Page 99 of Songs for Libby

“And when will that be?”

“I…don’t know.”

“Before the baby is born?”

It was a punch to the gut, having him throw my baby into the equation. My mouth just gaped.

“After it’s born? After the two of you get married? When is it going to be time for him to go back to work, Libby?”

“He is working! He’s writing every day.” My vehement defense of Sean surprised me.

“You know just writing the songs isn’t enough.” His tone was condescending and I was tempted to hang up. “It’s not just the record label. It’s him. He needs this, Libby. He thrives on it. He loves what he does. Especially now that he isn’t touring, now that he’s had time and space. He comes alive when he meets the fans. The few concerts he’s done have energized him instead of wiping him out. This is his passion and he needs to get back to it.”

I couldn’t respond, because I was fairly certain he was right.

“Just, think about it. And when you realize I’m right, you have to convince him to do the concert. I need a solid commitment in seventy-two hours or he misses his slot. He’ll listen to you.” He paused, probably waiting for a response, but I had nothing to say. “It was good talking to you, Libby. Congrats on the baby.”

And he hung up.

It was good talking to me? Congrats on the baby?Were his platitudes meant to make up for the fact that he was trying to steam roll me and Sean?

I resented his heavy-handed efforts. Yet his words kept tumbling through my head, circling and circling, and each circuit seemed to make them more true.

Sean had to go back to his public life at some point. If not now, then when?

I didn’t want him to go, but it wasn’t just because he was a great friend who took care of me. I didn’t want him to go because…because I wanted him to always stay. I was falling for him—maybe I already had. And if I was going to do this—if I was going to let myself fall for Sean Amity—I had to do it with my eyes wide open. I had to do it knowing that he would choose to come back to me as many times as I would choose him. I was terrified to let him go back to that life. But I would never get over that fear if I never let him go.

I hated that Randy was right.

♪♫♪

I was chewing my thumb when Sean walked in a few minutes later.

“Hey, Libs.”

“Hey, um…can you come talk to me?”

He looked to the clean kitchen in confusion. “Did you already eat?”

I shook my head.

“Aren’t you hungry?” he asked with a smile, knowing that I was always starving when I came home from work.

“I had some nuts, but I won’t be able to eat more until we talk about this.”

He eased a few steps closer. “That sounds…ominous.”

“Not ominous, I promise.”

He came and sat down. “Okay. What is it?”

“I overheard you talking to Randy.”

He relaxed a little. “Ah.”

“And then he called me.”

His brow furrowed and he frowned. “Why?”