The Rocker That Savors Me(56)

He gave me another pouty look, but I was ready for it this time and pushed him off toward his band brothers where they were standing talking to Jared Moreitti and Axton Cage. Turning, I started gathering some items for a baby game. There were people spread around the patio and by the pool, and I went around handing out little pencils and paper to everyone who wanted to play.

I glanced Emmie’s way and found her laughing with Melissa Shepard and Rich Branson’s assistant who had come in his place. I had lucked out there, because Jesse had said I had to invite their manager, but that Emmie and Rich didn’t get along. I was glad to see that Emmie was happy and that I was able to give her something that she had wanted but hadn’t been able to ask for.

As I finished passing out the game I stopped by Lana who was sitting at a table talking to Vince Shepard and Drake. I touched her shoulder to get her attention, and she grinned up at me. “Ready?” she asked.

I nodded and gave her the piece of paper. My sister spent the next thirty minutes being the master of games. Everyone was laughing and Emmie was having so much fun. I watched from the corner as everyone played game after game. Everyone won something, and even Drake was laughing when the games were over.

After the games came the presents, and Emmie struggled through, trying not to cry as she unwrapped each gift. There were clothes, bottles, diapers, blankets, bibs, toys, and a list of other items that brought tears to Emmie’s eyes. Lana had even helped the guys pick out a present earlier that morning for them to give to her: a portable swing that played classic lullabies. I waited until she had unwrapped the last gift before I brought out my own present for her.

Jesse had to carry it out for me, and Emmie gave up the struggle and burst into tears when she saw the cradle that I had bought her. It was hand crafted with butterflies, bees, and flowers in the carvings. I had known as soon as I saw it that it was perfect for Emmie.

By the time everyone had had a piece of cake, I was exhausted. Emmie seemed like she couldn’t take anymore. She thanked everyone for coming, and Nik took her up to their room so that she could take a nap. Before she went into the house, she hugged me tight and thanked me for making today so special.

“Emmie, you deserved today. I’m glad I was able to give it to you.”

Her chin trembled but she turned away before she burst into tears again.

When everyone was gone, the guys helped me clean up. I was thankful for their help because I was dragging by then, although there wasn’t all that much to do. The food had all been eaten, everyone loved Lana’s sandwiches and the homemade dips. One of which was specifically for Emmie’s cravings made with sour-cream, chopped up bacon, and some ranch seasoning. The cake was nearly all gone, and I was glad that I had taken pictures for Emmie of it before it had been destroyed. She had loved the little pink dress cake with the tiny foot print on the pregnant belly. I had specifically requested that the dress have a girly skull on the dress at the top. It had been perfect.

Finally, the patio was clean and I fell into a chair beside of Lana and Lucy. “Today was fun,” Lucy told me. She was still munching on some carrot sticks with what was left of Emmie’s dip, and I wondered for the millionth time if my baby sister ever got full.

“Yes it was,” Jesse agreed as he sat on the edge of my lounger and started rubbing my bare feet. “You girls did a wonderful job. You deserve something special.”

I raised a brow at that. “Like what?” I hoped he didn’t say something stupid, like a car which was what he had been hinting at for two weeks now, because I didn’t have the energy to smack him in the back of his bald head.

He shrugged. “We could go to SeaWorld tomorrow.”

Before I could say anything Lucy was already jumping up and down. “Yes! Yes! Yes!” She threw herself into Jesse’s, arms and he caught her against him, laughing. “I’ve never been to SeaWorld before, but I always wanted to go.”

“Jesse, that’s almost a three hour trip one way,” I told him.

His eyes narrowed on me. “You don’t want to go to SeaWorld?” Of course he gave me that pouty look that I was unable to say no to.

I sighed. “Fine. SeaWorld it is.”

Lucy started dancing around and Lana was giggling. I guess we were going to SeaWorld with the big bad—totally loveable—rocker.





Chapter 16


Jesse

In the weeks that went by I think I fell even more in love with Layla Daniels. Every minute I spent with her was enjoyable, even if all we did was sit holding each other on the couch in front of the television.

I also grew closer to Lucy and Lana. Maybe it was because I knew I couldn’t have Layla without them, or maybe it was because they were special in their own right. Either way, they attached themselves to my heart in an irreversible way. When I thought of my future, I couldn’t imagine it without any one of them.