Chapter 22
Summer
When Crimson Edge takes the stage, I can’t explain it, but I’m nervous for Tate. Like he doesn’t do this almost every night. The crowd is loud, excited, and there are tons of people in the audience with signs:
Take me home, Jonny!
I’d live on the edge with you, Mick!
Let’s get rough around the edges, Tate!
How about a birthday kiss, Angus? I’m 18!
Yikes.
The other girls don’t even seem to notice, dancing and singing along with the music. I’ve been listening to their album non-stop, because even though it’s not my usual thing, it’s Tate. And the music is good. Melodic. Catchy. It’s not like I only listen to country.
And watching them live is intoxicating.
They’re energetic, sexy, and so, so talented. Watching them do what they do is as fascinating as it is enjoyable. I’ve been to tons of concerts in my life, but it’s never been personal like this. Like I’m somehow part of it.
For ninety minutes I forget about all the stress in my life and just…live in the moment. My mom, the baby, money issues—everything falls away as I lose myself in Crimson Edge. And Tate Jeffries.
I’ve been losing myself in him since the night we met but this adds a touch of magic to something that’s already intense. And I’m trying really hard not to overthink it.
“Oh my God, they’re amazing!” I yell in Ryleigh’s ear.
She laughs. “They are. This is your first time seeing them live?”
I nod.
“Wait until Tate’s solo.”
And she’s right.
He’s magnificent.
So beautiful and talented and…sexy. The way he moves, the look on his face when he closes his eyes and just lets his fingers dance along the neck of the guitar.
It’s truly something ethereal from my perspective.
Like he doesn’t even think about it—it’s simply part of him.
I know he works hard, practices a lot, but this is God-given talent.
That’s the only way to describe something so insanely breathtaking.
And I can’t help but throw myself into his arms the moment he comes off stage.
He doesn’t hesitate to wrap his arms around me, kissing me deeply.
“Rock and roll turns you on, huh?” he teases.
I laugh. “Maybe a little. You were amazing. Truly. Like, this might be my favorite concert ever.”
“Better than Waylon?” he asks dryly.
I shrug. “Sadly, he passed away before I got a chance to see him live, so I’m going to go with yes.”
“I’ll take it.” He takes a towel from his guitar tech and then grabs my hand as we head for the dressing room.
“We’ve got some local music execs coming backstage,” Angus says once we’re tucked away in the small but comfortable dressing room. “So we’ll need to give them some attention.”
“No press here tonight,” Ryleigh says. “But there are also some radio people and I think there’s a contest winner.” She looks at something on her phone. “Yeah, someone named Sadie Waller. She won tickets and a backstage photo experience. Did Sasha send the merch we’re giving her?”
“Yeah, Mark has it.”
They talk around me for a bit and I hang back, letting them do their thing.
“Does the magic wear off?” I ask Kirsten.
She shakes her head. “Never. I’ve been in love with Sam since the first time I saw him play—and it only gets stronger.”
“How long have you been dating?”
“Just over a year. I was seventeen when we met, and he was twenty-two, so there was nothing going to happen until I turned eighteen. And even then, he made me wait months, to make sure it was what I wanted.”
“How are these guys so nice?” I demand. “Aren’t rock stars supposed to be jerks?”
She nods thoughtfully. “I think about that a lot. Like, Sam is so gentle and sweet and patient. Sometimes I wonder how he’s real.”
“Believe me, I spend a lot of time thinking the same things about Tate these days.”
“There are guys—musicians, rock stars, whatever—who are jerks. The band they were touring with? Karnal Death.” She shudders.
“Absolutely horrible human beings. Well, most of them. Dusty’s okay.
But the other guys? Terrible. It’s not my story to tell, but maybe Taryn will tell you about what she went through with Callum. ”
“So this band is an anomaly?”
“Not an anomaly because believe me—they party hard. Jonny is probably the biggest man whore, but he owns it. And he’s single. He’s allowed. Just like Sam was allowed while I was busy becoming legal.”
We chuckle.
“But deep down, they’re solid human beings. You can enjoy partying and one-night stands and still be a good person, you know? But I’ll admit, sometimes I worry what might happen if they get really big.”
