“What?”
“Avery is performing downtown for a showcase for a record deal!”
“Wait? What is that?”
I smile as Jace laughs. “Like singing, Mom. A real singer, on a stage and stuff.”
“Like Taylor Swift?”
He smiles. “Better,” he says with a wink and I grin at him.
“Shut up! When? Let me get to the calendar. Is she there? Goodness me, that is so awesome.”
“Yeah, you’re on speaker.”
“Oh, Avery! Honey, I’m so proud of you. Congratulations!”
“Thank you,” I say sadly and my eyes flood with tears. Why didn’t my mom say that?
“Okay, when is it?”
“The fourth of March,” I say, wiping away a stupid tear that falls.
“Got it down. I’ll be there. Bells and whistles on! Hell, I may even have a sign, since that’s what hockey moms do. Cowbells might be frowned upon, huh?”
Jace cringes, a grin playing on his lip. “Just a bit, Mom.”
“Oh, okay. Well, I’ll be there!”
“Thank you so much,” I say, swallowing past the sob that wants to escape.
“Well, of course. I wouldn’t miss it for the world! Wow, I’m so proud. This is awesome.”
“Yeah, we’re excited,” Jace says, kissing the back of my hand. “Okay, can you tell Lucy? I’m gonna text Jude and Jayden.”
“Sure!”
“Okay, love you, Mom.”
“Love you. Love you both. I’m just so excited for you, Avery!”
“Thanks,” I say once more. “Love you too.” I expect it to feel weird, but it doesn’t.
Because when I fell for Jace, I fell for all of him.
Family included.
And really, they make it so easy to love them.
“See, you’ll have the whole crew,” he says as his fingers go to work on his text.
“Thanks, Jace,” I say softly, and his lips curve at the side. Then they press together. “Really, it means a lot. What?”
“Shit, Jude has a game the day before and after that, so he can’t fly in. Jayden says he can come, though. The Assassins have a home stint that week, so you’ll have most of my family there.”
Leaning my head to his shoulder, I let my tears fall before squeezing my eyes shut tightly. “Don’t think I’m not grat—”
“I know,” he says quickly, cupping my jaw to look me in the eyes. “I know they aren’t your family, and I’m sorry. But my family is awesome, and they will be there for you one hundred percent. If your family won’t make you happy, I will. Don’t you worry. You will be loved and supported that night.” My lip wobbles as he catches some of my tears. “Now suck it up, buttercup. You are on the fast track to the top. Now, we are going into this shop and getting some badass ice cream to celebrate how awesome you are!”