I get my journal and pour out all of my thoughts. How I’m doing the thing I said I would never do again—letting down my guard and falling for the emotionally unavailable lead singer who doesn’t do relationships.
Because that’s the pressure I’m feeling in my chest, right? That’s why my eyes instantly find him in any room. Why I find myself leaning toward him like a flower to the sun.
Where are all of those protective instincts I honed after my ex dumped me for my stepsister?
Eventually, I doze off, but I wake with a jolt around two in the morning. The bed is empty, and Layla is standing in her crib.
“Sorry, honey,” I call out. “I’m coming.” That’s when I hear the voices down the hall.
Annoyed, I pull on one of Jace’s long-sleeved shirts and close it around the front before I pick up the baby and open the bedroom door. A naked Karina runs down the hall toward me. She shrieks as she dives for one of the bunk beds with a half-dressed Cooper hot on her heels.
I really didn’t need to know how much body hair that man has. My new nickname for him is the Wolf Man.
I make sure Layla’s head stays on my shoulder so she doesn’t see anything gross as I emerge in the lounge, where there’s aparty in full swing. Music blares through the speakers as the smell of beer and weed hit me. Jace is sitting with Shane while half a dozen girls crowd around them. On the opposite couch, Derek’s making out with a groupie.
“You were amazing tonight,” gushes a gorgeous brunette, who’s sitting way too close to Jace for my personal taste.
My ire spikes. Because that’s how I must have sounded after that first concert. All starry-eyed and stupid.
But now I’m the idiot, standing here in my pajamas with my hair in a bun and no makeup, with his baby on my hip. I flick the band on my finger as I try not to spiral.
Since I turned him down last night, is he looking for a hookup? Am I going to have to watch him fuck his way through a line of willing fans?
Jace’s brows lift when he sees me. “Hey. Did we wake y’all?”
“Yes.” I turn and open the fridge where I grab Layla’s bottle before I stalk back to the bedroom. This is probably what Jace has been up to every night after his shows while I was waiting on the bus with his dinner.
“What’s her problem?” some girl asks.
Good question. I don’t fucking know anymore.You’re getting paid for this job, Rory. Calm down.
I’m busy changing Layla’s diaper when the bedroom door opens behind me. “Hey.”
I don’t bother responding because I have nothing productive to say.
Jace clears his throat. “Sorry we woke you.”
“Not a problem. This is your bus, not mine.” I snap Layla’s pajamas before I sit on the bed, cradle her in my arms, and give her the bottle. She takes it eagerly, and I brush her hair out of her eyes.
He sits on the edge of the bed next to me. “Are you mad about something?”
“Frankly, I’m annoyed with myself.”
“Why’s that?”
I’m a knotted ball of emotion, and I’m not sure how to untangle it. All I know is I’m grateful I didn’t sleep with Jace last night. Then I’d really be pissed. “Can we not do this right now? I’m tired, and you have guests.” I rub the bridge of my nose, wishing I had my glasses on right now.
“I got the dinner you bought me. Thanks.”
I’m such a sucker. “Sure.”
“Tomorrow, the label is doing a big thing for several of the bands before the show starts at a restaurant down the street. Wanna come?”
I look down, wishing I could disappear into a hole. “Not really.”
“Come on. It’ll be fun.”
“Maybe another time.” When Layla finishes her bottle, I turn her in my arms to burp her.
