Everything (16 page)
Leo
We worked our butts off over the next few weeks, fitting in practices wherever we could. We still had the building to run and a baby to raise, but we were making it happen. Jody and I were staying up late, working on songs after Angel had gone to bed. She was our alarm clock in the mornings, and we’d rush through the day, completing chores together so we could get through them quicker. Any spare time was spent practicing over at my place.
Angel would play on the floor beside us while we rehearsed, and when Jody was busy playing mum, I would tweak the pieces and finish off the orchestral arrangements.
Since Jody had agreed to come sing for me, I couldn’t stop picturing her as Aria—the lead role. She would sing and dance through each of her dream worlds, finally ending up under the bright stage lights. The finale piece would start with her solo, a declaration of independent joy as she claimed her heart’s true desire.
I scrubbed out my scribble with the eraser on the back of my pencil and reworked the line, playing the notes and mumbling the lyrics, trying to perfect the piece before playing it to Jody.
“Okay, we gotta go.” Knocking had ceased between us. Our two apartments had become like one with a big hallway in between them. My place was for work, and Jody’s was for play.
I winked at her as she stood in the entranceway, Angel on her hip and a baby bag slung over her shoulder.
“Don’t stress, foxy pants. It’s going to be okay.” I placed my pencil down and stood from the piano stool.
“That’s easy for you to say, we’re not heading to your father’s house right now.”
Grabbing the car keys off the hook, I placed my hand on the side of her face and forced her to look at me. “He’s going to be proud of you. You’re heading to New York to sing on a stage. Isn’t that what he wanted?”
“Yeah,” she sighed. “But I’m still nervous about telling everybody.”
“Well, we have to tell them today. We leave for New York next week.”
“I know.” She nodded.
“They’ll probably be just as excited as Ella was. I wouldn’t worry about it.”
“Ella’s the most supportive human being on the planet, she gets excited for everybody. It’s Morgan I’m worried about. Miss Practicality can be a real buzz-kill when it comes to this kind of thing.”
Grabbing Jody’s hand, I led my two girls to the lift, humming “Dream Big” as I went.
Jody’s chuckle was dry as we descended to the parking garage beneath the building, but she didn’t tell me to shut up. By the time she was buckling Angel into her carseat, we were both singing the words.
Music accompanied us all the way to the Pritchett house. It helped us both fight the jitters as we made our way across town. Unfortunately, by the time we pulled into Pasadena, the music was having little effect. This was the first time I’d been to the Pritchett home, and I was going there to announce that I was taking their two youngest family members across the other side of the country and I wasn’t exactly sure when we’d be back. This could go two ways—utter elation for our success or total shock. I was hoping like anything we’d get the first.
We stopped outside the front door and looked at each other.
“You ready for this?” I asked Jody as Angel struggled in my arms, stretching for the door, desperate to get inside.
Jody laughed at her daughter’s antics and nodded. “Yeah, you’re right, it’s going to be fine. Dad will be happy that I’m pursuing this. It’s what he wants.”
I bent down and pressed my lips against hers. “It’s what
we
want and that’s the most important thing.”
Her bobbing head was accompanied with a nervous smile as she opened the door and stepped inside. “Hey, everyone!”
“Hey!” The calls came from all over the house, people merging into the living area.
Morgan’s grin was enormous as she lifted Angel out of my arms and greeted her niece. Sean leaned behind Morgan’s shoulder and made the baby laugh with a quick game of peek-a-boo. It was kind of funny watching the enigmatic superstar act like an idiot.
Grandma Deb wrapped Jody in a hug then proceeded to squeeze the life out of me. I patted her on the back and kissed her cheek.
“Nice to see you, too, Deb.” I nodded.
Jody squeezed my hand and led me to the couch. Everyone’s attention was on Angel, Morgan and Grandma Deb taking turns asking Jody a bunch of questions about how she was doing. No one noticed Marshall amble in. No one except me. I felt his searing gaze on me the second he walked into the room.
I glanced up, refusing to fear the guy. From everything Jody had told me, he was being really harsh on his younger daughter. I was wise enough to know that buried hurts were probably fueling his reaction, but I was really hoping that today’s news might ease the load for him a little.
“G’day, Mr. Pritchett.” I rose from the couch and extended my hand.
He reluctantly took it, grunting a greeting at me.
Jody rolled her eyes when I sat down. I rubbed her back, silently reminding her to not get aggravated by her father’s less-than-friendly attitude. It wouldn’t matter shortly. We’d be on the other side of the country anyway.
“Dinner should be in about half an hour.” Morgan bobbed Angel on her knee. “Does she need feeding first or anything?”
“No, I fed her just before we left. She’ll be due for bed in a couple of hours, so dinner in thirty works well.”
“Okay.” Morgan’s smile grew tight as she eyed her sister. Her head tipped to the side, her eyes narrowing. I felt Jody stiffen beneath my hand before Morgan asked, “What’s up with you?”
