She swallows, suddenly looking shy again. “I’m not being altruistic. You’re paying me, remember?”
I squeeze her hand. “Probably not enough.”
Am I really gonna marry the town librarian so she can babysit my kid and go on tour with me?
Why, yes. Yes, I am.
10
RORY
You knowthat children’s rhyme?Rory and Jace, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G. First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes baby in a baby carriage.
I guess we’re skipping over the first part of that rhyme and moving straight to the baby and marriage.
As I stand outside the courthouse in the only off-white dress I own, waiting to marry a man I barely know, I can’t stop thinking about the absurdity of this moment.
I used to fantasize about marrying Hayden. About having a big wedding and kids. About us playing music on our back porch. It’s an old dream I haven’t let myself think about since I found him screwing Taylor in my childhood home.
I thought I was doing everything right in that relationship with my ex. I took things slow. Waited to sleep with him until we were official. Baked him cookies and sat around during every one of his stupid band rehearsals.
And what did that get me? A broken heart and trampled pride. Public humiliation when the whole town found out he cheated with my dang stepsister and my family sided with them. Because they were a “better fit.”
I like to extrapolate things. For instance, if I was a baby like Layla, and my father was in Jace’s shoes right now and could go on a national tour if he left his child behind, would he choose me, his only daughter?
When my mom was alive, I would’ve said yes, without a doubt.
Now I’m not so sure.
So maybe this is unconventional. Maybe I’m a giant sucker, but when Jace said he couldn’t leave his daughter, that it was killing his soul to even think about doing that, he won me over.
And while I’m not going to let down my guard around him, I’m on board to take care of Layla and play the role of wife for a few months. We just have to get through the summer, and then Jace and I will file for divorce and go our separate ways. And if we can pop into Taylor’s reception to show everyone I’m not the loser my family thinks I am, even better.
Paige hooks her arm through mine. “Are you okay? You look a little pale.”
“I haven’t passed out yet.” Yet being the operative word.
“It’s going to be fine. Think of this tour as a grand adventure. You’re going to get to see the country and have a front-row seat to Jace’s band kicking ass.”
I fiddle with a button on my dress. “Is their music that good?”
Her brows lift. “You haven’t heard them?”
“No.”
“You’re in for a treat. Wayward Sons is ah-maze-ing. Jace’s voice is killer.”
Reluctantly, I admit their name is cool.
I’ve been afraid to check into his band. What if I love his music? That would be another chink in my armor, one I can’t afford.
Baylee joins us, hands me a bouquet of white roses, and cups her ear. “Do you hear that? It’s the sound of women across Texas crying over Jace getting married.”
I sniff the delicate petals. “They’re welcome to him in four months when we divorce.”
Baylee and Paige share a look I won’t attempt to decipher. If I had to make a playlist for today, it would kick off with Sheryl Crow’s “Favorite Mistake.”
Because I’m pretty sure I’m going to regret this for a number of reasons.
