by K. Renee
Some of the tabloids even refer to me as a call girl or just simply a whore that is trying to get a buck from him. Another one says that he might not even be the dad and that my old boss probably is. The tears start to fall and I can’t even see the damn screen as I try to read the rest of them. I want so badly to get out of this place and into my own bed, but I can’t. Once they release me, I’ll just be stationed here waiting for the day my little boy is going to be able to go home too.
The last article I read says that their tour stars again in a few days and that they will be flying to Las Vegas for the start of the second leg of the tour. While he’s there, I’m sure he will tell Elias exactly what he thinks about him and the shit he’s pulled.
They were really good friends once and I was what came between them. Like I said, all I’ve done is ruin his life since he met me.
Chapter 20
Wren
As I’m leaving the hospital room, a nurse comes up to me with paperwork to fill out. I fill it out as best as I can and she informs me of Jericho’s discharge time. Instead of going back in there, I dial Seth’s number and ask if he can help me with getting Jericho home. The last few days have already been stressful as fuck between us and right now I don’t want to make it any worse.
I have a feeling that she’s beating herself up about Elias outing me, but I don’t give a shit. Am I pissed that I don’t get to have a separate life anymore, sure. But I love playing music so that makes it worthwhile. I get to still make music with my best friends.
Hell, if I never met Jericho in Elias’ club in Las Vegas, I wouldn’t have that adorable little boy either. Shit between Jericho and I may take some time to get through, but I wouldn’t change a damn thing now.
After he agrees to come and pick her up, I make another call, this time to Enver. We have to fly out in a few days, but I need to make sure Mason is home before I leave. Even if I have to miss shows or hell, cancel them, I will. Mason is my number one priority now.
“You get word on when he’s coming home?” I run my hand through my hair like I’ve done so many times over the last few days.
“Not yet. I’m going to see if I can get them to tell me something though.”
He sighs over the line and I know that this is putting a strain on the rest of the guys. They can have one of our roadies fill in for a few shows, but they refuse to do it. They don’t like having someone else step in.
“Does he at least have a name yet?”
“Yeah, Mason. Mason Sebastian.”
I grin to myself as I look at him through the viewing window. My phone starts to beep in my ear and when I pull it away to see who it is, I groan. I knew I should have just walked away when I saw that it was her. I should have known if she found out about Jericho, she would come back out of the woodwork to try and claim me again.
Last night the nurse said she heard Jericho crying herself to sleep, so I tried to give her space. But once, I didn’t hear anything from her room, I snuck in there and sat in that damn chair, right next to her the whole night.
She’s got this wall up and I don’t know how to break it back down.
“Well, find out what the plan is so I can work on getting us covered if we need to reschedule any shows and shit.”
Once we say our goodbyes, I see Seth coming through the doors, heading right for me.
“Hey, fucker.” He claps me on the back and I lead him toward Jericho’s room. “She know I’m the one taking her home?”
“No. I haven’t told her. Things have been a little tense between us and I just don’t want to make shit worse than it already is.”
He just chuckles as he slaps the back of my head. “You’re an idiot. That woman in there is the mother of your son. There is nothing you can do about that, so for his sake, figure it the fuck out and don’t let some pettiness get in between you guys.”
“Jandie was here.”
He groans as we continue walking.
“What the fuck did she want?”
“What do you think? She wanted to find out about Jer. She snuck into her room and even tried to take pictures of her like the psycho bitch she is.”
He rubs the back of his neck and I know that he’s probably thinking the worst too. Now that they are both in the same city, I don’t know what Jandie might do to Jericho or Mason.
“I’m getting someone to update the security on her apartment building and someone to watch over them both.”
He stops mid-stride and turns to face me. “You think she might hurt them?”
I shrug my shoulders. “Fuck, I don’t know, but I am not taking any precautions.”
“Why not just take them with you on the road. That way you know what’s going on at all times and you don’t have to worry that the bitch will come back to fuck with Jer or Mason.”
I think about that for a second, but I already know that she won’t go for it. Plus they can’t fly to Las Vegas and I know she sure as shit doesn’t want to sit in a car for that long with a newborn.
“I can even drive out with her. That way you get back on the tour and I’ll deal with her hormonal ass for you.”
“I’ll talk to her and the guys about it.”
He just laughs as we continue walking to her room.
When I open the door, she’s trying to hobble to the bed. I don’t think she can go on tour having this much trouble just walking. As she gets halfway to the bed, she hunches over and I go straight to her and wrap my arm around her waist.
She tries to push me off of her, but I don’t give in. She needs my help and she knows it, but she hates admitting it. I can see it written all over her face when she’s being stubborn.
“Stop fighting me, or I’ll spank your ass.”
She huffs out in frustration but lets me help her the rest of the way to the bed.
Fuck, I don’t want to leave her here like this with no help and a newborn baby. How the hell is she going to be able to take care of both of them if she is in this much pain still?