“Nothing.” Jody frowned.
“Oh, Jody!” Marshall spat.
Her head whipped around to look at him, her eyes wide.
“You’re pregnant again, aren’t you!”
Our lips parted in unison; I could see it out of the corner of my eye. A spark of anger flared through me, but Jody spoke before I could say what I really thought.
“No, Dad, I’m not! But thanks for your vote of confidence.”
He humphed, slumping back in his chair.
Jody’s jaw shook as she blinked at her tears, and I couldn’t just sit there and watch it happen. Threading my fingers through hers, I sat up a little straighter and looked her father right in the eye.
“Actually, we’ve got some really exciting news.”
Morgan shot a glance at Sean before going statue-still, her neck muscles straining tight.
Jody squeezed my hand, her smile quivering when I gazed down at her.
“Leo’s musical that he’s been working on...” Her smile grew, pride beaming from her eyes. I winked at her, adoring the way she was looking at me. “He’s been invited to audition in New York. A Broadway producer is interested in it.”
“Aw, that’s cool. Congratulations, man.” Sean’s smile was genuine. I knew he’d get it.
“So, what’s that got to do with you?” Marshall’s cold-water tone made me stiffen.
I looked back at him. “Jody’s going to perform the songs for me. If they like what they hear, we’ve been invited to stay and work with a team on completing the musical and turning it into a Broadway hit.”
“You’re moving to New York?” Morgan’s quiet question held none of the enthusiasm we were hoping for. Her long fingers gripped her niece, her face paling at the news.
“Yeah, Morgan.” Jody swallowed. “It’s a great opportunity.”
“What about Angel?” She frowned.
“She’s coming with us, of course.”
“Who’s going to look after her?”
“I am.” Jody pointed at herself. “I only need to find care for her during the audition, and Leo’s godfather knows a few families who are willing to help us out.”
“You’d leave Angel with total strangers?” Marshall barked.
“Well, they’re not strangers. I mean, we can trust them.”
“How do you know that?”
“I—I obviously wouldn’t leave her with someone I don’t feel comfortable with! I’m not that bad of a mother! This is a great opportunity for me, and we can make it work. I thought you’d be happy.” She pointed at her father. No one could miss the shake in her finger.
“How am I supposed to be happy about this?”
“Because I’m pursing my...dreams. I—” Jody flicked her hand in the air, letting out a disgusted scoff. “You are unbelievable!”
Marshall threw her a deadpan glare before shaking his head and rising from his seat. Hitching his pants, he walked out of the room.
Jody’s face pinched tight. Shooting out of her chair, she stomped after him. I decided to stay put, figuring we’d be able to hear everything anyway.
I was right.
“I can’t win with you! What do you want from me!” Jody shouted at her father.
“I want you to be happy, Jo-Jo! I want you to get everything you deserve out of this life. I don’t want you to end up like your mother.”
“Which is why I am chasing my dreams!”
“Yeah, to New York! With my granddaughter! Going all the way to the other side of the country with no family support. What if it doesn’t work out with this guy? What are you going to do then?”
“It’s going to work out, Dad.”
“You barely know him!”
“I know him well enough to be in love with him.”
Sean caught my eye, giving me a small congratulatory smile, but it was quickly dampened by Marshall’s booming voice.
“Oh, like you were in love with the last guy? What’s to say this one isn’t gonna knock you up and leave you, too!”
“Leo is not like that, he’d never do that to me.”
“This is a stupid idea, Jody!”
“Yeah, well, it’s
my
stupid idea and I’m doing it!”
I stood from the couch the moment Jody returned. Her cheeks were flushed pink, her nostrils flaring. Storming past her grandmother, she grabbed Angel out of Morgan’s hand. The baby started crying immediately, making the tension a million times worse.
“Let’s get out of here,” Jody snapped at me.
Lifting the baby bag onto my shoulder, I shot an apologetic smile at Grandma Deb. She waved her hand as if she’d seen it all before.
Morgan, to my surprise, didn’t say a word. She sat on the couch looking shell-shocked while Sean squeezed her shoulder. His expression was glum, his eyes filling with sympathy as I followed my irate girlfriend out to the car.
Oh, man, I had a really long night on my hands.
Jody
I didn’t talk the whole way home. I couldn’t. We walked into the apartment as a subdued threesome. Angel had picked up on my mood before we even left Pasadena, crying and fussing the entire car trip. All I wanted was to settle her down and get her into bed.
I checked my watch and walked toward the bathroom. “I’m just going to bathe her.”
“Sounds good,” Leo murmured.
I hated that he was being so quiet. I wanted him to cheer me up, not mirror my mood! This would be the most depressing night ever if one of us didn’t snap out of it!
I forced a cheery tone while I bathed my baby. She perked up a little as I splashed my fingers in the warm water. She giggled, pumping her arms up and down. I let her play in the shallow water as I leaned against the edge of the tub and watched her.
