Still Her (Turn it Up Book 2)

by Natalie Parker

  “Hey baby” he greets me, his tone sweet and adoring. I hand him the water bottle and he unscrews the top while I pat at the side of his face with the towel. After taking a slug of the water, he sets it down on a nearby folding chair and takes the towel from me to let out an exhausted breath into it.

  “Just think, you’re almost done,” I say positively, my smile bigger than I mean it to be.

  He throws the towel over one shoulder before pulling me to him and bringing his face down to mine.

  “That’s right,” he says, speaking to me between kisses. “Two more songs… and that’s it… we go home… and it’s just you and me.”

  Oh, about that…

  “Well… for a few months anyway,” I bite down on the side of my lip, letting the other side continue to smile. He smiles too, but his brow furrows.

  “What do you mean? You know we don’t have another tour planned.”

  “I know,” my voice comes out an octave higher than usual.

  “So what’s this ‘for a few months’ talk?” he teases.

  “Well… it will be just you and me, but only for a few months. Like… seven.” I lock my eyes with his as the butterflies rise up from my stomach and into my chest. He looks back at me and after a moment, I see the lines in his forehead smooth out and his eyebrows lift slightly as the crowd continues to chant, getting louder by the second. He continues to stare, and I can see realization start to replace the confusion in his eyes.

  “Maze…” he starts, and I can see the question in his eyes as he leans his face a little closer. “Baby, are you pregnant?”

  I feel a few tears well up in my eyes. I blink them away so that Jack can come back into focus as I take in a deep breath.

  “Yeah,” I answer, keeping my smile hopeful. Jack’s eyes close and his lips part as he brings his forehead down to rest on mine.

  “Oh my God,” he says on an exhale, a completely different smile slowly spreading across his face. “Oh my God baby,” His arms come around my waist and lift me up so that I’m slightly higher than his eye level. “Really?” he asks, as I wipe a tear away from my eye before putting my arm back around him.

  “Yeah,” I nod, smiling brighter. “Really.”

  “You’re not messing with me?” I shake my head, grinning. “Oh my God,” he says yet again, into my neck as he lowers me down. He keeps his face buried for a moment as the crowds’ chants can no longer be ignored.

  “Jack!” Matt yells, as Chris and Josh rush past us and back up the steps before stopping to wait at the top. “We gotta get back out there, come on!”

  “Jack doesn’t move, except to bring his face around to mine again. “We’re gonna have a baby,” he states quietly, like he’s confirming it to us both.

  “Yeah, we are,” I respond in the same tone. The butterflies have settled and I’m basking in the peaceful warmth of this moment. Before I know it, my face is in his hands and he’s planting kisses on my lips, my nose, my eyes.

  “How do you keep making me so happy?” he asks between kisses.

  “Well, you kind of had something to do with it,” I giggle warmly at him.

  “Jack!” Matt urges, closing in on us. Jack pulls me in close again and seems oblivious to Matt’s shoulder shove. “Come, on! We’ve got to go! What the hell is going on here, man?” I smile at him over Jack’s shoulder.

  “I’m pregnant!” I shout happily over the roar of the crowd.

  Matt’s eyebrows chase his hairline, and I’ve never seen his eyes so wide as his jaw hits the floor.

  “What? Are you serious?!” He looks between the two of us, a smile trying to form on his wide open mouth. Jack finally looks up at him but doesn’t let go of me.

  “She just told me,” he says with a disbelieving smile.

  “Mayzie?” Matt’s face snaps back over to me, chuckling. “Right now? Really?”

  I lift a shoulder and smirk. “Just think how these last two songs will go now.”

  Matt slowly shakes his head at me like he doesn’t know what to do with me. The crowd is in a frenzy, and Josh and Chris are waiting impatiently at the top of the stairs near the stage; Josh with his guitar already slung across him. They are both motioning and beckoning with some form of ‘what the fuck?’ looks on their faces.

  “Go,” I lovingly nudge Jack. “Go sing the shit out of See Her so we can go home.” I give him what I hope is a seductive smile that he returns with an ocean of love in his eyes.

  “I love you,” he proclaims.

  “I love you,” I return solemnly. He gives me one more hard, urgent kiss, before he looks down and his fingertips give my belly a quick graze, even though there’s nothing to physically see yet, as if he just wanted to make a small connection with the tiny being inside me before turning and heading for the stairs.

  I watch as they all trudge to the top and disappear around the corner to take the stage, and can’t help a giggle when I hear the crowd react. It’s funny how you don’t think they can get any louder, and then the band they stayed to see more of re-emerges and the noise level rises in collective cheers, screams, and whistles.

  I decide I want to catch the last piece of the tour and trot up the steps, stopping just at the top so that I have a side view of the guys. I hang onto the top rail and feel warm, molten happiness when I see that Jack hasn’t wiped the smile off his face as he tunes his guitar, very unlike his usual stage persona. I do feel my features pull together in confusion though, as I see some kind of exchange go on between him and Matt who is leaning in and saying something to him. Jack’s smile gets bigger and he nods as Matt walks away. Ok, what was that all about?

  As the guys prep to sing their last songs, Matt takes the mic off of his stand and struts around the stage.

