“Only a little. I think the pressure is getting to Jace because he won’t practice around anyone. He used to play in the lounge area or kitchen, but now he holes up by himself in our bedroom.”
“Hopefully the time off will help.”
She’s right. The man has a lot on his mind. I’m going to stop worrying about why we haven’t gone all the way. “Being home will probably be the best medicine.” Relieved to have all of this off my chest, I smile.
Paige holds up her drink. “In the meantime, here’s to becoming part of the Walker gang.” We clink glasses. “I’m sorry we didn’t get a chance to properly welcome you sooner.”
“It was a whirlwind.” I don’t remind her that I’m not really an official member, but what do they say? Fake it till you make it? Maybe if I pretend I belong in this family, Jace and I will eventually get to that point.
“Also, I heard there’s a librarian job opening up. It’s two towns over, but I thought you might want to apply.”
Baylee groans. “Rory’s gonna be on tour with her country star husband. When is she gonna have time to be a librarian?”
I stare at my plate, shocked I haven’t thought about applying for jobs. “That’s a good idea. I should keep my options open.”
Baylee’s eyes bore into me, and I turn to her. She tilts her head. “Have you ever thought about opening a bookstore?”
I lean back, a little unnerved. “Maybe. Why?”
“Because I was thinking maybe you could lease a commercial space.”
“I thought you wanted me to stay on the tour and be Jace’s sidekick.”
She rolls her eyes. “I just want you two to work out, whatever that means. But you have dreams of your own, and I could see you running a bookstore. You could host a children’s story hour every Saturday. It’s a chance to do all the things the city council never appreciated when you were at the library.”
“It sounds incredible, but I don’t have that kind of money.” Although I have to admit, I already know the name of my store. The Book Nook.
“Have you tried manifesting?”
“What’s that?”
By the time we’re done discussing it, I’m so tired, I can barely keep my eyes open. “Guys, I need to go to bed.”
Paige gets up to hug me. “I changed the sheets on Jace’s bed and organized his room a little so it didn’t look like a hurricane swept through it. That bed is really small, so Jace can sleep on the couch in the living room.”
Oh. I hadn’t thought about where we’d be sleeping. I hate the idea of him on a couch. But it’s late and even if I text him to see if he wants the bed, I’m not sure he’ll get it. Those arenas have lots of dead space. I’ll give him the bed tomorrow night.
I grin at my friends. “You guys are the best. I really appreciate everything.”
After I duck into Jace’s bedroom to check on Layla, I get ready for bed and climb into Jace’s twin. Lying there alone, I have to admit how much I miss sleeping with him.
The stillness of the house is such a departure from the bus, but in a strange way, it still feels like home because Jace will be here soon.
I wake a few hours later when Jace slips in behind me. “Sorry I woke you,” he whispers. “Scoot over.”
“I thought you were crashing in the living room,” I mumble into the pillow.
“Nah, I’d miss my little spoon too much.”
He pulls me into his arms, and I grin as I doze off again.
I’m not sure I’ll ever get tired of being his little spoon.
31
JACE
Like my internalclock knows I’m on the ranch, I wake up at an ungodly hour. Smiling at my sleeping wife, I kiss her temple before I check on Layla, who’s bouncing in the crib.
