Dallas smirked. “I don’t need one.”
Cash shrugged. “I do a lot of online stuff. Helping people make websites and things like that. Nothing that takes up too much time.”
We all turned to Ronny, who was clearly annoyed.
“Music is my full-time job. If you’re not fully invested in it maybe you should reconsider your position in the band,” he said to Tate. Tate blinked.
“Are we really having this fight right now? I’ve got bills to pay and a kid. If you have a fucking problem with that maybe we should take this outside.”
“Stop!” I put my hands up in between the pair of fuming men. “You almost broke his nose last time.” I looked at my husband, and then back to Ronny. “And you are being ridiculous. We’ll find time for the band. Don’t worry about him.”
“I’m just saying that maybe we should have a back up, just in case he can’t make it to a show.”
My eyes swung over to my brother. He was looking down at his coffee with too much interest. He wouldn’t look up because he knew I was staring at him. He had been spending his time with Ronny, putting the idea in his head.
“Fine. We’ll get Travie to cover him,” I snapped, knowing full well that I wouldn’t be calling our friend any time soon about it.
Our new, more packed schedules felt as if Ronny was trying to force Tate’s hand. We couldn’t keep up with our current situation.
Tate did end up asking Lola to watch Cara while he was here rehearsing. She was over the moon about getting to take care of her. So much so that I only felt a little bit guilty asking her if she’d stay the night at my place so that the band and Dallas could go to the bar a week into her new position.
“We haven’t really gone out in months. If it’s too much it’s fine, we’ll just go a different night.”
“No! Go, have fun! I love watching her. I think she’s starting to recognize me,” Lola said as she prepared another bottle for her. “She’s going to love her Aunt Lola. Wait, does Tate have any siblings? Does she have real aunts?” She put the cap on the bottle and began shaking up the water and formula.
“No, it’s just him. Looks like she’ll just have her Aunt Lola and Aunt Rosa.”
“And Aunt Audrey,” Lola giggled. “You know he’s going to ask her to marry him eventually. They are crazy about each other.” Cash passed by us just then. He waved as he went to the kitchen for water. I noticed Lola staring at his behind and sighing deeply. It made me chuckle. She was far too young for him.
“But oh my gosh, she’ll have so many uncles. She won’t be able to keep up! I know I had a hard time at first.”
“That’s okay. There’s just more people to love her,” I smiled. Lola stood up straight and waved to Tate and Ronny who had stepped into the room.
“Sounds like I’m staying over tonight so you guys can go have some fun.”
Tate perked up and came over to us. He put his thick, tattooed arm around my middle, almost reflexively.
“Are you sure? I’d really appreciate it. I haven’t really done anything other than work since she’s been born.”
“It’s fine. I’m going to order a movie and ooh! Maybe I’ll make a cake. Do you have any-” she started but then shook her head and waved off her comment. “No, don’t worry about it. I’ll just go look. I can make a cake out of anything.”
Tate chuckled and thanked her again. I told the rest of the crew we were leaving and we all headed to the door.
“Alright Cara, say goodbye to Daddy and Mommy!”
My heart fluttered at the word. Everyone stared at the baby expectantly. She was sound asleep, not that she could speak anyways. Lola shrugged and started pushing the bassinet towards the couch. “Well, I tried. Alright, leave, enjoy yourselves. We’ll see you guys later tonight.”
We all filed out, Tate and I the last to go. He reached for my hand and we went down the stairs together. Since Ronny’s van had been totaled in his accident, we had to take two cars. Tate and I chose to drive alone.
“I’m really glad to finally get out. Now don’t get me wrong, I love having Cara every night but I do miss being able to just... do things.”
“Same here, except while you were taking care of her, I had to take care of Ronny. It’s practically the same thing,” I laughed.
“Honestly I think I may have had the easier gig.”
We got to the bar before the other three men, so we went in ahead of them and ordered a few pitchers for our table. The bar was a medium sized one. It was just big enough to where we wouldn’t be noticed, but not too large where it was a club. Our beer had just come when Dallas, Cash, and Ronny came through the doors and joined us.
We had a few pitchers while enjoying the music and shooting the shit with each other. It was so nice to relax outside of my apartment. It felt like I’d been cooped up forever.
