A month flew by.
Lyric and I tackled everything together as a unit. We mixed perfectly like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. And I was a damn lucky girl to know he tasted as good as one too.
We were closing in on graduation for Jett and Patience, Autumn was talking more and thriving more every day, Gramps seemed blissfully happy with a full house, and we had so many amazing memories we were making with friends.
Teal and Kace’s baby had turned one and they had thrown the cutest party. I had gone shopping with the girls and to lunch, with Lyric and Kace tagging along as bodyguards. That was fun. They sure did cause a commotion and heads turned in their directions wherever we went.
“Let them look, we know who’s taking them to bed every night,” Teal said.
Letting out a laugh, I said, “I can only imagine what it would be like if all the guys were here.”
“We would be swarmed by a bunch of females like they were charging the stage at a Chippendale show. Our men are hot, ladies.”
“You think we’re hot?” Kace called out from behind us as we walked through the mall. “We could probably do a private show for you ladies.”
I’d learned that the man loved to joke and it was infectious.
“You’re not stripping for my woman, dickhead,” Lyric said.
We all burst into a fit of giggles.
It was a good time.
There was more too and then there was also the fact that Lyric was down to one job. Just as he said it gave us all more time together.
I should be completely happy, but the fact that someone was still out there, and nobody had been able to find out who attacked me, weighed heavily on my mind. The man had been careful to not turn his head toward a camera inside the hospital and also the garage parking lot, assuming it was the same man, and he’d worn gloves. So even with the one description from the nurse Emily, there were no leads.
I’d healed physically, but if I was being honest, mentally I was still freaked out.
So, over the last month, while we had fun, we also had to be very careful. When I went out with the girls, one of the guys was there, when I left the house someone was there with the others or closely monitoring them. And there were even times Gramps and the gang had hung out at one of our friends' homes.
I reduced my shifts at the hospital to make it easier for everyone and I was about to do my last modeling shoot. At least it would be the last until we knew things were safe. Lyric was going with me to watch over me and also as my date for the after-party. This was a huge job and the group participating liked to celebrate when we wrapped things up.
Nerves trickled through me. I’d done many jobs in front of a lot of people, but none of them were Lyric, the man I was in love with. And this shoot was a lot bigger than some of the others. It was for a popular destination wedding resort so it had multiple different shots to be taken.
What would he think when he saw me in action?
“Hey.” I whirled around to find Jett standing behind me in the kitchen.
I was trying to get the stew in the crockpot early while Lyric ran to fill the car up with gas. Summer and Gyth, along with their son, were coming over while we were gone and I didn’t want them worrying about dinner when they were helping me. The job would last all day and then we had the evening festivities. My mind wandered while I was busy and I hadn’t heard him walk in.
“What’s up?”
The uneasy look in his eyes had me worried.
“Where is Autumn?”
“She’s fine. She and Gramps are playing with her wooden puzzles.” He sat down on one of the stools at the kitchen island. “It’s about me.”
I leaned my arms on the marble countertop across from Jett, giving him my complete attention. Something told me whatever he was going to say was important.
And I was right. It was life changing.
“I’ve been thinking a lot lately and I want to join the Marines.” He paused as if trying to give me time for the bombshell he dropped to sink in. “I’m hoping you will be okay with my decision.”
I sucked in a deep breath. “Jett, where is this coming from? I’ve never heard you talk about this before and what about your music.”
My brother was a phenomenal guitarist, singer, and songwriter. It’s what I imagined he would always go on to do, especially after Lyric’s parents gushed over him and said they’d be willing to help him get started.
