Page 86 of Rumor Has It

Isaiahs’s watch alarm buzzes a while later. He silences it. The shades are drawn and the room is dark other than the flickering of the electric candles. He gets out of bed, pulling his pants on and the covers over me. Having lost track of time, I think he’s gone to the restroom at the front of the bus, and he’ll come back. I sink into the mattress.

When I wake up, it seems like a few minutes have passed. I tug my clothes into place and open the door. Monty sits cross-legged on the leather sofa in the front lounge, reading.

I place my hand on my forehead, apologizing, “I must’ve overslept.”

“Isaiah didn’t want to wake you. Tonight’s a big night. He hasn’t played an arena since before the shit hit the fan.”

“Oh.” A better girlfriend would have put that on her radar. But parts of the music industry are still foreign to me.

I look into the baby’s safe bunk and then around for Aria.

“Lil miss went with him for the sound check.”

“She did?” I swallow hard.

“Yep. The band is rehearsing and lighting techs are getting the timing nailed down for the new songs. I was supposed to wake you and take you over there if you hadn’t woken up by now.”

“Well, I’m ready.” I snag my pass from where it now hangs from a hook on the wall.

Nerves get the best of me as Monty escorts me into the venue. I’m here as Aria’s parent, so it’s time I act like it. We move inside a maze from one concrete hall passageway to the next. I might need a map to bring Aria back to the bus. I hear unfamiliar music stop. Isaiah speaks to someone. He wants the last chords played. The melody begins anew.

Monty pushes a thick black curtain to the side and I see Isaiah and Aria and my heart swells. Isaiah has the baby strapped to him in the front carrier. She is wearing her pink noise-canceling earphones, kicking her legs while he shows her the count of the beat with his fingers. The baby is so excited, and the smile Isaiah has on is the one I see on his face as he watches her reach her age-adjusted milestones. He loves Aria as if she’s his own and I get to bear witness to what a fantastic father he’s becoming.

But it’s when Isaiah and I lock eyes and he brings the microphone to his lips that I understand that what’s happening isn’t all about her.

He looks straight at me, belting out the refrain.

Hold onto my hand. Let’s see where this takes us.

Let me give you my heart. I think love can lead us home.

Chapter Thirty-four

It seems reclusive country sensation Isaiah Roomer spent the winter getting cozy with his personal chef… Sources close to the singer say he is dating the single mother, who has joined him on tour along with her infant daughter.

ISAIAH

“Mom, to what do I owe the pleasure?” I say, answering my mother’s call using my laptop.

I smile when Cassidy places a plate on the table. Bacon and eggs. Two slices of toasted sourdough baked from scratch and leftover from yesterday’s lunch.

“Thanks,” I mouth, reaching for my knife and the tub of roasted red pepper butter. I woke up hungry and don’t wait to dig in.

“You’re welcome,” Cass whispers, returning to the counter to plate Monty and Dillon’s breakfasts as the toaster pops.

Like every other location we’ve arrived at, come daybreak Cassidy insists on feeding a hearty meal to whomever has traveled on the bus.

“Don’t play coy, dear,” my mother scoffs.

“We’ll take these outside.” Monty lifts from his seat and Dillon slides over in the booth.

“Stay, eat,” I tell them. I can’t say anything to my mother that anyone else hasn’t already figured out.

I’m momentarily distracted by Aria. Her travel high chair attaches to the table. She takes a bite of sourdough and spits it out, blowing a raspberry. I chuckle, place some of my scrambled eggs on her tray for her to squish between her tiny fingers and return my attention to my mom.

On the screen, her perfectly manicured eyebrow rises as high as her meticulously dyed roots.

“You were calling to say congratulations?” I inquire.

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