And I’ve offered. I even got on the pill. Not that I told him—I just figured I’d be prepared when the time comes.
Is there a reason Jace doesn’t want to have full-on sex with me? Is he thinking about this tour ending? About keeping his options open? Maybe, deep down, he doesn’t want to lead me on.
I’m loath to bring it up, though. Because it’ll sound desperate. Like I’m begging for more, and I won’t be that girl. I see groupies every night with his bandmates, whining about wanting more. More nights. More sex. More commitment. Someone wants something from those guys every moment of every day.
And I feel those words forming on my lips, dying to escape. Dying to ask Jace if we’ll be together come fall.
If we’ll stay married.
I put a pin in that downward spiral and head to the bathroom because nature calls.
When I catch my reflection in the mirror, I turn one way and then the other. I look different than when we started this tour. My hair is longer and I have a tan and muscles I never knew existed from hauling Layla everywhere.
Smiling at myself, I realize I like the woman in the mirror. She’s not crazy about crowds, but they don’t make her want to puke anymore. She’s a little braver, a little more adventurous.
But there’s a chink in her armor—her husband makes her want more.
After I throw on some clothes and brush my teeth, I head to the front of the bus where Jace is sitting with Layla in his arms. I don’t miss the glares on his bandmates’ faces.
“She’s watchingFrozen,” Cooper grumbles. “Again. What is that? Like the tenth time in the last few days?”
“Don’t be grumpy. You know it’s her favorite.” Laughing, I lean over to kiss Jace and take Layla. “Morning, my little ladybug.”
Layla’s clapping and trying to sing, and I join her, holding out my arm as though we’re dancing across a ballroom, and belt “For the First Time in Forever.” Up and down the aisle I swing her.
“Ma’am,” the bus driver yells. “Not while I’m driving.”
“Sorry, Ozzie! I got carried away.”
When I sit next to Jace, he gives me a funny look. “What?”
“You never told me you could sing.”
I wave him off. “That wasn’t singing.” Hayden told me to stop caterwauling around him because I embarrassed him.
Jace cups my face, turning me to look at him. “You have a really nice voice.” He glances at the guys sitting across from us. “Doesn’t Rory sing pretty?”
Frank doesn’t look up from his paperwork, Cooper shrugs, Derek just stares at me, and Shane motions to the flatscreen. “Does Elsa really turn shit into ice?”
I nod toward our bedroom. “Jace, go write. You can’t concentrate out here. You could’ve woken me up this morning.”
He kisses me. “You’ve been tired. I don’t mind getting up with Layla.”
Cooper points at Jace with a drumstick. “You should mind, bro. You pay her to babysit, so she should babysit.” Guess that cat is out of the bag. Jace had been worried Cooper might’ve overheard Frank mention that I get paid to watch Layla.
My boyfriend-husband sighs. “Jesus, Coop. Would it kill you to be nice to her for five minutes?”
“I just don’t wanna see you get hurt.” I love how he talks like I’m not sitting right here. “Did you even have her sign a prenup before you tied the knot? All of our songs are going viral.”
“Don’t be a dumbass. Rory’s a big reason we’re going viral. She posts three to five times a day. She covers every show. Every promo event. Every signing. You could be a little more grateful.”
“Boys,” I say, hating where this is going. I love that Jace defends me, but I don’t want to cause trouble for his band. “Who wants some fudge? I bought more at the last rest stop.”
Cooper shakes his head, scattering crumbs on his bushy beard. “When we sign our record deal, she could take you to the cleaners.”
Jace’s jaw goes tight, but before he says something he might regret, I squeeze his arm. “Cooper’s just looking out for you. He has a point. You should’ve asked me to sign a prenup, but since you didn’t, I promise not to ask you for anything if we don’t work out.” I almost choke on that last part.
Because if we don’t make it, my heart might shatter like one of Elsa’s ice sculptures.
