That meant she was leaving Iris in seven days. He already mourned this. Almost as much as when his lips left her smooth skin last night.
But right now, he needed to get out of bed and into the studio, where his father undoubtedly waited to chew him out for being late. Again. But at least now, Jamie knew he was closer to the finish line.
He didn’t check his phone, despite it vibrating like a snake pit, so he could quickly shower and change into a gray T-shirt and dark-wash jeans. Hair still sopping wet, hehopped in his truck and carved down the tree-lined dirt road. By the time he arrived at the compound, he was completely winded and, if he were honest, nauseous from the adrenaline spike. Not even the hair of the dog could stop the volcanic eruption in his gut.
Shouldering open the studio door, he was surprised to find it empty. His phone buzzed three more times. Now he was straight-up afraid to check it.
Where the hell is everyone?
The last resort was his father’s office.
Outside the shuttered double doors, Jamie mentally prepared for an ambush. His father’s voice was muffled, and he couldn’t make out the details, but it didn’t matter. Whatever it was, it was already a done deal.
Jamie took a deep breath and rapped on the door.
“Come in,” Jamie Sr. said.
Tex and Sammi sat opposite Jamie Sr. at his antique cherrywood desk.
“You look like hell,” Jamie Sr. said lightly. He gave his son an up-down, then turned back to the stack of papers in his hands.
“Sorry I’m late, Daddy,” Jamie told his father as he approached. “Won’t happen again.”
Jamie Sr. didn’t look up. “Don’t write checks your ass can’t cash.”
“Ready for the big day?” Tex chirped, attempting to cut through the tension with a butter knife. Jamie did a double take; Tex had traded his typical dress shirt and slacks for a yellow floral Hawaiian shirt and red swim trunks.
“Yeah, sure,” Jamie said, eyeing Sammi, a question in his voice. Baby blue bikini strings poked through her white, off-the-shoulder sundress.
“Oh my stars. You forgot, didn’t you?” she asked. Sammi shook her head, a mix of amusement and sympathy on herface. It wasn’t the first time someone had given Jamie that look. But today, it scared the hell out of him.
“No, I didn’t forget. But, you know, jog my memory. A lot’s happening this week,” Jamie answered. He whipped his ring around his pinky so fast there was a chance that he’d sever it.
“C’mon, now, son. It’s your birthday,” Tex exclaimed, rising from his seat. He wrapped Jamie into a bear hug, slapping his back three times. “And many more to you, you hear?”
A moment later, Sammi was at Jamie’s side. “Happy thirty-first. May your good fortune be as enduring as your stubbornness.” She smiled and quickly pecked him on the cheek.
Ain’t that some shit?
Jamie pulled his buzzing phone from his pocket and found dozens of missed calls and happy birthday texts from what looked like his entire contacts list. Forgetting his birthday was a hell of a milestone. Or, his brain had finally given out after months of toiling for an album he wanted nothing to do with.
“Yeah, I guess it slipped my mind. That would explain why the studio is empty today.”
“We figured you’d want the day off,” Tex exclaimed. “And besides, you gotta get ready for the surprise party.”
“Well, there goes the surprise,” Sammi trilled, scooping her pastel blue purse from the chair. “Tex and I set everything up. I told the gang of hooligans you call friends to turn up at noon.”
That was an hour from now.
“Oh, and figured I should invite Brinton?” Sammi asked. “I’m sure she’d like to come.”
Jamie smothered a grin, hoping to downplay the internal fireworks at her name. He appreciated his team, but he didn’twant to broadcast the thing that made him happiest these days. He shrugged his shoulders. “Yeah, that makes sense.”
“You think it’s a good idea to invite a journalist who’s got an angle in mind to your birthday party?” Jamie Sr. asked, drawing everyone’s eyes like a magnet. “She’s probably champing at the bit.”
“Hell’s bells, she’s not like that,” Jamie barked.
His father quietly sidestepped the apparent insolence. For now.
