I wasn’t going to let that happen. Whatever it took, I was going to protect both my career and my relationship with Leah. I was going to make it work. The first thing I needed to do was find out the tour schedule. That would give me an idea of where we would be and when so I could figure out opportunities to connect. When I had a full plan laid out and could show her all the times we would be able to see each other, then I would tell her about the tour.
24
Leah
There was so much of a rush standing there in the audience, waiting for the show to start. It was unlike anything I’d experienced before I met Jayson. It wasn’t just the music. That was enough to get my blood pumping, but there was so much more to it than that. It was him. It was knowing he was there and created the throbbing sounds. He woke up the audience and sent them into a frenzy. Somehow watching that happen and knowing I was the one he was thinking about, that of all the girls in the audience screaming for him, I was the only one he was paying attention to, sent a thrill through me.
All around me, fans screamed and jumped up and down, trying to get the band’s attention. They weren’t even playing yet. The music around us was just a recording, warming us up for the live versions of the songs that would soon be playing. But the groupies didn’t care. Anything having to do with these men got them going. The other guys looked out over the crowd and winked or waved, not necessarily directing it at any specific girl. That was the point. They could cast a wide net and any of them who thought that little acknowledgement was thrown their way would come to them at the end of the show and they would have their pick.
Not Jayson. He focused on getting his drums adjusted and making sure he was ready to play. Then he looked up and our eyes met. A smile stretched across his face when I waved at him. He waved back and winked. I knew that wink was just for me.
“You’ve got it bad,” Piper said from beside me.
I looked over at her, then back at Jayson. He was back to concentrating on his drums, and I let out a breath, nodding.
“Yes, I do,” I admitted.
We watched for another few seconds before Piper leaned slightly toward me.
“Have you told him yet?” she asked.
Even though the people around us were loud and not paying any attention to us, she lowered her voice so no one would overhear. I appreciated the discretion. Of all things I’d tried to keep to myself throughout my life, this was one I wanted to protect above all others.
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “But I’m going to do it soon.”
“Leah…” she started, and I pushed ahead, not wanting to hear her admonitions.
“I’m going to, Piper. It’s just not the right time, yet. Right now, I’m just enjoying being close to him. Nothing is going to be the same once I tell him. I just want to enjoy some time with him before everything changes,” I told her.
It made sense to me, and I wanted it to make sense to her. I needed that time. Our relationship was so good, and I had fallen so hard for Jayson. He made me happy like no one ever had and watching him climb through his career was amazing. It was fulfilling, and I couldn’t wait to see how much more he could accomplish. Telling him about the pregnancy would completely change everything. I still didn’t know how that change would unfold or what it would mean, but I knew it would change. I wanted to build a stronger foundation first.
“It won’t be much longer before you don’t really have the option to tell him,” Piper pointed out. “You don’t want to get to that point. Tell him before he figures it out for himself.”
“I’m going to. I’m going to tell him soon.”
At that moment, I was saved from the awkward conversation by Luke jumping down off the stage and coming toward us. He was the only one of the four other than Jayson who might not have been throwing winks and blowing kisses to anyone who would look at him. His might have been directed at one specific person, and I knew just who that was.
There was a distinct swagger to his walk as he made his way up to Piper and grinned at her.
“Hey, Piper,” he said. “You look beautiful tonight.”
Piper looked down at the black jeans and plain white T-shirt she was wearing. I knew for a fact it was what she’d worn to work that day with the only change being taking off a cardigan. Working late meant she didn’t have a chance to put on anything else, and the ride over to the show only gave her enough time to take off the sweater and throw on some of the makeup I kept in my glove compartment for such emergencies. But it was a sweet sentiment.