Music of the Soul (3 page)

“You are too adorable,” she said, before leaning up to kiss me.

“It’s not funny,” I argued feebly. When Abby’s warm lips covered mine, I decided to shut the

fuck up and not argue with her anymore. Knowing that she was trying to start something up again, I

reluctantly pulled away. “You need to get ready.”

“Are you sure?” When I nodded, she sighed. “Okay then. To be continued tomorrow night?”

I smiled. “Oh yes.” I leaned over and pressed my lips to hers. “Love you.”

“Love you, too,” she murmured.

When I exited the bathroom, I kept my eyes glued to the hardwood floors. “Jake?”

Shit. It was AJ. “Yeah?” I questioned still not glancing up.

“What’s this I hear about you ogling Mia’s boobs?”

I jerked my head up to glare at him. “Excuse me?” I demanded.

Mia smacked AJ’s arm. “You’re such an ass!”

He grinned at her and then back at me. “I’m just screwing with you, man. Mia and I don’t give

two shits about what happened.”

As I took a step toward him, he motioned down to where he balanced Bella on his hip. “Easy

now.”

“Using a baby as your shield? You’re such a pussy.” When I glanced at Bella, who was giving

me a toothless smile, I grimaced. “Sorry for the p-word.”

“It’s okay. He deserved a lot worse,” Mia replied with a grin.

“I gotta go get ready,” I said, as I motioned to the door.

“I’ll walk you out,” AJ said. He glanced at Mia. “Do you need any help getting Bella ready?”

“We’ll be fine. Of course, if you want to go get changed and come back to get her while I’m

getting ready, that would be wonderful.”

AJ smiled. “Anything for you, amorcito mio.”

“Thanks, baby.”

I snickered as I went out the door. “What?” AJ demanded behind me.

“I just never thought I would see the day that you were completely and totally whipped.”

“Oh yeah, well, I could say the same damn thing about you,” he countered.

I skidded to a stop in the hallway, causing AJ to bump into me. “Oh God, we’ve become the

dudes we used to make fun of, haven’t we?”

He winced. “Yeah, I think so.”

With a sigh, I added, “We probably owe Brayden an apology for ragging his ass all these years.”

AJ grinned. “Nah, no use in letting him know he was right. It’ll just inflate his head even more.”

Poking his head in the hallway, Brayden said, “I heard that, dickweeds.”

“Dammit,” I groaned, as we came into the living room.

Brayden rolled his eyes. “Whatever. Like I didn’t already know I was right, and you two

shitheads were wrong,” he scoffed.

“Daddy, what’s a shithead?” Melody asked.

As Brayden flushed, AJ and I busted out laughing. He glanced up to narrow his eyes at us.

“Laugh now. Your time is coming.” He pointed to AJ. “Especially you.”

I laughed at AJ’s grimace. I could only imagine he was thinking of how bad his potty-mouth was,

along with Mia’s. If Bella’s first word was a cuss word, I wouldn’t be surprised. “Well, on that note,

I’m going to run upstairs and get ready. See you guys in a few?”

Brayden nodded while AJ replied, “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

After Jake left me partially sexed-up with no finish in the bathroom, I slipped into the cold shower

that I knew was in order to get me through the night. As I lathered up my hair, I could barely contain

the excitement that bubbled within me when I thought about my wedding day. I was probably most

excited about the honeymoon, which for me wasn’t just about the sex. It would be the first time that

Jake and I were actually alone together. The last few months had been so hectic with our touring

schedule. Since my brothers wanted to cut a new album, most of my free time was spent working on

material with them. Even though I’d helped Jake write I’ll Take You with Me, I still felt like a total

and complete newbie when it came to songwriting. Luckily, Micah was willing to lend his skills to

our cause.

While I was spending late nights at the studio, Jake and Runaway Train were also working on

their next album. Considering the last one had been Grammy winning, the pressure was on to make the

next album even bigger. So, between the touring and the albums, we rarely had time when it was just

the two of us. And while we would only have a week alone together, I planned on making the most of

every single second.

After I finished showering, I got out and toweled off. Grabbing my robe off the door, I slipped

into the silky material. At the sound of a squeal in the bedroom, I grinned and padded over to the

door. When I opened it, I saw Bella on the bed with Mia bent over her. As Mia blew raspberries on

Bella’s naked belly, Bella giggled and kicked her feet. Mia pulled away to cock her head. “Now can

we put on your pretty dress without you pitching a hissy fit?”

Bella replied with a coo and a wave of her arms. Mia glanced over her shoulder at me. “I’m

putting her in the one you gave her at her baptism.”

I smiled. “She’ll look beautiful in it, I’m sure.” I had been both surprised and honored when Mia

and AJ had asked me to be Bella’s godmother. I felt there were other more deserving family

members, especially AJ’s sister. But Mia had insisted. So four months ago I’d stood with AJ’s

brother, Antonio, at the altar of Christ the King as Bella was baptized. Among several gifts I’d gotten

her was a dress I’d hoped she’d be wearing to her parent’s rehearsal dinner since it was lacy and

frilly. But it looked like she was going to be debuting it at mine since Mia and AJ weren’t getting

married for another four months.

