Still to this day my parents and Jimmy don’t always see eye to eye, but they get along. I don’t know if it stems from him getting me pregnant during a one-night stand, the fact that he took me away to get married, or that he’s a musician. He’s cordial though and welcomes them warmly when they come to visit.
Eden laughs, knowing full well that her father would rather die than spend the week with my mother.
“Tell you what, Jimmy. Let Eden have her friends over as planned and ask Elle and Quinn to come over to help you babysit.”
At the sound of Quinn’s name, Eden’s eyes light up. This isn’t lost on Jimmy in the least.
“Er, fuck no,” he says, pushing away from the island. “I’ll bloody well look after everyone myself.” He storms out of the kitchen, muttering who knows what. Eden and I both laugh uncontrollably when we hear the bedroom door shut.
“That was brilliant, Mum.”
I shake my head. “You listen good, Eden. Do not do anything to piss off your father. He’s having a hard enough time with you growing up. The last thing you want is to find yourself locked in your room for a week.”
“He wouldn’t.”
“I would, so don’t even try it,” Jimmy says as he comes back into the room. “Come on, let’s go. We need to take your mum to the airport to meet your Aunt Katelyn, then you and I are going to have a long father-daughter chat on the way to school.”
“I’m going to die,” she mutters, sliding off the stool.
“No, you’re not, Eden. I’ll only be gone for a week.”
“A week in the life of a teenager is like a year. You’re killing me,” she huffs on her way out to the car. Jimmy grabs my hand and pulls me back.
“I’m going to die a very painful death, but I’m happy you’re having a vacation and I love you.”
“Now I know where Eden gets all her drama from.”
“From me, of course,” he says, winking. “Now get your arse in the car, Sweet Lips.”
2
Josie
My hand reaches for the worn-out button on my alarm clock, patting it a few times until the annoying beep ceases. Whoever created this jarring sound is made of evil. The noise is meant to rouse me from my sleep; instead, it shocks my heart into a faster rhythm and scares the ever-loving crap out of me each time. Even when I’m already awake.
Liam adjusts behind me, showing me that even after all these years, he’s still eager for me. His lips are on my bare shoulder while his fingers dig into the curvature of my hip, pulling me to an angle that is easily accessible for him. There has never been any doubt in my mind, Liam and I were made for each other. One simple touch, a lingering kiss, or a lustful look from him and I’m ready.
I roll over and face him, letting my fingers trace the tattoo of my nickname, and then onto Noah and Betty Paige’s names. The three loves of his life permanently etched over his heart.
“Are you sure you want to leave me?” he asks as he moves over to my pillow.
“It’s only for a week,” I remind him. I play with his five o’clock shadow. He never balked when I told him that Katelyn, Jenna, and I would take a wives’ week in the Bahamas, at least not until last night. He seems to forget that he leaves me often, and each time is worse than the earlier tour. I love having him home, waking up next to him every morning, and falling asleep nestled in his arms. When he’s on tour, I feel lost and alone. I must find things to occupy my time so I’m not constantly texting or calling him, or counting down the days until Paige and I are with him. The cycle of longing starts over again once I leave him.
I thought that my feelings would level off over the years, but that has never been the case. Each day, I find I love him more.
“I know I’m gone a lot, but the thought of you leaving me… it’s killing me, Josie.”
My hand moves from his cheek and into his hair, using the motion to pull him closer until his lips touch mine. My skin pebbles instantly as his hand moves under the comforter and pulls my leg over this hip.
“Can I make love to you?” he breaks away from our kiss long enough to ask me the silliest question ever.
“You never have to ask me. I’m yours, always.”
He pushes my hair behind my ear and leans forward, brushing his lips against mine. “You’re forever my girl, Jojo.”
He bites down on my shoulder as he enters me with slow and steady thrusts, never taking his eyes off mine, even as mine threaten to close, I find myself needing to see him and fight to keep them open.
His lips hover over mine, breathing the same air as me. I moan and he captures my lips, swallowing each sound until he pulls away. “Shh,” he says, reminding me our daughter is down the hall.