“Sorry about that. Apparently Monty’s hungry.”
“Go eat. We can talk later.”
“No. He can wait.”
“It’s really okay.”
“Jenna…” He looked at me pointedly. “He. Can. Wait.”
“I just…”
“Just what?”
“I don’t want them to hate me before they even meet me.”
“You have nothing to worry about.” Heath threw his arm over his shoulder. “Monty has been a dick for the last month or so. We’ve all noticed it, but we’re not sure what to do about it.” He dropped down onto the side of the bed.
“Well, has anyone talked to him?”
He sighed. “I’ve tried. Jackson and Sawyer have tried. And nothing. He swears nothing is bothering him. Mari even sat him down and, trust me, that woman has a way of getting people to talk and he won’t say a peep.”
“What do you think it is?”
“I think being on tour is getting to him. Monty’s more of a free spirit. Likes to do crazy shit, but he’s had to keep himself in check since we left. Can’t risk him getting arrested in some random city.”
My eyes must have been as big as saucers. “Arrested?”
He chuckled. “Oh, he’s been close a few times.”
“What could he possibly do to almost get arrested?”
“Well…” He titled his head back and forth. “There are so many stories to choose from. Let’s see, there was the time he decided to go sledding.”
My brows drew together. “Um…for sledding?”
“No.” He smirked. “It was where and how he was sledding.”
The smile on his face was infectious. I had no idea what he was laughing at, but I found myself laughing with him. “And where was that?”
“Across the local high school football field and being pulled by a blazer and a rope.”
“Oh my God.”
“Yep,” Heath said, popping the P. “They managed to tear the shit out of the grass on the field with donuts and turns. From what I understand, the cops came along as they were leaving. Asked them what they were doing there and they claimed to have gotten lost with all the snow. The cops let them go before they drove back and saw what had happened to the field. Monty lucked out when the cop hadn’t looked at the license plate before letting them drive away.”
My mouth was practically sitting on the floor. “How has he not been arrested yet?”
He scoffed. “Luck and Reagan keeping on his ass while we’ve been on the road.”
Laughter bubbled up and I couldn’t help but let it out. That was the kind of behavior I expected from a rock star, but for him to be in the same band as the man who called me every night they weren’t on stage and sent me gifts every other day didn’t seem possible. Apparently, Monty was the wild one. I couldn’t imagine being that carefree or free-spirited.
“I love seeing you laugh.”
My laughter slowed and I brushed away the tear that had slipped free. When the mirth slipped away I realized I hadn’t laughed that hard in a long time. “I haven’t laughed this much until I met you.”
His eyes lit up. “I’m glad to hear that.”
His stomach growled loud enough for me to hear it on the other end of the line. “Go get something to eat. I’m going to go relax in the tub for a bit before bed.”
“Is it helping?”
“A little. Depends on whether or not I worked both jobs.”
He sighed and I waited for the argument we seemed to have every week. “I wish you’d give up some hours. It can’t be good for either of you to work that much.”
“It’s not, even Dr. Sheridan warned me of that, so I decided to reduce my hours at the diner.”
His face lit up for a moment and returned to neutral. I could tell he wanted to say more or be excited about that, but he didn’t want to upset me. “Are you sure?”
Always making sure I was happy. “I’m sure. And yes, you can be happy about it. I know you’ve been worried about it for a while.”
“I told you before, I always worry about you.”
His stomach growled again.
“And now it’s my turn to worry about you. Go get dinner. You can’t perform if you run out of energy.”
“Probably not. Are you off tomorrow?”
“No, but I don’t go into the club until six, so I’ll be home all day.”
“I’ll talk to you then and I’m going to see what I can do about being there for the ultrasound.”
“I understand if you can’t be there. I’m just happy you’re trying.”
He winked. “Anything for you.”
After saying goodbye I hung up with Heath and pushed myself up from the couch. I really wanted Heath to be able to make it to the ultrasound, even though I knew it would probably be impossible with his schedule. I don’t know what I’d do without him there. I was already nervous as hell. Even if I had to video call him when I was in the room, I wanted him there with me. Steam from the water started filling the bathroom. As I looked in the mirror, the happy woman staring back at me was almost someone I didn’t recognize but was glad to see before me. She was always the person I wanted to see when I looked at myself and I hoped she was there to stay.
CHAPTER 25
Jenna
My knee bounced up and down as I sat in the waiting room, flipping through a magazine on parenting. Every picture painted the perfect life. Mom and Dad holding hands with a beautiful, blond toddler. Another showed a mom feeding her baby while a doting father looked on. I glanced at the seat next to me, which was noticeably empty.
My throat burned as I looked around the crowded room. Women surrounded by supportive fathers or friends, while I sat there alone. I’d convinced myself over the last three months I could do this. It didn’t matter that Heath would be on tour for another two months or how many tours he had in the future, I was an independent woman. And I was. I could do this on my own. That didn’t mean I wanted to. Something about this appointment had gotten to me. I knew when he said they had a show tomorrow there was no way he’d be here, but it didn’t make it any easier to accept.
