While she helped each kid hold the newborn, Rhys squatted next to me. “Somehow, I got talked into ordering two tables, one for each bedroom.” He smirked. “They even talked Jonah into making some frames for the Yellowstone pictures they took with Kirstin.”
Instead of having Kirstin get stressed about the girls around her lenses that cost as much as a decent used car, Rhys had bought each girl their own camera. Kirstin had told him what to get and he’d bought it.
Co-parenting with Kirstin was going surprisingly well. She’d been quiet when we’d first talked. But her guarded demeanor had eventually dropped and she’d gotten more comfortable around me and Rhys while traveling for and loving her job. She didn’t feel like she had to hide it, and she was delighted that Rhys was finally open to letting the girls travel with her. Once he saw how excited the girls and their mom were, he couldn’t deny them the opportunity.
The more he divorced himself from the notions his mom had planted, the easier planning became.
During one of the jaunts when Rhys was in Nashville with me, the girls had gone on a trip to Wyomingwith their mom. Their pictures had turned out gorgeous.
“Ready to go?” he asked quietly.
“No.” I had to return to Nashville. I had rehearsals and meetings and one more big interview before my first sold-out concert. Nerves rippled through my belly. “No. But yes.”
“I’ll be there when the girls have their first three-day weekend.”
I inhaled a fortifying breath. He’d been flying back and forth for months, but each time he left, anxiety chewed a hole through my belly. “Then Christmas in LA.”
I rubbed a hand over my other forearm. Rhys had bad memories of LA. He’d been to Nashville. He’d met me in Denver when I’d had an appearance on a morning show. But he hadn’t returned to the towns that had given him the worst memories of his time with his mom.
He covered my hand with his. “ChristmasandNew Year’s. Tenor said he and Lane and Cruz would handle my animals. I think Goldie likes Cruz more than me.”
“Cruz always has snacks.” My stomach settled down just a little bit and I chuckled. The girls were cooing over Eli, and Summer was taking pictures. “It doesn’t have to be LA. I know how?—”
“You have an apartment there, and it’s time I rewrite those memories with happy ones. I’m looking forward to the kids having wonderful memories of the city.”
“To be fair, it’ll be Disneyland they’ll love the most.”
“To be fair, I’m a little excited about that too.” He enveloped my hand in his. “Time to get you to the airport. Three weeks. Then I’ll be there, waiting for you to run offstage and into my arms.”
Rhys
The organized chaos of the concert never failed to amaze me. Neither did the way June could connect with tens of thousands of screaming fans. Not just them. She laughed and joked with her band and her crew.
“Thank you, Tampa!” She raised her arms and the sound was deafening. I needed to add noise-canceling headphones to my list.
She rushed offstage and right into my arms. I swooped her up and spun her around.
“You’re amazing, June Bug,” I said into her ear, unsure if she could hear me over the roar.
She grinned, radiant, but she let me support her while her team surrounded her, coaching her on how the rest of the night would go, when our ride to her condo would arrive, and when they’d connect with her for the next show.
Hours later, we were entering her condo. The smell of flowers filled the air. One of June’s assistants had arranged for the condo to be cleaned and ready. A bouquet of roses sat on the table.
The floor plan of the place wasn’t much smaller than the main floor of my house. With two bedrooms and two baths, it was more than enough for June and a nice getaway for a couple, but also big enough for the kids. They’d love the view of the water. Not to mention the pool in the back. June had mentioned letting go of all her places, but I’d encouraged her to wait and see. Shedidn’t need to shrink her world for me; I was expanding mine for her.
June took her boots off. “Ugh. I need a shower and to sleep in.”
She took my hand and tried to drag me to the bathroom, but I tugged her toward the floor-to-ceiling windows. It was nice, but lights dotted the view and reflected off the water. So different than what I was used to, but not at all bad. Not when I was with June, and my kids were having a nice long weekend with their grandma.
I lifted a little velvet box I’d asked June’s assistant to place by a vase on a table by the window.
June’s lips parted and a small gasp escaped her.
I slowly knelt while watching the shock play over her face. Her jaw dropped farther open and she put her hands in front of her mouth.
The question played in my mind. I wanted to make her mine in every way possible. I wanted her to know I was committed. I knew she feared the travel would wear on me and that the memories of my youth in LA would scare me away. Nothing would keep me from this woman ever again. I wouldn’t keep myself from her, and I needed her to know. I needed her to be mine.
“June, will you marry me?”
