She blinks successively before scrutinizing my face. “You’re serious?”
I nod. “I know you love your house. I love it too, but it seems silly to have two houses when we spend most all our time in one or the other. Security is tighter here, and it’s more private. We have the helipad and plenty of unfurnished rooms we can turn into an art studio for you.” I wind my fingers through her hair. “But if you prefer to stay in your place, I’ll sell this one and move in with you. I don’t really care where we live as long as we’re together and you’re protected.”
She nibbles on her lower lip. “Can I think about it?”
“Of course.” I’m just glad she didn’t tell me an outright no.
“I have made an important decision about my life,” she adds, running her fingers up and down my chest through the robe. I encourage her to continue with my eyes. “I’m going to resign from my position at the museum and focus on my art instead.”
My smile is instantaneous. “I love it. I want you to achieve your dreams, and I’ll support you fully whatever you decide.” I’m not sure what her financial situation is. She seems to have money, but I don’t know how much. I know her father basically cut her off and she’s surviving on the settlement she received from Sawyer and the income she’s earned from her jobs, but I don’t know how substantial that is. “I know you’re independent, Syd, but what’s mine is yours. If you need any financial support, just ask.”
“I appreciate you offering, J, but I’m good. Having no money of my own for years actually taught me the value of saving and being selective with the things I buy. I put most of my savings into buying my house, but I have plenty set aside to cover me as I build my art business, and if I end up selling my house, my savings account will grow again.”
“When we’re married, my money will be yours, so if you need anything, just come to me. I never want money to be the cause of any arguments between us.”
“I wouldn’t let it,” she says, toying with a loose thread on my robe. “I like being independent, but I’m not going to be stupid about it.”
I tweak her nose. “Glad to hear it.”
“I’ll save our arguments for more important things.” She flashes me a cheeky grin, and I slide my hand under her robe and pinch her ass. She jumps, and her eyes ignite with instant lust. Sex with Syd is fucking mind-blowing. Today was the best sex of my life, and I get to have it every day until I stop breathing.
Life doesn’t get much better than this.
We still have shit to wade through. A lot of it. But I know we’re going to make it because we have each other.
ChapterThirty-Five
Jared
“Sawyer and Xavier will meet us at the private airfield,” Sydney says, repocketing her cell after she ends the call with her ex.
“Good.” I thread my fingers in hers as we buckle in for the six-hour flight to New York. “Did he give you any indication of what he has to tell us?”
She shakes her head. “He said it was better to go through it in person and Herman and Gladys need to be there.”
“What about Toria?” I ask as the plane moves down the runway.
“He was a little evasive. All he said was he had news.”
“Hmm.” I scrub a hand over my jaw. My ex is giving me hell again. To say she isn’t happy I’m with Sydney is an understatement.
I can’t even attend the doctor’s appointments anymore because she raised bloody murder last week and embarrassed herself and me in front of the doctor and his team. She got so worked up her heart rate elevated, and it’s not good for the baby. The doc recommended I stay away. He has agreed to send me regular reports and to notify me immediately if there is any concern or risk to my unborn child.
Toria is seven months pregnant, so the end is in sight. There is no denying she’s pregnant now. Her considerable baby bump is another source of anxiety for her, and of course, I’m to blame.
We petitioned the court for full custody after I offered her five million to amend the terms of our arrangement so the baby lives full-time with me and she has visitation rights, and she turned me down. She demanded thirty million dollars, confirming my bandmates were right.
She’s in this for the money.
She must have sabotaged a condom to get pregnant on purpose.
I think everything she has done is an elaborate performance to make me think she’s crazy so I’ll do anything, pay anything, to get her away from my kid. Making the offer played to her agenda. I love my son, and I want him protected, but I’m not handing thirty million dollars to that nutjob. I thought about it for a while, but Sydney and John convinced me not to do it. If I start down that road, it will never stop.
Our best option is to go the legal route, but so far, the court refuses to grant anything but joint custody. When Toria messes up—and I know she will—the court will side with me.
So, I just have to bide my time.
But it’s not easy.
