by Ford, Mia
“We’re going to do this more often,” he promised me as I smiled, watching people walk by. He had his hat on, hiding his face from the crowds, slipping into the car when he confirmed that it was our ride.
We pulled into the driveway and I carried my heels in my hand as we walked up to the front door. I tapped gently on it, smiling when Cammie opened it for us. Four little faces peered around her and two of those kids rushed forward into our arms. Rosie was a daddy’s girl and Braden jumped up to me as I caught him with a low grunt. We walked inside, carrying them as Braden asked where we were, and Rosie babbled at David.
Aurora and Tanner had their own greetings for us and we hugged them, settling down on the couch as they told us all about their day. We sipped coffee and laughed with Cammie until her phone rang on the table. “Hey, baby.” She listened, rolling her eyes at me. “I’ll be home soon, B. I love you, too.” She ended the call and looked at her kids before smiling at us. “Want to go home and see Daddy?” I smiled knowingly at David. “The man wants us home. I am sure that he’d prefer me to talk you into returning the favor, but I’ll spare you of that.”
“Anytime, Cam.” I told her as she smiled. They got some time alone thanks to family and her and I stuck together when the guys were gone. I rose to hug her and the kids before she left, and David helped her get them into her SUV. I stayed in with my kids and chatted with them until he came back. He sat down and sipped his coffee before pulling Braden into his lap, roaring like a monster as our son laughed. I joined in, falling more in love with my husband as he proceeded to play with the kids.
Chapter Thirty
David
The alarm went off on Monday morning before the fucking sun was even up. I groaned and hit the snooze button before touching my sleeping wife gently. We had to do some radio this morning to promote the album per our manager even though I tried to convince him that we were popular enough to skip it.
I didn’t win that battle.
I rose to shower, knowing that she was up late with Rosie and her sporadic fever. I wanted Aubrey to sleep as much as possible and headed into the bathroom for a quick rinse. I fixed my hair once I was out, brushing my teeth and deciding to leave the stubble on my face. Aubrey loved that look though she hesitated to agree about my beard, making me laugh when I teased her about how the hair would feel between her legs.
I dressed in dark jeans and a fitted blue t-shirt, adding a pair of worn boots to the ensemble. I had the full rocker look going today and glanced at the bed to see my girls sleeping before I left the house. Something tugged at my heart as I headed quietly down the stairs, hopping in my car to make the trip into the city. I was meeting the guys at our studio and we’d head over to the first station.
I glanced at Brent, seeing that he looked equally tired as he got out of his car. “You okay?” I asked as he let out a snort.
“I had to make up for the night you made my wife stay at your house. Tanner also decided that waking up at three would be a great idea.” I shook my head, feeling his pain. “I remember feeling this way just from a hangover.”
“I wouldn’t change a thing,” I offered, and he nodded with a grin. “Thanks for loaning us Cam. We’ll return the favor anytime and on fact, we should make it a habit. It was fucking awesome.” The other guys walked over, and I shut down the married talk, since they weren’t there yet. Only one was in a serious relationship and possibly proposing within the year while the others were enjoying the groupies. “Ready for this?” I asked as they nodded. We were set to interview and play a song at each station from the album. We were going with the radio single.
“As ready as I can be. I always thought that being a Rockstar meant late nights and sleeping through to the afternoon.” Miles grumbled as I chuckled.
“For the most part, it does. There’s a lot of work mixed in along the way.” I clapped him on the back and we prepared to get into the town car that was driving us. I sipped my coffee once I was secured inside, feeling the car pull away from the curb.
We started out as a small local band years ago that played a few bars. It was more of a hobby while we worked day jobs and I never imagined it leading to this. I looked around at my band brothers and thought about my life as a whole as I grinned. I might hate the fake radio voices they used at the stations and the generic questions, but I answered them as the lead singer of a successful band. I faked cheerfulness and enthusiasm, carefully avoiding the detailed questions about my personal life with a coy smile.
