Page 94 of After Care

“Well, I love you, Edie.” I pulled back, startled, and he repeated himself. “I love you, and I want you to move to California. Next stop is my place. My real place, but I had to share this with you first. I had to know that this,” he waved out at the stark white room, “was okay with you. Secrets of the rich and famous.”

I cupped his jaw again. “Maybe before we see your place, I could meet Lawson?”

“God, woman,” he muttered, his mouth capturing mine as he pressed me back against the cushions. “First, I want inside you. That’s home. Then you can meet my charming nephew.” His hand skimmed down to the waist of my jeans as I reached for his. He had me on my back, his legs already between mine, but we were definitely not close enough.

“If your nephew’s half as charming as you, I might stay here with him instead.” I laughed.

“Never,” Tommy growled against my mouth, his fingers forcing my jeans down my hips at the same time. “You’re with me.”

21

Family always says I’m sorry

“I think you should take the job with Ivy. I think you’ll be good for her. She needs someone here with her.” Gage ran his hands through his hair, a tell that he was nervous. Ivy sat on the couch in their open concept living room, the baby resting in her lap. Tommy and I stopped by to see Ivy and little Granger the next day. The plan was to return in three weeks, when Masie moved into her dorm. We’d be driving cross-country to move her things. Tommy said he’d be up for a road trip, despite finishing the summer tour around that time.

I stared up at Gage from my seat next to Ivy, shock coming off her in waves.

“Family always says sorry, and I’m sorry for what I said, Edie. Truly.” His eyes closed, his sorrow was visible even without his eyes on me. He opened them in a flash, staring at me with pain in his pupils. “Never should have said what I said to either of you.” He looked down at his wife, his toes tapping at hers. I glanced over at Ivy, not realizing that the fight they’d had months ago wasn’t fully resolved.

“I’m selfish,” he said. “Ivy knows this, and she accepts it, but that doesn’t mean she lets me get away with it.” He knelt before his wife, surrounding her legs with his arms. He kissed his son’s head before looking over at me.

“Ivy’s been explaining the music therapy school to me, and I’m looking forward to spending time there as soon as the tour ends. We have to make up two dates for the birth of this little guy.” He kissed Granger again. “But then, I’m home. I’m all in.” Pressing up on his knees, reaching for Ivy, and she leaned forward to kiss him.

“All right, darlin’, we need to get going,” Tommy said, and Gage looked up at me expectantly. I wanted to take Ivy’s offer but there was still one offer I needed. We hadn’t made it out of Tommy’s sister’s home, spending the past twenty-four hours alternating between make-up sex and napping. I constantly argued with myself that good sex wasn’t a reason to give up everything I knew. Not able to respond to the question in Gage’s eyes, I leaned for my young friend and hugged her hard.

“We’ll talk soon,” I whispered.

+ + +

Tommy’s studio apartment included a galley kitchen and an extra-large island in the corner of a large great room. Floor-to-ceiling windows illuminated the second-story warehouse space. Record awards filled one wall. His bedroom was off to the left. Galvanized silver, rich browns, and white walls accented the place. Scanning his masculine set-up of leather couch and large, flat screen television, I met Tommy’s eyes. He looked hesitant.

“I love this,” I said, my voice hardly a whisper. His shoulders relaxed as he stepped toward me. Tender fingers stroked my cheek.

“Did you mean what you said, darlin’?”

“What was that?” I smiled, feeling strangely at peace in his place, comfortable with his touch on my face.

“You’d move here, if I asked?”

“Yes,” I whispered, not trusting my voice, not believing the possibility of his asking.

“Then I’m asking, beautiful. I’d like you to take the job and move in with me.”

I could hardly contain my smile, but my logical side overruled my heart.

“Don’t you think it’s a little fast?”

“Not as fast as I’d like. I don’t want to wait three more minutes, let alone three weeks, but I understand,” he teased, his eyes melting to liquid chocolate. I didn’t speak, and the pad of his finger stroked over my bottom lip. “Sometimes fine wine needs to breathe. You’ve breathed enough. Now it’s time to savor you—every day, Edie. Every damn day.” His mouth covered mine and all sanity left me, just like that first time. A sane woman might not have done what I did that night, nor would she do what I was considering doing this night. But I didn’t consider myself insane, either. I was in love, possibly for the first time. This time around things would be different. I had to trust in myself and trust in Tommy, which I did. When he pulled back and stared into my eyes, I knew the idea of living without him outweighed my fears of giving up everything and moving here. Not to mention that the job offered by Ivy sounded more purposeful, more self-fulfilling, more beneficial to others, and I was ready for something like that in my life.

“I don’t want you to leave,” he said, his voice gravelly.

“I can be here as soon as mid-August.” The timing would be right, with Masie’s move, and allowing for a reasonable notice at work.

“Sounds like perfect timing,” Tommy offered, a smile breaking across his face. For his part, he needed the concert tour to end.

“What’s next? After the tour?”

Tommy shrugged. “There’s always something with those boys, but I’m looking forward to some time off with my girlfriend.” His lips covered mine again, and there was no more discussion.