“What are you doing here, Seth?” she asks when I get her situated on the bed.
He doesn’t say a word, he just gives me a look and her attention turns to me. She gives me a dirty look before asking me why Seth is here.
“He’s going to take you home. You’re being released in twenty minutes.” Hurt is written all over her features and I hate that I’m hurting her, but I don’t know what else to do.
“Oh.”
That is the only word that escapes her lips. She doesn’t say anything else and I don’t know if I should push her to talk to me or not. I’m sure if I do, that it will only make things worse and I already have enough things going on right now than to add pissed off baby momma to the list.
“We need to get you dressed so you can leave.” Her eyes turn toward me and if she could kill me, I’m sure I’d be dead right about now.
“You can leave then. I can change by myself.”
Seth snickers and I shake my head as we both walk out the door. Shutting it behind me, Seth turns to me and just laughs.
“Yeah, this is going so fucking well for you.”
I flip him the bird as we hear her grunt out in pain. Opening the door, I look in and see her with her shirt on one of her arms, but she’s struggling to get her other arm inside. Shutting the door behind me, I make my way over to her and help her get her shirt on.
“I don’t need your help,” she says snottily.
I roll my eyes at her and grab the sweats that I got her yesterday and hold them out for her to step into.
“You do need my help and I’m going to give it to you even when you’re being a bitch.”
She scoffs at that and puts a hand on my shoulder as she tries to lift one leg high enough to put it in the sweats.
“I know you think you can do this shit alone, but I’m not letting you.”
“The papers say he’s not even your son, so why would you even want to?”
I try like hell not to go off on her because I already kno
w she’s in a vulnerable state with the hormones.
“Because you and I both know he’s mine. I don’t give a shit what Elias tells the paper or what the media does to try and ruin everything. He. Is. Mine.”
She shrinks back from me and I stare into her eyes. I can see how fucking scared she is.
“You’ve had seven months to tell me about Mason and instead you just ignored all my attempts to reach out to you. I’ve thought only about you since we went on tour and I even flew to Vegas to see you. I wanted to fucking talk to you again, I hated having no contact with you and the way we left things.”
I take a breath as she puts her other leg in the sweats.
“My bandmates were wrong that night in my room. The shit I’m going through right now isn’t your fault. I made the decision to pursue you, not the other way around. I didn’t give a shit what the consequences would be and I still fucking don’t.”
Her brows pull together and she frowns. “What do you mean?”
“I knew you were pregnant the day you got to Cape Cod. At first, I was pissed the fuck off and then I prayed like hell that he was in fact mine and not someone else’s. Then when I saw you again, the only thing I could see was you. I didn’t care if the baby was mine or not because I want you, Jericho. I want both of you.”
She shakes her head and pushes back from me, pulling her sweats up quickly, wincing when she moves the wrong way.
“No, I can’t. I am the reason all this shit is happening to you and I can’t be the reason you have problems. I don’t want to be your downfall. You need to go back on tour in the next few days while me and Mason are here.”
A tear runs down her cheek and I can’t figure out if she means this or not, if she really doesn’t want me now.
“Jericho –” Before I can say anything else, the nurse comes in the room with Seth trailing behind her.
“Jericho, how are you feeling?” she asks, smiling brightly.
Jericho mutters an answer to the nurse and she hands her some paperwork and tells her the aftercare for her incisions. Standing against the wall, I cross my arms and watch Jericho as she listens to the nurse, nodding her head every few seconds before her eyes lock with mine.
“You’ll probably need help around the house, especially when your little boy is discharged as well which should be tomorrow. He passed all the necessary tests this morning and is doing amazing.” She looks over to me and gives me a flirty smile that Jericho doesn’t miss. She rolls her eyes before snatching the paper from the nurse’s hand.
The nurse looks back at Jericho and gives her another smile.
“Thank you,” I say before Jericho can say something pissy to the nurse too. The nurse smiles again at me before walking out of the room, leaving Seth, Jericho, and I in the room together.
“You are such a man whore,” she says under her breath as she starts to gather up her few things. “First, the girl who snuck into my room, and now the nurse. I’m sure they’ve all hit on you already, who am I kidding.”
Her jealousy is amusing in a way, but I need her to know that Jandie is dangerous.
“The girl from yesterday, we need to talk about her.”
She just rolls her eyes at me like a child and fuck if I don’t want to spank her ass for that.
“I’m serious, Jericho. She is dangerous. I don’t want her near you or Mason.”
This catches her attention. “What do you mean she’s dangerous?” She looks between Seth and I.
“She’s… a little unstable,” Seth chimes in.
“What does that mean? Is she going to come after me or Mason?” Her expression turns to worry and fear.
“I don’t know, but I won’t let her do anything.” I push off the wall and walk over to her. My right hand cups the side of her neck and I tip her chin up with my thumb.
“I want you to stay at my house while I’m gone. The security is better, and I can make sure a security team is set up outside at all times. I won’t risk either of you.”