I enjoyed performing Need You. It was a song I wrote about needing love in my life and was written after Aubrey gave birth to Braden. I felt so full of love in that moment and it almost knocked me to the ground. Of course, I spiced up the lyrics for the sake of the fans, but the feeling was the same. I played acoustic guitar and sang while the others filled in around me, watching the impressed gazes of the staff as they watched us.
We hit five stations that day and then headed to a diner for lunch. We filed in and took a table in the back, ordering drinks and looking over the menu. Our conversation turned to the band we’d be touring with: One Rhyme. They were younger than us but rising up the charts. I had heard the music and seen a few YouTube videos about them and they seemed to be good guys. There was four of them and we were set to meet in a week to go over stuff involving the tour. They’d have their own bus and we would do our usual large bus since it was a short tour and none of the families were joining us. It was huge and offered us each our own room and a spacious living room.
“I heard the singer is a groupie magnet. You know, like you used to be.” Miles teased me as I rolled my eyes.
“He can have them all.” I ordered a burger, planning a long workout later at home. It would involve my home gym as well as my bedroom once the kids were sleeping, assuming the kids felt okay. Leaning back, I scanned the restaurant, seeing some people focused on us as I tried to smile. Maybe this new band would take some of the attention away from us. If that happened, we might lose our burst of fame and our manager would hate that. It was a fucking double-edged sword sometimes.
Unfortunately, I saw women that I had a past with all over the city. Aubrey was aware of it and it made me hate myself for my past actions. She was mostly fine with it and we didn’t talk too much about it. I just wanted to wash it all away. They pretended that I wasn’t married and hit on me constantly and I remained polite while denying them. It got harsh sometimes but with most of the groupies, they moved on to newer people.
This new band might be just the thing. We finished our food and left a large tip on the table as we left, stopping to sign some autographs and take a few pictures. We jumped into the town car and went back to the studio as my phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw that it was a message from Aubrey. She reported that Rosie was feeling better and wanted to go out, so I suggested that we head out when I got home. We weren’t going to practice at all today and I’d have the afternoon with my family. I also knew that Aubrey loved the open-air market there. She sent me a smile, and I checked my email as we kept driving for anything band related.
I hopped into my car after saying goodbye to everyone, telling Brent that I’d get back to him about dinner later. We spent a lot of time together now with the kids. I drove home, blasting the demo of another song on the album as I worked through different versions in my head. My car was like my office now that I had kids and I worked endlessly when I was driving, singing different tones and envisioning a different sound.
I pulled into my garage and walked into the house, seeing Braden playing in the toy corner while Rosie slept on the couch. He looked more like me while Rosie was a mini Aubrey and beautiful. I walked over to touch her forehead and glanced at him. “Hey, bub. How are you?”
“I’m good. Mommy is in the shower. I’m glad you’re home.” He smiled at me and I knelt to kiss his head gently. Life seemed so different when I was out and about versus being home. Here I was Daddy, and they didn’t care about my job, at least not yet. “Ar
e we going somewhere?”
“I thought we’d take Mom to the market and let her buy some stuff. What else do you want to do?” I asked, not mentioning his cousins until I talked with Aubrey. We learned the hard way that was a bad idea.
“Movies?” He asked hopefully as I glanced at his sister. She was not the type to sit in a theater and watch a movie. That was something one of us did with him alone or in the home theater downstairs.
“We’ll see. I need to talk to Mom first. Okay?” I asked as he nodded. I walked through the room and checked on my kids again before going upstairs. I locked the doors and secured the alarm with my phone as I walked into my room, seeing the door cracked. “Baby?” I asked, hoping that she was still in the shower even though the water was off.
“Hi. How did it go?” She asked as I pushed the door open to see her in the little dress that she wore while she was getting ready. It was clingy and short and perfect for me to lift up and take her from behind. I closed the bathroom door and approached her.
