“Yeah. Like always,” I say and I can hear the remorse in his voice.
“I’m sorry, love. I’ll be in touch.”
I don’t answer him, I just hang up and let my head drop. Squeezing my hand, Jace kisses the back of it. “That didn’t sound so bad?”
I shrug. “I just don’t know what he’s doing. Why does he care now?”
Pulling into a spot, he looks over at me. “Maybe he always has and didn’t realize he wasn’t showing it?”
“Maybe.” I think that over and I guess it could be true. He works constantly and I know his job is important, but I should be important too. Closing my eyes, I try to regulate my breathing because my heart has been pounding since I saw his number on my phone. I just don’t want to get my hopes up. I’ve wanted my dad and my mom to care about and love me for so long. I craved it. I don’t want my heart to be smashed again. When my chest starts to tighten, I suck in a deep breath and let it out, because I’ve got this. I can do this. I know the score. I just won’t go in there expecting things they aren’t capable of. No matter the sincerity in his voice, I have eighteen years of proof that I was second best to everyone.
I have to remember that.
“Let’s just take it one day at a time,” Jace says, and I look over at him. “One thing at a time. You know? Everything will work out. I know that for sure.”
Leaning over, I press my lips to his as his hands come up, tangling in my hair. Pulling back, I press my nose to his and agree. “Okay.”
“I’ll do the same. I probably need to start going to yoga or something. Do they have prenatal yoga?”
My brows pull together. “What? Why?”
“If I’m seeing that douche-fucker of a brother of yours in a little under a month’s time—which, by the way, how did I
not know we were playing him?”
“You’ve been distracted,” I supply with a grin and he nods.
“I have, but anyway, if I’m seeing him, then damn it, I need to find my happy place and not kill my new brother-in-law.”
I smile. “Good plan. The commissioner might frown on that, Sinclair.”
“I thought so too, Sinclair,” he says with a grin, kissing my lips. “Now go write some songs and be awesome.”
“Aren’t I always?”
“Of course,” he says as I get out. Before shutting the door, I bend down, meeting his gaze. “I’ll text when I’m ready.”
“Cool, see you in a bit.”
Shutting the door, I tuck my hands into my pockets and rush to the door to head up the stairs to Jelly Records. As I start to climb, my phone sounds and I pull it out to see it’s from Jace.
Confused, I open the text and smile.
Jace: I love you.
As I type back the same, I can’t help but laugh.
It’s so funny how things change in the blink of an eye.
Three months ago, I wanted to be a star.
I didn’t want any man, and I sure as hell didn’t want to trust anyone.
Now, I just want to love this guy and my baby.
Crazy.
I didn’t want to do this.