Her body melts into mine like it’s done so many times before, that I don’t even think she realizes she’s doing it.
“If you want when you are healed and Mason is good, we can drive to wherever the band is and you guys can tour with them too,” Seth says from behind me. Her body stiffens at that suggestion.
“You don’t have to, but I at least want you to stay in my house for the time being. You’ll be safer there and everything will be taken care of.”
She looks like she’s going to tell me to shove my offer up my ass, but she finally gives in and agrees with what I want.
Chapter 21
Jericho
After Seth dropped me off at Wren’s house, I can’t help but feel alone. The house is massive and I feel like I don’t belong here. In a way, I don’t. I am nothing to him other than the mother of his son and right now, I just want to be with Mason back at the hospital.
Slowly walking through the house, I check out the rooms. The first one I come to has at least ten guitars on stands around the room along with speakers and other things that he probably uses for their music. There is a computer set up in the corner of the room and a few chairs that I picture them all sitting in while playing or listening to something.
I move to the next room and it looks like a spare room or something. Maybe I can just pick a room and stay in there until I get to go back to my own place. I wonder what room he is going to make into Mason’s room.
Instead of staying in this room, I make my way toward the kitchen to check it out. I don’t want to check the other rooms because I don’t want to know where he sleeps. I don’t want to be in his space any more than I have to be.
My phone starts to ring as I get to the kitchen and when I pull it out, I don’t recognize the number. Answering it, I say hello and a female voice fills the other end of the line.
“Wren is mine. Stay the fuck away from him, or you’ll wish you never met him.”
The line goes dead and I hold the phone from my ear as I stare at it in shock. My hands start to shake and when the chime to the front door goes off, I grab a knife from the block and slowly walk toward the door.
Just as I lift my arm up, Wren comes walking around the corner. His hands go up in the air and he stops dead in front of me.
“What happened?”
I lower the knife and my hands continue to shake. He closes the distance between us and pulls me into his arms. I bury my face into his chest and I wrap my arms around his waist, not caring about anything but being close to him.
“I need you to tell me babe, otherwise I can’t do shit.” I nod my head against his chest and try to take a few calming breaths before pulling away.
“Right before you got here, some woman called my phone. She said that you were hers and that I needed to stay away from you.” A shudder runs through my body and I try like hell not to freak out. “What if something happens?”
Wren runs his hand down my back in a soothing manner and I try to keep from freaking out even more.
“I won’t let anything happen to you, I promise. You and Mason will be safe here.”
I nod my head and tuck my face back into his chest. He doesn’t release me or say anything else and I wish I could tell what he was thinking right now.
He leads me over to the couch and takes a seat, pulling me down next to him. He doesn’t let me go the entire time we sit like this.
“We need a car seat,” I finally say after we sit here for what seems like forever.
“That I can get. What else do we need?”
I shrug. At my place, I at least have the basics there.
“Just tell me and we can get it. The money doesn’t matter. I want to make sure Mason has everything he needs when he finally gets to come home.”
Home.
I guess in a way this is his home, but it’s not mine. Mine is on the other side of town in the cheaper area. It isn’t the most glamorous place, but I can call it mine.
“I have stuff for him at home. W
e can go there and get it.” He doesn’t say anything and I can’t read his mood.
“Jer, just let me do this.” He sighs. I know I’m frustrating the hell out of him, but I don’t really care. I just want to be back in my own home and I know that he isn’t going to let that happen now that some woman called threatening me.
“Fine.” I pull away from him and sit so I’m now facing him. “I need something to write with.”
He gets up and when he comes back, he has an iPad in his hand. He hands it over to me and I see that there is a website pulled up. Looking at it, I see that it’s a baby store.
I scan over the home screen and the things on the page are outrageously priced and there is no way that I can ask him to pay this much.
“No, this is way too expensive. We can get everything we need for the same price of that crib.” I hit the top bar and start to type in Google to find a new store.
“This one is in town and I can get them to deliver today. I already told you I don’t care about the cost. I have the money and we need it all ASAP. Mason will be coming home tomorrow.”
My throat closes and I can’t help the happy tears that start to fall down my cheeks. He’s coming home. My little boy is getting out of the hospital.
“Thank God. I can’t wait to get to hold him and rock him to sleep every night.” My voice comes out all choked up, but I don’t care. I can’t wait.
“Yup, so we need to be ready for him, Jericho. Get to picking stuff out.”
He nudges the tablet in my hand and I go back to his stupid expensive site and start adding things to the cart. It takes me a good two hours before I’m done picking things out and when I’m done, I refuse to look at the shopping cart. I don’t want to even know how much money he is about to spend. I tried to find things that I thought were fairly priced, but some things were just plain expensive.
He starts to put his credit card number in the site before grabbing his phone and dialing a number. I hear him ask for someone before he tells the person on the other end of the line that he just placed a large order and needs it tonight and that he’ll pay extra to make sure it happens.