As time went on the weight of all I was taking on pressed down on me. What scared me more than anything was the way that pressure seemed to lighten each time Heath called. And each time he snagged another piece of my heart. I was falling for him and deep down, I knew nothing could stop it.
“Jenna?”
I looked over and saw the nurse waiting at the door with a chart in her hand. I set down the magazine and stood to follow her back. If stood actually qualified as the correct term. Most days it seemed more like lumbered up.
Butterflies danced around my stomach as I walked to the door. I was about to see my baby for the first time. To find out whether it was a girl or boy. My heart slammed into my chest.
I didn’t want to do this alone. My breathing sped up and, clenching my hands into fists, I tried to control my breathing. I didn’t bother looking at the weight on the scale. I already knew it was more than enough to lose eventually if I wanted to keep the tips at the club. For now, working behind the bar, no one paid a damn bit of attention. The nurse led me to a room.
“I left the gown on the exam chair for you. Please leave the opening in the front. Someone will be by in a bit to bring you down to the ultrasound room.”
“Thank you,” I said as she shut the door behind her.
I sank down onto the chair, pulling in deep, comforting breaths. I can do this, I reminded myself.
I removed my clothes, setting them in a neat pile on one of the chairs, and wrapped the gown around me. As I was about to take a seat on the exam table, I heard the distinct ring of my cell. A ring I knew well and looked forward to. I practically leaped from the table in my haste to get to the phone before it stopped ringing. I fumbled with the phone in my hand, almost dropping it before I was able to answer.
“Hey.” Heath smiled at me from the screen.
The room before me blurred. “Hi.�
��
“Aww, why are you crying?”
“You remembered.”
The camera shook as he moved. “I told you I’d find a way to be there.”
I brushed a tear away as it escaped. Stupid fucking pregnancy hormones. “I know, but I wasn’t sure you’d be able to get away. I know you have a show tomorrow night and you guys need to set up.”
“For you, I will always find the time.”
I couldn’t keep the grin off my face. The nurse popped her head into the room. “Okay, we’re—” Her words cut off as she noticed the phone. “Um…do you want me to give you a minute?”
I shook my head. “No, this is the baby’s father, but he had to work today. Can I bring the phone with me?”
“I don’t see why not,” she said and pushed the door open farther.
“Here we go.”
“Let’s go then.” He smiled.
I laughed, the video of him still bouncing around on my screen. “Where are you going?”
“I have a meeting to get to.”
The nurse pushed the door open to the room and led me to the table.
“Are you sure you’re going to have time before your meeting?”
I climbed onto the table and held my breath, waiting for his answer.
“Positive. I’m almost there actually. I thought I’d be much earlier, but this will have to do.”
The doorknob to the room started to turn and I was about to tell him the doctor was there, when a lock of long hair caught my eye. I dropped the phone in my lap. My hands flew to my mouth and tears filled my eyes.
Heath sauntered into the room. “How am I doing for time?”
I moved my hands. “Wha-what are you doing here?”
He walked over and pressed a kiss to the top of my head and rested his hand over my belly.
“I told you I wouldn’t miss this.”
My mind raced. Heath was here. He’d shown up. Then I remembered his next show was tomorrow night.
“But you’re supposed to be in New Hampshire for a show tomorrow night.”
“And tomorrow night I’ll be there.” He cupped my face with his other hand and brushed a tear away with his thumb. “But for tonight I’m here with you.”
My heart fluttered in my chest and I threw my arms around his neck. He sat down next to me on the bed and wrapped me in his embrace, his hair brushing the side of my face. My shoulders shook even as I tried to stop myself from crying.
“Shh…I’m here. Please don’t cry.”
“I never used to cry,” I argued.
“Sometimes, it’s okay to cry.”
I let him hold me for a few minutes, the tears falling, washing away the anxiety of the last few weeks as this appointment crept closer and closer. When I could finally take an even breath, I leaned back and looked at him.
“Thank you for being here. I know I said I could do this appointment alone, but I really didn’t want to.”
He dried my eyes. “You never have to thank me for being here. I always will be.”
A throat cleared from behind Heath. I released the death grip I had on him and looked up at the doctor. “Sorry, Dr. Sheridan. I’m an emotional mess lately.”
She smiled and walked over to the stool seated by the table. “That’s to be expected. Mr. Marshall, it’s good to see you again.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw it register on the nurse’s face who stood in the room. Her eyes grew wide, and she couldn’t stop staring. I wanted to tell her to back off, he was there for me. Heath must have noticed and slipped his hand in mine, interlacing our fingers. The nurse smiled at the two of us and walked over to hand Dr. Sheridan a bottle of blue gel.
She took it and spread the gown I wore, exposing my stomach. I flinched as the cold gel hit my skin.
“Are we ready to see this baby?” Dr. Sheridan asked.
Heath brushed a piece of hair off my forehead and he took my hand in his. His dimple appeared as he said, “More than ready.”
“Yes,” I breathed, lost in his gaze.
She set the wand on my belly, tracing it back and forth. The nurse dimmed the lights. Seconds later a quick beat filled the room and Heath’s grip tightened. “Is that?”