“It was good. The norm. We played a great version of Need You. I might use it for Tiny Desk Concerts when I’m in New York.” I lifted her dress, finding her bare as she raised a brow at me. “Mmmm… bend over for me.” I found her clit and stroked it as she gasped, letting her eyes flutter closed. She was already wet for me.
“The kids,” she reminded me as my free hand cupped her breast under the dress.
“Braden is playing, and she’s sleeping. We have a few minutes.” I assured her as I kept playing with her. I made her come and turned her around, pulling off her dress before I dropped my jeans.
“You look hot today,” she told me as I spread her thighs open. I leaned down and sucked a pert nipple into my mouth before dropping to my knees.
“You’re hotter.” I assured her as I gazed into her eyes. “I just need a taste before I fuck you.” I bent forward, drinking in her juices as she slipped a hand into my messy hair, moaning softly. I made her come so close to the edge before standing and positioning myself in front of her. “So tight,” I moaned as I slipped inside, slipping a hand down to her lower back to hold her in place. “God, you’re perfect.”
She wrapped her arms around my neck, arching forward to pull me in deeper. I gazed down her body, loving her big nipples and tight pussy. Aubrey’s face pressed into my neck and I felt her kissing me as we rocked together. “I’m so close,” she murmured before nipping at my skin, causing me to thicken inside of her. I thrust deep, shooting inside of her as she let out a low cry. Her pussy felt like a glove around me as we came together, and I found her mouth with mine. Aubrey whimpered against me as she kissed me back, murmuring that she loved me.
I reluctantly pulled away and got a warm cloth to clean her up. I used it to wipe off my cock before slipping my jeans back on, feeling her eyes on me as I did. Aubrey reached for her dress and put it back on before moving back to her previous activity. “Wear that. I like it,” she told me as our eyes locked in the mirror.
I nodded and opened the door to listen to our monitor that went throughout the house, hearing that Braden was still playing. I left Aubrey in the bathroom and remembered Brent. “Do you want to go to Brent’s for dinner later?” I asked as she smiled and nodded. “I’ll tell the troops.”
Braden was screaming about dinner as she came downstairs in jeans and a clingy mustard sweater with flat boots. Aubrey widened her eyes and shot a look at Rosie, still sleeping on the couch. She slept through anything. “Sssshhhh. It’s okay, B.” She told him as he jumped into her arms.
“Is she ready?” I asked Aubrey, pointing at Rosie. She nodded, and I picked her up, handing the backpack of supplies to Aubrey as she smiled. We walked out to the car, and I secured my daughter in her seat, watching Braden buckle himself in. Aubrey slipped into the passenger seat and kissed me softly before I started the car. I pulled on a beanie from the glove compartment and thick black-rimmed glasses to try to disguise myself, pulling out of the driveway.
I told her about the interviews and lunch as we drove, and she listened intently. She knew that band we were touring with and assured me that the twins were in love with them. I made a mental note to never introduce them. I lucked out thus far.
I parked as close to the market as I could, and we all got out of the car. Rosie was just waking up, so I carried her, giving her time to come back to Earth. Aubrey held Braden’s hand as she looked over the booths and decided where to go with her canvas bags. He loved shopping with her and I smiled as they moved ahead.
Rosie frowned for the first few minutes and I asked her if she wanted to get down. I knew that she would be hungry soon and planned to hit up one of the food trucks. I glanced around the crowd and so far, nobody seemed to recognize me. She murmured to me as she looked at the bright fruits and vegetables, adorable in her drowsy state of mind. It was one of the only times that she was this quiet. We ended up joining the others and purchasing some fruit. Aubrey loaded them in her bag and moved on as Rosie seemed to perk up.
We took her and Braden to the food trucks for some lunch, finding a bench along the water to sit and eat. We had the kids in between us and I tucked the hat closer to my head as the wind blew fiercely and Aubrey made sure the kids coats were on. She pulled her own jacket closer and sipped the coffee that I bought her. “We can head somewhere inside after this.” I offered as she smiled.
