Page 70 of How to Catch a Rockstar

He frowns. “There’s more to my story.”

Oh no. What I’ve already heard has been heartbreaking. I don’t know if I can handle more. But I won’t be a wimp. I need to be strong for him. I nod for him to continue.

“When I was thirteen, a girl came to live in the house where I was. She was nine but small for her age. Frail and frightened. She had been living with her aunt, but the aunt died and she had no other relatives. Cindy was adorable. She had the biggest smile. She latched onto me right away. She followed me wherever I went.

The house we were living in wasn’t great. There were too many kids and not enough space or food. When I saw the other kids bullying her, I took her under my wing. I made sure she had enough food and helped her with her homework.”

My heart warms at the image of a thirteen-year-old Jett looking out for an adorable little girl.

“One day I had to stay after school for detention. Cindy wanted to wait for me but hanging around school after hours was asking for trouble. I told her to go back to the house. It was the biggest mistake of my life. When I got there, she was dead.”

My stomach hollows out and I place a protective hand over my bump. “What happened?”

“The other kids were fooling around on the stairs. They dared her to slide down the railing. She was probably afraid to say no. They’d tease her if she didn’t join them. She fell. She hit her head and broke her neck.”

I throw my arms around Jett and hold him close. “It wasn’t your fault.”

He pushes me away and jumps to his feet. “If I had been there, she never would have been fooling around on the stairs.”

I stand and place my hand on his shoulder. “You can’t blame yourself. You were a child yourself.”

“I was thirteen. I was old enough to know better.”

“Listen to yourself. You were thirteen.”

He inhales a deep breath and turns to face me. “This is why I didn’t want to take responsibility for Little Bean. I don’t know how to be a father. I probably shouldn’t be a father.”

I scowl at him. “It wasn’t your fault. I’ll repeat myself until I’m blue in the face.”

He kisses my nose. “Think of the baby.”

“I am. I want Little Bean to have two parents.”

“I said I’m all in and I mean it. I made mistakes in my past, but I don’t want this baby to grow up without a father.”

Warmth fills me. Jett is claiming Little Bean. I won’t have to do this alone.

“Good. We can co-parent.”

He growls. “We’re not co-parenting.”

I retreat a step. “You are not stealing this baby from me.”

“Nope. But there’s no need to co-parent when the parents are together.”

My head rears back. “Together? You and I aren’t together.”

I quash the hope trying to escape. This can’t be real. I must be dreaming.

“We are from now on.”

“And you just decided this on my behalf?”

His smile is smug. “Yep.”

He’s offering me everything I’ve ever wanted, but I still can’t believe it. “What if I don’t want to be with you?”

“I’ll change your mind since you’re the only person I want to be with.”

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