“Sorry about Jake freaking out like that on you,” I said, as I toweled my hair.

Mia adjusted the enormous lavender bow on Bella’s head. “It’s okay. I’m surprised it didn’t

happen to him sooner like it did to Rhys when we were out on tour.”

“Oh no. Did he have a similar reaction?”

Mia laughed. “Worse. He ran into the wall trying to get away from me.”

“Seriously?” I asked.

“Sadly, yes.” With a smile, she shook her head. “Men spend their lives being obsessed with

boobs, and then the moment a baby is attached to it, they lose their minds.”

I grinned. “I know, right?”

“Well, when it’s all said and done, I’m really, really sorry that I interrupted you two.” She

winked at me. “You guys looked pretty hot and heavy there.”

“It’s okay.” When Mia gave me a ‘yeah right’ look, I shook my head. “Trust me, it was fine.

Besides, Jake was trying to break my resolve on abstaining until our wedding night.”

Mia’s dark brows furrowed in confusion. “Excuse me?”

“Oh, I decided to make our wedding night special, we wouldn’t have sex for a week before the

wedding.”

“Hmm, maybe I should torture AJ with that in a few months.”

I laughed. “Why not?”

She grinned. “Considering we’ve already done everything backwards, I don’t think we need to

worry about our wedding night being very special. In the end, you make your special moments, and

they usually happen when you go off the script.”

“The script?”

“Oh, you know. The life script—the way you’ve meticulously planned out how everything is

going to happen in your life.” Mia picked up Bella. As she stared into her daughter’s face, pure love

emanated in her eyes. “My life script never would have ever included AJ. I mean, a rock star? Who in

their right mind would want to marry someone who lives a rootless existence on the road with

beautiful women constantly throwing themselves at their feet?” She snorted. “Not me, that’s for damn

sure. But that’s where I was wrong. And when I decided to just screw the script, that’s when I found

the truest of loves and the greatest of happiness.”

“I see what you mean.” I’d been pretty rigid with my life script lately, and I couldn’t help

wondering if it was for the best. “Maybe I should go to Jake tonight after the party,” I murmured.

Mia adjusted Bella on her hip. “And finish what you started?” she asked with a sly smile.

“Oh yes.”

She grinned. “I think that sounds like a wonderful idea.” She then motioned to the bathroom.

“Now go finish getting ready so you can put this plan in motion.”

I laughed. “Yes, ma’am,” I replied, before hurrying to the closet for my dress.

At a few minutes past six, Jake and I made our way down the hillside to the tent. It was already

teeming with people as waiters in white jackets hurried about serving hors d’oeuvres. With a

champagne flute in my hand, I weaved in and out of the tables as I tried to greet each and every one of

our guests. “Don’t you look like a living dream?” Frank complimented when I came to the table full of

Runaway Train roadies and their families.

I glanced down at my dress. I had picked a white, strapless, Grecian-styled dress with a

glittering bodice for tonight’s party. Around my throat were Susan’s pearls. As I turned to the side, I

asked, “You like it?”

“It’s beautiful, but you’re even more beautiful in it.”

“Aw, you’re too sweet.” I leaned over and kissed his cheek, which earned hoots and hollers

from the men.

“Hey, now, save some loving for me,” Jake teased from behind us.

“Fine, fine, you can have some too,” I replied, before kissing his cheek.

“Thanks, Angel,” Jake murmured with a wink. As he stayed joking with the guys, I moved on

since dinner would be served promptly at seven. While I chatted and laughed with friends and family,

there was one table that I kept putting off going to, and that was the one where Jake’s father and

stepmother were seated. Taking a long gulp of my champagne, I bit the bullet by plastering on my best

smile.

“Hey, how are you guys?”

Jake’s stepmother, Nancy, returned my smile. “Great, thank you. Don’t you look exquisite?”

“Thank you.”

“I can’t wait to see what your dress looks like tomorrow,” Nancy said.

“It’s a little more poofy than this one,” I replied with a smile. When I turned to address Jake’s

dad, Mark, he stared expectantly at me.

“Can I talk to you for a moment?” Mark asked.

I couldn’t help nibbling on my bottom lip before I responded. “Um, sure.”

When he rose out of his chair, I couldn’t hide my surprise. “I thought it would be better to

discuss this alone,” he said in a low voice.

“Okay,” I replied. With his hand at the small of my back, Mark eased me away from the crowded

tables to the outside of the tent. He made sure we were out of earshot from the others before he spoke.

“Abby, I just want you to know that I couldn’t be more pleased that Jake has found a girl like you to

settle down with.”

“Thank you,” I said, hesitantly. I knew from his tone and expression, there was a lot more Mark

wanted to say.

With a ragged sigh, he gave me a tight smile. “Because of the woman you are, I know if there’s

anyone who can mend the relationship between myself and Jake, it’s you.”

My eyes widened. “I think you flatter me a little too much.”

“Jake values your opinion more than anyone else’s. Ever since Susan died, he’s cut himself off

even further from me.” He shook his head sadly. “I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve made mistakes in

my life. But I love my son, and I want to be a part of his life. Please, Abby, please try and talk to