“It’s not that bad. Winter will be here soon, and we’ll be cooped up inside a lot. Let the kids have fun.” I smiled at her enthusiasm and gazed over the water. We walked to the park when we were done and sent Cammie a message that we’d be there for dinner once the kids were done playing. I noted a mom looking over at me and I kissed Aubrey, partly because I was addicted to her taste and also because I made it clear that I was taken. She leaned into me, losing herself for a moment before she looked for the kids.
The mom pouted and looked towards the playground but not before she whispered to one of her friends. They both looked at me and I fought the urge to roll my eyes as Aubrey seemed indifferent to them. This was when it started, and I secretly couldn’t wait for dinner where I could hide in Brent’s house.
I got away with a few autographs and pictures before we made our way to the car. I told Braden that some people knew me from my job and that’s why I was approached. I was strict about keeping the interaction clean when I was with my family and it earned me a kiss in the car from my wife.
We drove to the house for dinner, stopping at the store for some wine and dessert. Cammie was more of a cook than she was a baker and she loved the cakes from this store. I parked behind their gate in their driveway and let out a slow sigh as Aubrey looked at me. “You okay?” She asked as she looked in the back seat to our sleeping kids.
“If I weren’t in a band, we could have a normal day out together,” I murmured as she covered my hand with hers.
“If you weren’t in a band, I may not have ever met you. Sure, it’s tough sometimes but we deal with it. It’s fine.” Aubrey assured me before she kissed me again. “It’s just all about the balance.”
I wondered how the fuck to find that sometimes as she got out, carrying Rosie up the stairs to the front door. I gathered Braden into my arms and followed them, holding the bag with my free hand. Cammie held the wide door open and let me pass as Brent grabbed the bag, letting out a happy noise when he saw the cake.
The women went to cook, and we settled on the couch in front of the game, watching the kids play. I felt myself relax as I sipped a beer and let the sounds settle around me, smelling the food from the kitchen. “Are you okay?” Brent asked as I blinked and nodded.
“Just another day out with the family where I fought to stay under the radar.” My hat and glasses were in the car since I didn’t need them anymore.
“It’s part of the gig. It’s a lot better than when we were younger, and the women were crazy. Remember the one that got onto our bus that time?” He asked softly, and I nodded. We had to call the cops to get her off and clean her huge purs
e out. She’d taken things from all of us and it was after that when we hired security to watch the bus.
“Yeah. It’s a lot different, especially with the kids.” I replied
“I don’t think that this ride is going to last forever. We just need to handle it right while we’re here.” I looked at Brent. He was doing great with his family and this house, having calmed down a lot over the last few years. “Put the money in the right places and make it work for later.” I found it odd that he was the first to find a good accountant with me following once we both became fathers.
“That’s the best we can do.” I agreed, taking the beer and sipping it. It was up to me to make this work and find the best way for my family.
Chapter Thirty-One
Aubrey
I cut the vegetables for the salad, watching my sister as she ladled the sauce over the noodles. We both had glasses of wine nearby and I felt the day slipping away from me.
I looked at the closed door of the kitchen, continuing with my story when I felt like we were alone. “The moms kept staring at him and asked for autographs and pictures when we were leaving. He had his kids with him!” I hissed as she gave me a sympathetic smile. Brent wasn’t as recognized but she knew where I was coming from.
“They don’t always have class.” She shrugged as I narrowed my eyes. “Okay, they rarely do. How do the kids handle it?”
“He always has a great explanation for them. Rosie is pretty young to get it, but Braden handles it well. I think it helps that David is clearly in love with his family.” I smiled as I thought about David, longing to go and kiss him in the other room.
“That helps all of you.” Cammie smiled and sprinkled some cheese over the dish. “It’s a weird life that we live. What do you think Mom would say about it?”
