“But maybe someone paid that girl to do it.” I feel like I’m losing my fucking mind.
“Do you really think Cooper would go through all that trouble to run off a woman who’s watching your child? He might not gel with Rory on a personal level, but that seems out of character. Everyone knows we’d be up shit creek without someone to watch Layla.”
That’s just it. I don’t know anything anymore.
Rory takes my hand in hers and gives me a hesitant smile. “I’m okay. Layla’s fine. I’ll be more careful. If this is as bad as it gets, I can live with it.”
“I’m getting you some pepper spray.” I wrap her in my arms and kiss the top of her head. “I hate that you’re involved now.”
Frank pats her on the shoulder. “Appreciate the can-do spirit, kid. It wouldn’t be a bad idea for you to wait for us to be done with the VIP lines before you return to the bus. If there’s an unhinged person running around, I don’t want to take any chances.”
She sighs but nods. “If you think that’s best.”
“Just until this blows over. Maybe a week or two.”
I fucking hate this so much. “Come on, baby. Let’s go to bed.”
Frank holds up his hand. “Jace, sorry to do this to you, but I need you to review those expenses.” He points to the folder next to the fridge. “If you can’t concentrate tonight, then first thing in the morning. Before we get to the hotel.”
That makes Rory perk up. “We’re getting hotel rooms?”
Frank nods. “While we’re rehearsing and recording, yeah. It’s cheaper than the bus.”
I flip open the folder and scan the spreadsheet. It’s the usual. Gas, food, merch, the tour bus rental, security, and our driver’s rate. The amounts are staggering, but that’s why our merch sales and VIP tickets are so important. I sign it at the bottom and hand it to Frank. “Here.”
Frowning, Rory chews on the inside of her cheek. “Don’t you want to review that more carefully?”
“It’s almost the same every week.” I grab her hand. “See you in the morning, Frank. Sorry for the drama with Cooper. I’ll talk to him in the morning.”
“Thank you. Appreciate that.”
When Rory and I are back in our room, I check on Layla, who’s sleeping soundly again. I run my hand over her back. “I love her so much. It’s almost like I can’t remember a time when I didn’t have a daughter.”
Rory stands next to me. “She’s such a good girl. Easygoing and sweet. I love taking care of her.”
My throat closes up when I think about all the bad things that could’ve happened tonight. “I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to either one of you.” I turn to her. “Are we okay? You and me?”
She looks away, and for a heart-stopping minute, I’m afraid I’m losing her. “If performing with Marlowe was a one-time thing, then yes, we’re fine. I can live with it. But if you expect me to go through what I watched tonight for the next two months, then?—”
“I won’t let it happen again.”
“You can’t promise that. This isn’t your tour. Niles makes the rules.”
I’m really getting tired of Niles. I scramble to figure this out before Rory bails on me. “You’re right. I can’t control whether I perform with Marlowe, but I can make sure I have my ownmic. That would help, right? So she’s not right up in my face the entire time?”
She considers that. “You’re right. It would help.”
Good, we’re getting somewhere. I sit on the bed and pull her into my lap. “What if news that I got married leaked? If Marlowe wants to play games, maybe that’s the ace I need to throw down.”
Rory grabs my face and studies my eyes. “Don’t do anything rash. You’ve worked your entire life for this tour and these opportunities. If it leaks that you’re married, and Niles has an inkling the news came from you, he might torpedo any shot you have of signing with the label.”
“I feel like a pawn. Like he’s using my personal life to sell the tour.”
She gives me a sympathetic smile as she laces her hands behind my neck. “If this was easy, everyone would do it. Obviously, the music industry is intense. It reminds me of the tagline of that TV show,Survivor—you have to outwit, outplay, and outlast everyone else. And maybe if we think of this as a game and try to be more strategic, we’ll get through it.”
“You mean together. We’ll get through it together.” I cup Rory’s beautiful face. “I think one of the reasons I spiraled after Marlowe is because I didn’t have any closure. One minute we were an item, and the next she was gone. But I got that closure tonight. Seeing her on stage as I sang that song crystalized all the shit I hated about our relationship.” I was one hundred percent honest with Marlowe when I told her she taught me what I didn’t want in a relationship. “You’re the opposite of her in all the best ways, Aurora. You’re what I want.”
At first, she just stares at me, but then she pulls back. “Look, you and I got wrapped up together because you needed a nanny, and I don’t want you blowing smoke up my ass because you’re afraid I’ll quit. I won’t?—”
