Page 94 of Rockstars, Babies & Happily Ever Afters: Vol. 1

“Sure sounds like the Christmas spirit is in full force with you.” Shaking her head, Jazz bent down to kiss her snoozing son goodbye. “See you later, Dyl. Be good for your daddy.”

“Yeah, you two don’t have any ragers for the half hour we’re at the mall.” Rolling his eyes, Nick followed Jazz outside to her compact sedan.

Once they’d both belted in, he cleared his throat again. “He really doesn’t have a problem with us going shopping?”

Jazz grabbed a tasseled hat from where she’d stuffed it in the visor and pulled it on her head. “No way. He knows you’re in love with Lila.”

“Hang on a second—”

“Don’t even bother arguing it. You don’t have to admit it to us, but we all have eyes. Besides, my husband trusts me.”

“What’s that like?” Nick muttered. “The whole being trusted thing, and being able to be trust in return.”

He supposed he shouldn’t be surprised there was little trust between him and Lila. He was in a famous rock band, and he hadn’t exactly been celibate in the past, though he hadn’t been nearly the manwhore Simon had been either. But he’d definitely enjoyed some of the benefits of being in a new town every night.

And Lila was married. From what he could tell, it was in name only as the marriage had been dead for years, but the fact remained.

No one smart would bet on them. Evidently, not even each other.

“It’s nice. And it’s necessary. You can’t build anything real if your partner doesn’t think you’re as all in as they are. But Gray knows we’re on the same page. Especially since we’re intending to try again later next year, depending how stuff goes with the band.”

“Try what?”

Jazz sighed. “To have another baby.”

Nick shook his head to clear it. Obviously he couldn’t escape into his thoughts very often around Jazz. “What happened to the first one?”

“Lord, you are clueless. Nothing. I just want to be a young mother. We’re hoping to have the first couple close together, then we’ll wait a few years to add on.”

“This one’s just a few months old and you’re already planning more?”

“Yep.”

“And Gray’s cool with this too?” he asked as she zipped into the mall parking lot.

“Sure is. He’d knock me up tomorrow if I said the word. Well, assuming all the cylinders fired correctly. It’s not just a matter of snapping your fingers and boom, embryo.”

“Thank God,” Nick said fervently.

“You just wait.” She craned her neck as she drove up and down the aisles, searching futilely for a space. Apparently all of Southern California had decided to hit the Galleria today. “One day, you’ll look down into your kid’s eyes, and you’ll be sunk just like we are.”

“Some of us aren’t meant to reproduce. Which is a good thing. The planet’s already overpopulated. Exhibit A, all these frigging jerks.” He motioned to the endless rows of cars. “Here I thought I was the only one who hadn’t shopped yet.”

“Hardly. You’ll soon see many men just like yourself, roaming the stores, looking dazed and picking up every piece of crap they can find to try to convince their significant others they actually shopped a while ago.”

“Hey, sexist.”

“Truth. Wait and see.”

“You’re awfully smug. How do you know Gray won’t be sneaking out with the kid to do some last minute shopping?”

“Gray already told me about my gift. He’s having a hot tub installed in the new house.”

“Yeah, right, because that’s just for you.” Nick smirked. “Not like he’ll be getting any use out of it.”

But he was making a note for later. Apparently, it was okay to get a present that benefitted you too, as long as you told someone else it was for them.

Gray was a canny bastard, he had to give him that.

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