“When I start the interview circuit, the promo stuff for the single. Come with me.”
Her lips part, surprise etched across her face. “You’re serious?”
“Deadly. I don’t want to be away from you. Can you get time away from The Knotted Barn?”
For a moment, I let myself imagine having her by my side, her waiting just off stage for me to be done.
She studies me for a beat. “I think I can pull it off. I—we’re going into the slow season, and I’m sure my mom would handle things for me for a little while. But I mean… I’ll be showing.”
Right. So far we’ve kept the pregnancy quiet, and with the colder weather, Romy wears a lot of sweaters, so thankfully, no one in Willowbrook has caught on. But on the press tour, it will be harder to hide the bump.
I’m not sure if she can hear my thoughts.
“I’d have to hide out probably, but—I think I’d like us to try,” she says.
“Really?”
“I mean, this whole you being gone thing isn’t working. At least for me. Not that I won’t do it. Don’t think that, but I miss you so much. Maybe we see what it’s like if I go with you for a little while.”
“I’d love for you to be with me.”
She smiles. A little soft. A little hesitant.
I’ll have to find a way to protect her from all the noise, the rumors, the spotlight that is my life.
“Okay, I’m gonna go get some sleep. You know, I am growing your baby.”
“They’re never gonna want to come out,” I say.
“Oh, I think… we’re gonna make them come out.” She laughs again.
“God, I can’t wait to be with you.”
“Hey,” she says before we’re about to hang up.
“Yeah?”
“What about that single? I haven’t even heard any of it yet.”
“You will. I promise.”
“Okay. Good night, Zander.”
“Night, baby.”
I hold onto the phone, the silence stretching between us. I don’t want to hang up. I don’t want to stop hearing her breathe. I don’t want to stop closing my eyes and imagining that she’s right next to me.
“Okay, you gotta hang up,” she says.
“So do you.”
She giggles. “Good night, Zan.”
She hangs up, and I stare at the screen, thinking of her laughing. Yeah, time to figure this out and get home to my girl.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Romy