  “Thanks for sticking around,” he addresses the crowd and they respond with more ape-shit screaming. “I was wondering if any of you noticed…” he looks around, definitely drawing out what he wants to say to work the fans up, “our lead singer here, Jack Krasinski, has the biggest, shit-eating grin on his face. Would you all look at that?” He waves his arm at Jack with an incredulous smile. Jack tries to shyly bow his head, but there is no hiding that dimple. But still, what’s going on here? Matt has done a stellar job of making the crowd go out of their minds. I, however, am getting a little nervous.

  “I mean what the hell is that about?” He holds both arms out at the crowd like they’ll give him the answer, and they all freak out even louder. “Oh wait! I have an idea. I think it might have something to do with him running into Mrs. Krasinski backstage just now, who had a little something to tell him.”

  Ohhh… nooo. No no no no no no no no!

  I can’t stop it. Not without running on stage and causing the most bizarre scene that would earn me a zillion hits on YouTube. Instead, I grip the rail, bite down on my lip and squeeze my eyes shut.

  “He’s gonna be a FATHERRRR!” Matt bellows into the mic with his head tilted all the way back.

  Ohhh, fuck me.

  The crowd responds with a thunderous roar that I swear could bring the house crumbling down, as a widely grinning Jack punches his fist in the air.

  (Still not) The End

  Acknowledgments

  This second installment was no less nerve wracking to release than the first, and I have to thank those that kept me from reducing myself to a shriveled mess in the corner.

  Carian Cole, expect to be thanked at the end of every book I write. This is because you have not stopped with your selfless guiding and coaching through this process. Your talks, advice, encouragement and reassurance mean so much coming from you, an author I consider incredibly gifted.

  Linda Russell and her team at Foreword PR, you go above and beyond and never fail to be there for me throughout the whole process. Your patience, expertise, design talent and guidance only name a few of your virtues. You are truly invaluable to me and these books.

  Lindee Robinson Photography, thank you for taking such a gorgeous photo that truly captur
es the romance of my characters that I could confidently put on the cover of this story, and for all the hard work you put into it to make it fit just right. I appreciate that kind of dedication to your own work and authors like me that work with you.

  Krista Lauren and David Turner, thank you for giving faces to Jack and Mayzie and portraying their love on the cover. It’s such a big, important piece of the whole journey that brings the story to life, and I thank you so much for giving me that.

  Lori Jackson, I thank you for your creative brilliance. You have once again designed an outstandingly beautiful cover for the Turn it Up series. I absolutely adore working with you. Without your talent, I don’t think my vision for these stories would come to life on a cover as beautifully as it does. You are the best!

  Katy Nielsen, my editor. For the second book in a row, and absolutely more to come, thank you for becoming someone I can trust to work on these stories with me; for talking to me when I’m blocked, polishing the story so that it can truly shine and be appreciated, and for being my friend. I love that you call to either talk about the story or just because. Thank you for everything.

  MY TRIBE: Authors Dyan Layne, Autumn M. Key… Your love and support knows no bounds and that is one of the rarest gems life has to offer. Dyan, I love that you are always there, no matter what. You never bat an eye when I’m being a neurotic freak and always have something to say to level me out. Or you send me pervy pictures of hot guys, knowing that will work too and I love you for it. Readers, if you have not yet read “Serenity”, what the hell are you waiting for? Don’t deprive yourselves for another minute and one-click that bitch! Autumn, your kindness, support, encouragement… all of it. I love the bond we’ve formed over books and music and I thank you for being there, and I can’t wait to do the same for you when “Apothecary Tea” comes out, because everyone just has to read that. Amy Quennell, my number one Beta, you have become a good friend to me, and I love that you put your beta/editor hat on when I send you my work so that you can give it the attention to detail it deserves, to help it truly be its best. Your work on these books is greatly appreciated, and my work will never be released without going past your eyes first. Rachel East, as always, thank you for being someone I can trust with these stories; for giving me your eyes so that I can see my story from the perspective of a reader. Your time and honesty help me beyond measure.

  To my two little farts, you’re too young to be reading this, and even if you weren’t, I’m not sure I’d let you, but I’m thanking you anyway. Lyndee and Miura, thank you for being such joyful, sweet and funny little girls to this momma; for being patient and understanding when I’m focusing hard on writing these books. I love you.

  Cam, I love you, and I thank you for all you do for this family. You work hard and put up with my crazy, and you’ve not complained once when I’ve been glued to the computer. You’re not bad in bed either.

  READERS! Thank you. I thank you so much for picking up my books, for giving them a chance and for your support and beautiful reviews. I’m so happy to have fans of the Turn it Up series that have loved it enough to want to see it continue. It means more than the world. I look forward to sharing the rest of this band’s journey with you. Love to you all.

  Playlist

  “The Hype” by Twenty One Pilots

  “Live Here Without You” by Sponge

  “I Don’t Know Why” by Imagine Dragons

  “Up All Night” by Beck

  “In Your Arms” by Illenium with X Ambassadors

  “The Violence” by Rise Against

  “Sleepwalker” by Of Monsters and Men

  “Obsession” by Joywave

  “Thunderstruck” by ACDC

  “Prelude 12/22” by AFI

  “Main Attraction” by Jeremy Renner

  “So Alive” by The Goo Goo Dolls

  “1950” by King Princess

  “Adore” by Amy Shark

  “BOOM” by X Ambassadors

  “Bob Dylan” by Fall Out Boy

  “Audience of One” – Ghost Note Symphonies, by Rise Against

  “What She Wants” by ARIZONA

  “Home” by morgxn featuring Walk the Moon

  “Indestructible” by The Goo Goo Dolls