I have to remember that.

“Let’s just take it one day at a time,” Jace says, and I look over at him. “One thing at a time. You know? Everything will work out. I know that for sure.”

Leaning over, I press my lips to his as his hands come up, tangling in my hair. Pulling back, I press my nose to his and agree. “Okay.”

“I’ll do the same. I probably need to start going to yoga or something. Do they have prenatal yoga?”

My brows pull together. “What? Why?”

“If I’m seeing that douche-fucker of a brother of yours in a little under a month’s time—which, by the way, how did I not know we were playing him?”

“You’ve been distracted,” I supply with a grin and he nods.

“I have, but anyway, if I’m seeing him, then damn it, I need to find my happy place and not kill my new brother-in-law.”

I smile. “Good plan. The commissioner might frown on that, Sinclair.”

“I thought so too, Sinclair,” he says with a grin, kissing my lips. “Now go write some songs and be awesome.”

“Aren’t I always?”

“Of course,” he says as I get out. Before shutting the door, I bend down, meeting his gaze. “I’ll text when I’m ready.”

“Cool, see you in a bit.”

Shutting the door, I tuck my hands into my pockets and rush to the door to head up the stairs to Jelly Records. As I start to climb, my phone sounds and I pull it out to see it’s from Jace.

Confused, I open the text and smile.

Jace: I love you.

As I type back the same, I can’t help but laugh.

It’s so funny how things change in the blink of an eye.

Three months ago, I wanted to be a star.

I didn’t want any man, and I sure as hell didn’t want to trust anyone.

Now, I just want to love this guy and my baby.

Crazy.

I didn’t want to do this.

I still don’t.

But I don’t think I have any other option.

I have to take care of Avery.

Swallowing hard, I stare at my phone.

Damn it.

Maybe I should call Jude. See what he thinks. But I know what he’ll say. It’s the same thing Jayden and Lucy will say too. No, I can’t call them. They wouldn’t understand. They have good jobs; they haven’t felt the complete and utter failure I’m feeling. Plus, I know they’ll try to throw money at me, and I don’t want their money. I don’t want to owe anyone anything.

No, there is only one option.

Dialing my dad’s number, I wait for him to answer. I haven’t talked to him much in a while, and he doesn’t even know Avery is pregnant. I don’t know, I just didn’t think he needed to know, which might bite me in the ass now.

“Son, I was seriously about to call you,” he says with a laugh. “I just got the craziest email.”

I pause. “Yeah? What about?”

“Avery,” he says and I pause.

“What about her?”

“Well, I guess she’s at the studio with Stu. And he emailed me razzing me about being a grandpa again. I was confused, ’cause I didn’t know I was going to be a grandpa.”

“Wow, okay. Because that’s the reason I’m calling,” I laugh, but he doesn’t laugh with me.

“So, it’s true?”

“Yeah, she’s pregnant and we got married,” I say simply, and he draws in a sharp breath.

“Well, then.”

“Yeah,” I say, letting out a breath. “Sudden, I know. But it was just right.”

“All right, wow. I’m surprised by all of this.” He pauses and I hear him shuffling papers. “Not to sound like a dick, but you’re sure it’s yours?”

“Yeah, I know it is.”

“Being who you are, Jace, I wouldn’t put it past anyone to try to—”

“Dad, it’s mine. She wouldn’t do that anyway. She isn’t that kind of person,” I say, shutting that down.

“I didn’t mean to offend you.”

“Then don’t ever say that again, okay?”

“Okay,” he says simply. “I guess congratulations are in order?”

“Thanks.”

“You should let me take you out, celebrate.”

“Um, yeah, sure,” I say, but I have no intention of going. I just don’t want to piss him off before I ask for what I called for. “Listen, the reason I was calling was to tell you. And also to ask if there is any way you can change my trust fund from me getting it when I turn twenty-one to me getting it now.”

I wait for him to say something, but all I hear is papers moving. As seconds pass, I start to panic. This was my only plan, the only idea I had that was going to make everything easier on us. “Um, the reason is the family dorms on campus are full, and I can’t use my scholarship money on an off-campus apartment. Plus, it costs so much more. I could get more hours at the coffee shop, but I’m already so tired and shit. I really need the money, Dad, so if you could change it, that would be great.”

Sucking in a deep breath, he lets it out as I wait. God, this is demoralizing. “Listen, son, let’s talk about it over dinner, okay?”

“What?” I ask, my heart jumping into my throat. “Can’t you just say yes and do it?”

He laughs. “Yeah, but I want to talk this through. Make sure you are making the right choice.”

“I am—”

“I’m gonna have Francesca text you where dinner will be. Six okay?”

“Um…” God, I don’t want to go. “Yeah, that’s fine. Avery gets off at five thirty, so that works great.”

“Wonderful, I can hug my new daughter-in-law,” he says with a cheerful laugh, and it just doesn’t feel right. Something is off. Fuck. “So I’ll see you soon, then.”

“Okay.”

When the line goes dead, I’m pretty sure I just agreed to meet with the devil.

When Avery comes out of the building, I smile and wave as she rushes to the car. Getting in, she slams the door shut before leaning over to kiss me. “I wrote the most gorgeous song for our baby.”

“Really?” I ask, kissing her again.

“Yes, it’s called ‘Heartbeat.’”