Page 90 of Rockstar's Accidental Marriage

“She’s going to be so spoiled,” Emily says suddenly, breaking the silence.

I glance at her, raising an eyebrow. “What makes you say that?”

“Because she’s going to be a daddy’s girl,” she replies with a grin.

I chuckle, shaking my head. “I don’t think that’s automatic.”

“Oh, it is,” she says confidently. “Just wait. She’s going to have you wrapped around her little finger in no time at all.”

“Maybe,” I admit with a pleased grin because the thought doesn’t bother me.

We keep walking, the conversation drifting to names, nursery themes, and everything in between. We’re both excited, and it feels like we’re on the same page.

It’s only when we round a bend in the shoreline that we see them—a couple standing by the water’s edge, their hands clasped as they exchange vows. A small group of people gathered around them, their laughter and applause carrying on the breeze.

Emily slows, her gaze fixed on the scene. There’s a wistfulness in her expression that makes my chest ache.

“That’s sweet,” she says softly. “Renewing their vows like that.”

I nod, unsure where this is going.

“Would you ever want to do that?” she asks, turning to look at me.

Her question catches me off guard. I stop walking, my mind scrambling for an answer. “Emphatically, no,” I say, my voice harsher than intended.

Her eyes widen in surprise, and I see the flicker of hurt before she quickly masks it. “Oh,” she says, her tone neutral. “I didn’t realize you felt that way.”

I open my mouth to explain, but the words don’t come. How do I tell her that our wedding—impulsive as it was—meant something to me? And that even though she doesn’t remember it–I do! That I’ve held onto those memories, replaying them in my mind more times than I can count?

Instead, I shrug, trying to play it off. “I just think it’s unnecessary. Once is enough, don’t you think?”

She nods slowly, her gaze dropping to the sand. “Yeah. I guess so.”

The rest of the walk is quiet, and the easy rhythm of our conversation is replaced by tension, which I can feel, but I don’tknow what to do about it. Emily doesn’t say much, and I don’t know how to fix it.

By the time we reach the house, the mood has shifted entirely.

Watching Emily disappear upstairs, the hurt in her eyes haunts me. My body aches to follow her, to explain everything, but the weight of what I can't tell her keeps me rooted in place. The sound of the shower running upstairs feels like a barrier between us.

I know I screwed up. I just don’t know how to make it right.

Twenty-Nine

Emily

Sam’s words from the beach echo in my mind:“Emphatically, no.”

I can’t seem to let them go. The firmness of his answer, the way he didn’t hesitate—it stung more than I care to admit. I keep telling myself it doesn’t matter. Renewing our vows was just a passing thought, something romantic and fun. It’s not like I was planning it. But his response planted seeds of doubt that are quickly taking root.

Does he regret marrying me? Does he even want to stay married?

We’ve come so far, yet it feels like we’ve hit an invisible wall. We’ve both been distant ever since that conversation, andneither of us seems to know how to bridge the gap—if he even wants to. I want to ask him, to push for an explanation, but every time I try, the words stick in my throat.

Instead, I throw myself into work. It’s easier to focus on managing the band than on unraveling whatever mess my marriage has become.

The meeting room is filled with energy as everyone gathers. Cass sits at the head of the table, Kendrick beside him. Luke and Nate are sprawled in their chairs while Vince leans back, looking as if he’d rather be anywhere else. Sam takes a seat across from me, a neutral expression on his face.

“Okay, let’s get started,” I announce, flipping open my notebook. “We have a lot to cover before the next leg of the tour.”

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