“Oh yeah, I planned on it. Trust and believe that,” he says and I smile. I love when Jace says that. “Listen, thanks for calling me. It shows how much you care.”

“I love him.”

“Yeah, I can tell. And thank you. Really. We’ll get y’all taken care of. I just wish he would have told me sooner.”

“He’s so proud, doesn’t want to ask, and thinks he can do it all.”

“Well, he needs to cut that shit out.”

I laugh. “That’s what I said.”

“Okay, well, you take care. I’ll see you at Christmas?”

“Yeah,” I agree and I smile. “Thanks, Jude.”

“Anytime.”

Hanging up the phone, I grin. That went really well. I actually feel good about that. As much as I wish I could have been the one to make Jace feel better, I know his brother can. Which is okay with me. I love his relationship with his family, and I appreciate the help. Getting out of the car, I lock up before heading inside. When I reach my room, I open the door to see Mekena lying on the bed reading, of course.

“Hey, didn’t think you’d be coming back tonight.”

“I can’t stay at the Bullies’ house more than twice a week. Someone outed us.”

“Jerk, probably that douche Markus.”

I shake my head. “He loves me and Jace, even though I’m a bitch to him.”

She smiles. “Thanks.”

“Anytime,” I say, throwing my bag on my bed. “He told me again what he did was a mistake.”

“Yeah, he told me that too when he tried to talk to me yesterday.”

“What did you say?”

“I told him he doesn’t deserve my tears or my time, and I walked away.”

“Good girl,” I say as I take off my shirt and pants, throwing Jace’s sweatshirt to the side. Climbing into my bed, I look over at her. “Do you think you’ll ever forgive him?”

She shrugs. “I don’t know. He slept with my sister.”

“No, I hear you,” I say, holding my hands up. “Just wondering.”

“Yeah, I don’t know,” she says sadly, cuddling deeper into her blankets. “Would you forgive him?”

I shake my head. “Hell no.”

“Yeah.”

“Do you still love him?” I ask, looking over at her, and she nods slowly.

“Unfortunately.” I give her a small smile and she shrugs. “Love sucks.”

“It can,” I agree as I get my guitar and bring it into my lap.

“Not for you, though,” she says with a grin and I smile.

“Nope. I got lucky.”

“You did.”

Nodding to my guitar, I ask, “Will I bother you?”

She shakes her head. “Not at all. I welcome it.”

I smile and then I start to play my song for my baby. Mekena doesn’t know. No one does yet, but that doesn’t stop me from singing this song.

I hear your heartbeat inside me.

So strong.

So fast.

How can I love you?

When I haven’t even met you.

There are no words.

Just the sound

Of your heartbeat.

And I’m complete.

When my phone sounds, I stop playing and get up to get it out of my bag. Sitting back down, I hit the home button to see its Jace.

Jace: Thank you.

Jace: He told me you called him. I needed to talk to him.

Me: I know, you’re welcome.

Jace: Want to meet at the housing office after your first class?

Me: Yeah, 9:20?

Jace: Sounds good. I’ll come right from practice.

Me: Cool. Do you feel better?

Jace: Loads. I have a plan that will work.

Me: Good.

Jace: Have I told you I love you today?

Me: Yeah, but it doesn’t get old.

Jace: I love you, Avery. So much.

Me: I love you too.

I’m late and I totally blame Lucy.

My sister is an awesome designer, but crap, she is slow as hell. Rushing through traffic, the tarp that is covering the back passenger window flaps and I roll my eyes. Stupid car window wouldn’t roll up, but I wouldn’t have this car if it weren’t for Jude, so I’ll take what I can get because Avery and I need separate cars. That girl is busy going downtown for her internship, and I’m working more, along with killing myself on the ice.

But I have to.

Because I never want Avery to worry about anything ever again. I know she said she can handle it, and she probably can, but why should she? It’s been three weeks since my dad fucked me over and Jude called to help. As much as I didn’t want to ask for help, I hadn’t realized how much I needed it until he called. All because of Avery. That girl loves me, and man, I love her. So I have to make her proud. I have to give her everything she wants and needs. Once I sign my contract, and Ralph better hope it’s big, everything will fall into place.

But even right now, as I rush through traffic in a clunker of a car, I’m happy. Our right now is good. We are both working hard, we finally have a place, and now we shouldn’t have to worry about anything else. Well, her parents and douche brother are coming into town, but I have a good feeling about her dad. He’s been texting her, checking on her, and actually trying. Which has been nice. I don’t miss the smile that comes over her face when he texts, but I also don’t miss the way she yearns for her mother. She’s been calling mine a lot, and Lucy. Those women are three peas in a pod and I love it.

But I know she wants her mom.

It kills me, it really does, but what can I do? I don’t even know these people, but I want to help.

I want her to be happy.

And I think she will be when she sees the apartment. Parking my car beside hers, I get out and run inside the coffee shop. She must have been watching the door because when I enter, she smiles as she hits the top of her loop pedal and a sick-ass beat drops. Grinning, I maneuver around the tables to my table in the front. I sit down and she closes her eyes as she sings, her face breaking into a grin as she hits notes that are just mind-blowing.

A part of me wishes she would pursue the singing part. I love her voice, but her anxiety has gotten worse. She’s stopped going to her downtown gigs three times a week. She only goes once a week now, and I told her it was a bad idea since a lot of music people hang out downtown. But she says it freaks her out. It scares me that her anxiety is getting worse, but she showed me an article that said it could happen with the extra hormones that are running through her body. She’s been on top of it, though, and I’m thankful for that.