I followed his line of sight to the rapid signals on the monitor.
“That’s the baby’s heartbeat,” Dr. Sheridan offered as she pressed a few buttons on the keyboard and moved the wand more.
The line signals disappeared and an image appeared on the screen. My breath caught in my throat.
“Beautiful,” I heard Heath whisper above me, but I couldn’t take my eyes from the screen.
I barely heard the light tapping on the keyboard as I watched our baby moving around.
“Would you like to know the sex of the baby?”
I glanced up at Heath, who was watching me. “What do you think?”
He bent down and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead. “Whatever you want.”
I smiled. “I kinda wanna know.”
“Me too.”
I turned back to Dr. Sheridan. “Yes, we wanna know.”
She nodded and moved the wand around a bit more. “The baby is a girl.”
I sucked in a breath and looked up at Heath, whose smile was so big, his dimple appeared and his eyes sparkled. “A girl,” he whispered.
He lifted my hands to his lips, pressing a kiss to the back of it. “Are you happy?”
“More than you could imagine.”
His eyes held mine and I felt like I was drowning in the depths of the gray gaze. His excitement was infectious. I wanted to shout to the world that this man was mine. That brought me up short. Technically he wasn’t mine. I’d done everything possible to keep him at an arm’s length, even thought he’d proven time and time again that he wouldn’t disappear on me. My heart hurt at the thought. Yet, he was standing here. Even though he had a show hundreds of miles away, he came for me.
A tear slipped from the corner of my eye and Heath brushed it away with his thumb. “Why the tears?”
I wasn’t ready to tell him. “I’m happy.”
“Me too.” He leaned forward almost like he might capture my lips. My eyes started to close when he suddenly stepped back. I felt the heat race up my cheeks.
I quickly diverted my eyes. How could I have been so stupid?
This was a conversation I wanted to have in the middle of my doctor’s office. So I let the doctor complete her examination and when she was finished, pulled on my clothes as quickly as possible. I didn’t have much else to say as we left the office, pictures of the ultrasound in hand.
Heath stopped in the parking lot and looked over at me. “Are you sure you’re okay? You kind of shut down in there.”
I smiled or at least I tried to. I had no idea whether it seem forced. “Yeah, it’s all just a little overwhelming.”
He turned back toward the car and laid his arm over my shoulders. “It is. How about you let me take you somewhere to clear your head for a bit?”
“Don’t you have a flight tonight?”
“Not until much later tonight. I’m taking the red-eye.”
That brought me up short. “How are you gonna play with no sleep?”
He shrugged. “I’ll have time to sleep before the show. Besides, being here today was worth being a little tired tomorrow night.”
Heath opened the door of his rental and I climbed inside. “Okay, so where are we going?”
“For that you’ll have to wait and see.” Heath sat in the driver’s seat and started the car.
“Not gonna tell me anything?”
“Only that it’s about a thirty-minute drive.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Fine.”
He smirked. “That’s not going to get you anywhere. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.”
I tried to do what he suggested, but my mind kept wandering to all the places he might be taking me. The farther we traveled, the city began to fade away until all that was on either side of the car was t
rees, trees, and more trees.
A single thought filtered through my mind, but there was no way Heath remembered that conversation. Then we pulled onto an old dirt road, following it down until it opened into a grass parking area. My eyes widened at the rides and games spread before me. Somehow Heath remembered what I told him about Nana taking me to the fair growing up.
When I looked over at him, he’d pulled his hair up into the baseball cap I was getting used to seeing on him. He winked. “What do say about some carnival games and funnel cake?”
I smiled and this time I didn’t have to try, it came so naturally to me. “I think that sounds like a great idea.”
As I stepped out of the truck and met Heath in the front, I realized how absolutely perfect he really was.
CHAPTER 26
Heath
I sat there behind the keyboard watching Mari take her place on a stage, a bittersweet feeling settled over me. On one hand I was sad to see the tour come to an end. It had been such a great experience to see the fans and how much they had connected with our music. On the other hand, I wanted to get home to Jenna. All the time we spent together over the last few months on the phone and video calls had made one thing very clear. Jenna was it for me. She was everything I could have ever dreamed of when I imagined the perfect woman in my life. But I wouldn’t have that conversation over the phone. Which meant we needed to finish this show and get our asses on the road back home.
Sawyer started the tempo and our last moment on this tour began.
Each and every song we played went through the crowd like wildfire with them singing along as loud as they could, making the stadium echo. We played our hearts out that night. Hell, we played our hearts out every night, but each and every one of us knew tonight was different. The next time we stepped on stage, the crew and set list would be different. The cities…different. And yet, as I sat there, I couldn’t help longing to have my arms wrapped around Jenna.
The last show passed in the blink of an eye. As the final song ended, I could see the glistening in Mari’s eyes as she addressed the crowd.
“We can’t thank you enough for making our last show so memorable. We love you! Good night.”
She waved to the crowd as the rest of us joined her at the front of the stage.
Cover Me (Jaded Ivory Book 3) Page 19
