“I’ve almost got it. Finally, figured out the bridge. I took a break because my new manager called.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, Kent just wanted to let me know that my new song just became my best-selling song.”
“Yay!” Callie squeals. “Have I mentioned how much more I like Kent compared to your last manager?”
I laugh. “You may have mentioned it.”
Getting rid of Trisha was one of the best things I’ve ever done. The bitch tried to sue me for breach of contract. The bad news for her was that once the press got the film of how she attacked my wife she was blackballed in the industry. She’s lucky I didn’t sue her. I wanted to, but Callie talked me out of it—which was probably smart. Still, it didn’t stop me from silently letting word out to my peers about the shit she pulled. In our line of work, word of mouth is how you survive and thrive. Last I heard, she was talking about moving to California. I don’t care where she goes, as long as she stays away from me and my family.
“I knew that song was a hit. I told you!”
I grin down at her as my fingers brush her hair gently from her face. “Yeah.”
A Good Man is a song I wrote about Callie and how her love makes me better. Hell, this whole album that I’m doing is about my life with her. Well, it’s about her and our daughter. I lean down and kiss her lips lightly. It’s not more than a brush of our lips, but I feel it all the way to the soles of my feet.
“I love you, Bluebird.”
“I love you. I’m so grateful that you forced me to admit what I wanted—that you didn’t let me run away. I couldn’t imagine my life without you, and I wouldn’t want to.”
There are tears in her eyes. I watch as one escapes, and I bend down to kiss it, taking the salty wetness onto my lips.
“Haven’t you figured it out yet, baby?”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ll always come for you, Callie. You make life worth living.”
She leans up and kisses me, her hand wrapping around my neck, fingers splayed against my skin as her tongue dances against mine. I groan as the kiss deepens. I swear to God, every single time I kiss her it feels like coming home.
She pulls away with a cry and panic hits me. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
“I don’t think Bristol thinks Mommy and Daddy should be kissing,” she jokes, her hand rubbing her stomach lovingly.
“She needs to get used to that,” I laugh. “Daddy is going to kiss your momma every chance he gets, baby,” I tell our daughter, my hand flattening out on her stomach. Immediately my daughter kicks out hard, making Callie gasp.
“I don’t think she likes that at all.”
I wink at Callie. “We’ll have fun torturing her with it when she’s born.”
“You’re so bad.”
“You know, the ultrasound could have been wrong. Bristol might be a boy you know.”
“Ow!” she exclaims with a wince. “I don’t think you should keep antagonizing her, sweetheart.”
“Point made. Have I told you how much I love you and our stubborn daughter?”
“You have, but I’ll never get tired of hearing it.”
“Good.”
I help Callie sit up, then slide off the bed. I reach out my hand and she places hers in it, and we walk up to our house together.
Years ago, I left Macon, knowing I shouldn’t. Coming back was a decision I made because I planned on finally saying goodbye to my past. Little did I know that coming back to Macon was the first step into my future.
The first time I saw Callie Street, I fell in love for the first and last time in my life. Our love story has been a broken melody at times, but it’s the greatest love song ever written, and I’m a lucky son of a bitch that I get to live it.
Epilogue
CALLIE
One Year Later
* * *
The applause for my husband is deafening. We stand up together, everyone around us clapping their hands and cheering for Reed. He ignores it all, takes my hand, and pulls me into his body and hugs me tightly.
“I love you, Bluebird,” he rumbles against my ear. He pulls back and kisses me. Reed doesn’t care about the crowd or the cameras. He just kisses me and holds me. It’s a great achievement for him and here he is, making me feel like the special one.
“I’m so proud of you, honey. I love you,” I yell, so he can hear me. Tears are sliding across my cheeks, but they’re happy tears. I watch him as he goes up to the stage. The cheers dies down as he stares at his award. When he looks up, his gaze moves through the entire venue, which is completely packed. His penetrating stare settles on me. I feel it immediately, and he smiles at me.