Tears scorched my eyes. I couldn’t believe Dad was being such a jackass about this whole thing. His lack of faith in me stung like a hornet. He wanted me to be happy but didn’t trust me enough to encourage me to make that happen for myself. How long was he going to punish me for sleeping with Stefan? Why couldn’t he see how awesome Leo was? How great this opportunity was for Leo
and
me.
Water droplets hit my face and I squinted, brushing them off my cheek. Angel giggled and hit the water again. I forced a smile, tipping her nose with my wet finger. She grabbed at it, looking at me with her adoring blue eyes.
I grinned, opening my mouth and singing a soft, slow version of “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” my mind wandering back to a vague memory from over a decade ago.
Dad’s soft voice hummed, the sweet tune growing as we walked along the street. I brushed the reckless curls off my face, grinning up at him as he squeezed my fingers and sang, “I Want To Hold Your Hand.”
We reached the crosswalk and he stopped singing.
“Daddy, why do you sing to me all the time?”
“Because I love the way your eyes light up every time you hear music. It’s in your soul, just like it’s in mine, and your mom’s.”
“Do you think I’ll sound as good as her one day?”
“Oh, yeah, Jo-Jo. I think so.”
“Will you guys come and watch me when I’m up on stage singing?”
“I’ll be in the front row, sunshine.”
And he had been...for every single one of my performances in high school. He’d beamed with pride, that low-lying sadness he lived with shut away for the night.
A tear slid down my cheek. I hurried to brush it away before Angel noticed. I was so like my mother. Would going to New York turn me into her? Would I end up leaving my baby for the stage?
“No,” I whispered, determination coursing through me. I wasn’t going to be like that. I was going to have both! If Mom had had the chance to pursue her dreams, she never would have left us!
I would have sat in the front row for her, and Angel could sit in the front row for me...until she was on a stage of her own.
I kept up my singing, finding the memory eerily comforting as I settled my daughter to bed. I stayed with her until her long lashes were resting on her chubby cheeks and my heart was suitably melted.
Creeping into my room, I found Leo shirtless on my bed, a sight that did completely different things to my heart. I gave him a soft smile, unable to hide the lingering sadness from my evening.
Taking off my watch, I laid it down on my bedside table.
“We don’t have to go to New York.”
My eyes shot to his, a frown denting my forehead. “You’re not throwing away this chance, Leo. I don’t care what my family says.” Actually not true at all. I just didn’t want to care. I ignored the disappointment trying to munch on my insides and murmured, “We’ll make it work, remember?”
Moving from his spot on the bed, he came toward me, rising to his knees so our faces were aligned. “I’ll look after you and Angel, Jo. I promise.”
“I know.” I tucked a lock of floppy hair behind his ear and ran my fingers through his stubble. I wanted to think of something cheerful to say, some way to banish my father’s bitter words, but I had nothing.
Pressing my lips together, I sniffed. “I don’t suppose you have a song for this situation, do you?”
A half grin pushed at Leo’s lips, his eyes dancing as he reached back for his phone.
Damn, he was hot. Seeing his body stretched over my bed like that was distraction enough. Maybe I didn’t need a song. The idea of using sex to drive away my sadness sounded pretty perfect.
“I have a few, actually.” Leo sat back up, keeping his eyes on his phone and totally missing the fact I was pulling my clothes off and throwing them onto the floor. “Do you want something sad so you can keep crying, or do you want something to cheer you—”
His eyes caught me, rounding slightly at my near-naked form. His dopey smile was delicious as his gaze roved my body. I loved the little awe-filled smile he got on his face when he looked at me, like he’d never seen anything so beautiful.
“Don’t worry about it,” he croaked. “I’ve found the perfect song for us.”
“A song for us? As in
our
song?”
“Come on, foxy pants.” He tipped his head with a
get real
look that made me smile. “As if you and I could have just
one
song.”
I leaned forward, pressing my breasts against his naked chest. A smile tugged at his lips, his eyes sparking with hunger as he wove his hand around my waist, his feather-light touch traveling up my spine.
“This is just a very reusable song, because it’s the truth.” His voice was husky as he pressed the screen and placed his phone next to my watch.
“You Make Me Happy” by Lindsey Ray started playing.
I grinned, loving the sweet sound. My hips started swaying, my insides trilling. Leo was right; this song was perfect for us. It’s like the writer had read my mind, coming up with the perfect lyrics for our relationship.
Leo’s eyes drank me in, the pads of his fingers skimming down my naked back. Our smiles kissed, a warm heat swimming through me as his tongue found mine. Cupping my butt, Leo flopped onto the bed, pulling me on top of him and chasing away all my sorrow with his tender kisses. His light caress sent my senses into orbit, and it was easy to believe that as long as we were together, everything would be okay.