have moments where I freak out a little—I just keep them to myself.
Upsetting her doesn’t accomplish anything.
And I don’t want to upset her. I’m crazy about her.
I was from the moment we met. The baby adds a layer of complication to things.
Except we wouldn’t even be together if not for the baby, so I’m trying to wrap my head around all of that.
We only have time to drop off her things before we have to head to the venue, and I sense her nervousness as we head down to the bus to meet up with everyone.
“It’s going to be fine,” I whisper in her ear.
“I don’t know why I’m so nervous,” she says, squeezing my hand.
“New people. New circumstances. New everything. But they’re going to love you. Especially when they see what’s in the shopping bag.”
She laughs. “So the way to everyone’s heart is through pie?”
“Exactly.”
She’s still smiling as we get on the bus. I get on before her, holding her hand, and make quick work of introducing her to the ladies.
“What’s in the bag?” Angus asks automatically. “Please tell me it’s pie.”
Summer just laughs. “It is. Three chocolate peanut butter, one peach, one cherry, one apple.”
“Oh. My. God.” Mick holds out his hands, wiggling his fingers. “Please pretty please?”
“You wait your turn!” I say, sinking into a chair with Summer next to me.
“I’m very excited to try this pie that Angus has talked about nonstop,” Ryleigh says.
“Business has picked up quite a bit,” Summer says.
“Thanks in part to everyone tagging me on social media. I’ve had dozens of people ask me if I ship, so while I don’t currently ship, I’ve been researching what it would take.
I think it would price me out of the market, unfortunately, so I’m not sure how to make it more affordable. ”
“People will pay top dollar for something they perceive as special,” Angus says thoughtfully. “But let me think about it and do a little research myself. There are some discount shipping options, and if you buy the packaging materials in bulk, it brings the cost way down.”
They start talking business and it’s interesting to see her morph into not just a baker but a businesswoman. In my head, her pie baking was a delicious and fun way to make extra money. It didn’t occur to me that she’s serious about it—and genuinely wants to branch out.
By the time we get to the club, Angus has texted her a bunch of links and promises to do some more research. Of course, he comes from a family of billionaires so he cut his teeth on this kind of thing—and I love how happy it seems to make Summer.
“Can I leave her in your hands?” I ask Ryleigh as we head in to oversee where the crew is in set-up.
“Of course. Go on.” Ryleigh links her arm through Summer’s, and I press a quick kiss to her lips before jogging after the guys.
“How is she feeling?” Mick asks me once we’re out of ear shot.
“A lot better. I ordered her some safe anti-nausea stuff and in conjunction with eating crackers before she even gets out of bed, she’s doing great.”
“The first trimester is supposed to be rough for some women,” Angus says, “but I’m glad you’ve found ways to mitigate that for her.”
“I’m still trying to navigate the health insurance thing,” I admit. “But Sasha says we can’t add her as a domestic partner on our plan. The only way to do that would be to get married.”
“Are you going to?” Mick asks.
I freeze, mid-step.
I hadn’t really considered it and I’m not sure why not.
“I don’t…know,” I admit. “It seems too soon.”
“Get a prenup to protect yourself, but you’re having a kid together.
You’re also committed to trying the relationship.
What’s the risk?” Angus asks. “I mean, that piece of paper has nothing to do with a potential broken heart. Beyond the money thing, why wouldn’t you do this and save yourselves a ton of aggravation?
Having a baby is going to cost tens of thousands of dollars. Maybe more. Why not bite the bullet?”
All I can do is stare.
“You think?”
“Invite her to the wedding,” Mick suggests. “Then you’ll be in Vegas and you’ll be in and out in ten minutes.” He and Taryn are getting married in Las Vegas since that’s where Sasha lives and she’s offered to let them do it at her place to save money.
“I would,” Sam says, nodding. “Like Angus said, as long as you get a prenup, what do you have to lose?”
“His sanity?” Jonny counters. “His freedom? I mean, are you in love with her?”
“We’ve spent a total of like, five days together,” I respond dryly. “I don’t know if I’m in love yet, but I’m crazy about her.”
“So crazy that when she told you she was pregnant you all but hung up on her.” Jonny points out the obvious, and though I know he’s just playing devil’s advocate, it annoys me anyway.
“I freaked out a little,” I say quietly. “But I always wanted to see her again.”
“Then why didn’t you?”
“Because it’s complicated. She has to be near her mom. I have to be on tour. Hell, I’m going to be across the ocean in another month.”
“Exactly. Are you sure you want to be tied down to a woman you’ve only spent five days with?”
No one says anything, the four of them watching me. Waiting. Letting me work through it.
Because it’s a lot.
Marriage.
I wasn’t ready for a kid and marriage was nowhere on my radar.
And yet, I’m having a kid and…marriage would solve a lot of problems for us.
Health insurance, for one. And deep down I know it would give her a feeling of security.
It’s not about money for Summer, but about the confidence that I’m not going to abandon her.
We’ve never discussed it in so many words, but I know she thinks about the way her father left and I don’t want to be that man.
It’s hard to know what to do but now that the idea has taken root, I’m leaning toward presenting it to her.
“Yo, Tate, you want to check these new strings?” Our guitar tech, Graham, calls to me and I have to push everything else out of my mind.
But tonight?
I’m going to ask Summer to marry me.