Page 94 of From Us, Forever

Jay- Who the fuck cares!? I say we practice all next week ;) We need to make sure the baby is conceived properly, and I’ve heard it takes lots and lots of practice.

Evy- There is no proper way. It’s just sperm meeting egg. Dork.

Jay- But still we need to make sure they meet, right place, right time and all.

Evy- I think this is the weirdest conversation a woman has ever had with a man when she asks him for babies.

Jay- I think it’s perfectly valid, but how did your meeting go?

Evy- Hmm, fine.

Jay- Just fine?

Evy- Yeah, I’ll tell you tomorrow.

Jay- Okay. Are you in bed?

Evy- Yes, I’m about to fall asleep any moment.

Jay- Good night, then, sweetheart. I’ll see you tomorrow.

Evy- Love you, Jay.

JAY

The cold midnight air greeted me when Tyler picked us up from the airfield. I shot a quick text to my girl that I had arrived. I couldn’t wait to see her, but chances are she was already asleep.

I was exhausted. I loved my job, but shows and events outside the tour seasons drained me.

On the road, I had time to prepare and mentally ready myself. The high of being on stage kept me going, and doing continuous shows didn’t bother me. There wasn’t anything like it—well, except for when I was with my girl, nothing compared to being with my girl.

But this one-off gig here and there got to me. Although not as much as it used to.

Back in the day, we used to do this every single fucking day while the label used us to add to their fat bank account.

Now, we had pure control of our lives with the worries of the past behind us, I welcomed this exhaustion—it was the good kind.

Matty had to smack Mikey awake when we arrived at Blueline.

Mikey moaned, wiping the drool off his face, and blinked before punching Matty on the arm. Sierra’s attention snapped from the window and toward Mikey. She immediately started to have a verbal fight with him while Raphael—fucker—cheered on them. They both tagged along for the show. Matty said it was a learning step for Raphael. I knew that kid was talented, but he lacked discipline. Knowing Matty, it wasprobably a living hell for him every day with those two or maybe just one of them, given his subtle protectiveness toward Sierra. He tried to hide it, but it was obvious.

Not caring for their ruckus, I nodded to Tyler and set out toward the elevator. Nothing else mattered more than being back with my girl.

As soon as I stepped into the apartment, I knew something was weird. Frowning, I dropped my bag and trudged farther, the strong scent of something sweet wafted in the air. Did Evelyn leave on her scented candles again? I told her repeatedly not to do that, considering how dangerous it was.

My eyes widened when I landed at the foot of the living room. Every single light was off, and the room was illuminated in a soft golden glow from the hundreds of candles arranged everywhere.

“I thought I’d surprise you,” a soft, melodic voice called out from the corner.

My head snapped to the side, and my pulse thundered at the sight. The flicker of the gilded lights bathed her skin, shining her curvy silhouette under her silky, almost transparent pink babydoll dress. She had her hair done, and subtle makeup hinted at her soft, beautiful features.

I swallowed a breath, the earlier exhaustion dissipating from my body as my feet stepped toward her on their own accord.

She looked breathtakingly sexy—Evelyn was never the one to dress sexy or daring. She chose comfort and elegance over it, so I wondered what was the occasion.

“For what?” I asked, tucking a strand of her velvet hair behind her ear.

“Just a way to say I appreciate my man—a lot,” she whispered, hooking her hands behind my neck.

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