Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 55458 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 277(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55458 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 277(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
It would definitely get a response. “Hell yes.”
“Let’s go.”
I was on my feet, following Alex from the dressing room, past the green room and to the stage where the band was setting up. Other than production assistants and camera and boom operators, the studio was empty.
“How’s it going, guys?”
They grunted their responses, everyone preoccupied with making sure their instruments were finely tuned for when we came back to perform for real. I didn’t take it personally—I was too busy with my own guitar. And vocals.
Alex was right about one thing, every song I sang these days felt like a miracle. It was like winning back days you thought were lost forever. I started with “Better for You” because it was a slower, quieter song and we needed to test different volume levels and tempos to see how they played in each venue. “Good?”
Alex gave me a thumbs up as I left the stage and pulled my phone out, grinning like a fool when I saw that I’d gotten a text from Suzie. “Your daughter’s first photo.”
Daughter. I froze, rooted to the spot as I thought of a little girl with my white-blond hair and Suzie’s green eyes, her rosebud lips, and her sassy sense of humor. A little girl with a feminine laugh, who I would love to the ends of the earth. “A daughter.”
I tapped the message and found the promised photo, a sonogram. To me it was just a black and white glob on transparent film, but Suzie had, of course, thought of that. There were two red circles with the words BABY GIRL #1 and BABY GIRL #2 written in block lettering.
Number one and number two? No. It couldn’t be. Could it? I tapped the phone icon and hoped Suzie would pick up.
“Gavin,” she laughed. “I was just watching the video Alex sent me. It’s good to see your face.”
My shoulders relaxed at her upbeat tone. “It’s so good to hear your voice, Suzie Q.”
She laughed again and I felt my heart soar, my smile return. “Yours, too, though you have been everywhere lately.”
“Too much?” It was a genuine question. I hoped she hadn’t seen so much of Gavin the Rock Star that she didn’t want to talk to or hear from Gavin the actual person.
“Not at all.” The smile in her voice was clear and I felt my own cheeks tremble as my own grin widened. “You got my message?”
“I did.” The words rushed out on an overwhelmed sigh. “So, we’re having twins?”
“Yeah.” She sighed. “Can you believe it?”
“I’m starting to believe it, yeah. How are you dealing with it?”
Suzie laughed softly. “Honestly? I feel a little better knowing that the reason I’m so fat is because there are two babies in there. That sounds terrible, doesn’t it?”
“Not at all. It also explains why you’ve had insane cravings. Are you over peanut butter and mayo yet?”
“God, no,” she laughed again, and I could see her shaking her head. “The problem is that when you butter the outside and toast it, the sandwich is out-of-this-world good.” She giggled, and the sound snaked its way deep in my heart and settled in.
“Does that mean I should try it? I will, but it sounds awful.”
“It probably is in real life, and I might never be able to eat peanut butter or mayo once these babies are born.”
Babies. There it was again, plural, babies. “Daughters. We’re having little girls.”
“Yeah,” she said on a dreamy sigh. “It’s kind of trippy, isn’t it? I mean, I wanted this baby as soon as I found out I was pregnant, and now I’m having two? Wow.”
“We’re having two,” I clarified.
“Yes,” she answered quietly. “We are having two babies, Gavin. Two little girls.”
“I hope they have your eyes?”
“Why? Yours are green, too, but with brown and gold flecks that are, well, they’re stunning.”
“Maybe,” I shrugged. “But yours have three different colors of brown that sometimes make them turn a gorgeous greenish-gold color.” I closed my eyes and there they were, her beautiful green eyes, changing colors with her every change in emotion. “God, I’ve missed you, Suzie Q.”
“I miss you, too, Gavin. But I have a meeting in ten minutes and I’m eager to finish your soundcheck video.”
“Okay. I have to get all gussied up for the interview portion of the show, anyway.” I wanted to run out of the studio and jump into the closest taxi and onto the first plane that would take me to Jackson’s Ridge. It was a ridiculous thought. Not only did I have access to one of the label’s private jets, but I had three more interviews in New York before I could leave without ruffling anyone’s feathers. Least of all Alex’s.
I couldn’t go to Suzie, not yet. But that didn’t mean I could be the proud papa that I felt like, the man I sang about in “Better for You.” I wasn’t that man, not quite yet, but I wanted my girls to know that I’d started working on becoming that man before they made their appearance in the world. I dialed Alex.