“You have a huge hit under your belt and you seem pretty down to earth.”
She’s thoughtful for a moment. “My parents were killed when I was fifteen, so my sister had to step in and raise me. I think I had to grow up faster than most teenagers, and that probably makes a big difference. Besides, Sydney would kick my ass if I became a diva.”
“This is all new to me,” I admit. “It can be overwhelming trying to navigate this lifestyle.”
“Just hang on to Tate,” she says softly. “Focus on what you have together, and let everything else be background noise. That’s the only way it works.”
“Thank you,” I say softly. “That sounds like good advice.”
* * *
We’ve just gotten into bed and turned off the lights when Tate says, “I think we should get married.”
I freeze and then reach over to turn the lights back on.
“What?”
He chuckles. “I know—not the most romantic proposal but hear me out.”
“Okayyy.” I stare at him in confusion. What on earth is he talking about? We can’t get married after only knowing each other for six weeks!
“You need health insurance. The only way I can get it for you affordably is if we get married. We’ve already decided to see what happens between us so what difference does a piece of paper make in the grand scheme of things?
If you decide you don’t love me, don’t like my lifestyle, whatever the case may be, and you break my heart, will I be more hurt because we’re married?
And the same goes if we look at it from the opposite perspective. ”
“But…we barely know each other!” I protest but he has a point.
“I know. The thing is, we’ve already talked about this connection between us.
How it’s different than any other relationships we’ve ever had.
And we’re going to have a baby. Why not do something that’s not only better for us financially, but also good for the baby.
Even if we wind up divorced, at least he or she will know we tried. ”
I have so many arguments against getting married but they all seem to be a jumble in my brain.
Health insurance is huge. It’s costly and hard to find considering I’m already pregnant—we’ve been doing research and it’s going to cost a fortune.
While getting married for health insurance seems ridiculous, it’s not.
It could potentially bankrupt us if there were complications and we’re on the hook for it all cash.
There are programs for uninsured women, but I make too much money at the diner to qualify.
I also own a home, so I’m in that weird place where I make too much for help but don’t earn enough to pay for major expenditures like childbirth.
“You’re really quiet,” he says after a moment.
“I’m trying to work it out in my head,” I admit. “I mean, getting married is a big deal.”
“I think we should sign a prenup,” he says. “So if things go wrong, I don’t have any right to your house and by the same token, you can’t take half of my earnings for eternity. But we’ll have lots of exceptions for the baby.”
“Yes, that’s smart.” I should be offended at the idea of a prenuptial but I’m not. I don’t want him to take half of my house any more than he wants me to take half of his royalties.
“Look at me,” he says softly, reaching out to gently grip my chin. “Do you want to do this?”
“I feel like we’re skipping over all the fun stuff,” I whisper. “Dating. Falling in love. A romantic proposal, a wedding… even trying for a baby. We’re just jumping ahead to all the hard stuff.”
“I know.” He holds out his arms and I nestle against his chest. “But there’s no law that says you can’t date and fall in love once you’re already married.”
“That’s true.”
“I’m trying to be smart about money while giving you a sense of security. Because I know it’s important to you.”
“Being married won’t stop you from leaving,” I say.
“No, but it gives us both something to fight for.”
Every time he says something like that, I get a little closer to falling in love with him.
“Are you sure?” I ask softly. “Because at the end of the day, I’m getting more out of this than you.”
“Not true. I get the family I’ve always wanted.”
“Oh, babe.” I tip my head up to look at him.
“I didn’t think I was ready for it now but like I said, fate seems to have other plans for me.
For us. And I give you my word, I’ll be good to you.
Faithful, engaged, and as involved as I can be when the baby comes.
The trade-off, of course, is that I have to work.
Yes, I love what I do, but I’m also making a good living at it right now. So you’re going to be alone a lot.”
“I’ve been alone for the last six years,” I whisper. “Without a safety net. At least this time, I’ll have one.”
“I’ll always be there for you and the baby,” he says solemnly. “I can promise you that.”
I smile for a moment and then close my eyes. “Yes.”
“Yes?”
“Yes, I’ll marry you.”