in my dead phone and received the rush of phone calls and texts asking when I was coming home.
After Chandler caught me up, I returned to the bar to discuss details with the band and their sullen lead singer. They had so many questions and gushing excitement to heap on me, I didn’t leave until well after midnight.
“I’m sorry, baby,” I whispered. “It won’t be like this anymore. I promise.”
Chapter Two
Five Months Later
Valentina
“Okay, baby. Pick up Cara.”
Adam snuggled the fat cat to his chest and flashed his missing-tooth smile at the camera. I zipped around him, the shutter going off in rapid succession. He was the most adorable thing there ever was in his uniform and backpack.
“Val, I believe five hundred pictures is enough.”
I narrowed my eyes on Ryder. He, Maverick, and Ezra posted up against the wall, smiling at me like I was oh so cute.
“It’s my son’s first day of kindergarten. I’ll take a thousand pictures if I want to.”
He put his hands up in surrender. “Fine, but if we don’t leave in ten minutes, he’ll be late.”
I checked the time. We were veering dangerously close to eight and I had my own first day of school bearing on me. “All right. I’ll get him as he’s walking to the car on his first day,” I said, squealing. “Where’s Jaxson? Tell him we’re ready to go.”
“Val...”
I lowered the camera. “What? What’s wrong?”
Maverick and Ezra shared a look.
“Jaxson’s not here,” Maverick finally said. “I don’t think he came home last night.”
My grip tightened on the phone. “No, he said he’d be there for our first day. We’re dropping Adam at Evergreen Elementary together.”
They didn’t say anything.
Adam nuzzled Cara’s furry head, the smile there to stay. “Where’s Daddy Jaxson?” he asked.
“He’s coming, my love.” I kissed his forehead. “Ryder will take pictures of you going to the car. Mommy will be there in a second.”
“Okay.”
I dialed Jaxson after they were gone. It rang and rang and rang.
“Hey, this is Jaxson. Can’t come to the—”
I hung up and tried again.
“Hey, this is Jaxson. Can’t—”
Shutting off his voicemail, I took a deep breath and let it out slow.
His phone must have died. It’s been crazy at work, but he promised me he’d be there, so he’ll be there. I know he will.
JAXSON
“Jaxson? Jaxson? Jaxson!”
I shot up and tipped off the chair. It flipped and sent me to the floor, crashing on top of me.
“Shit! Are you okay?”
Gwen lifted the table off of me and helped me to my feet. I blinked blearily at her, swaying as I tried to make sense of what was happening.
“What the hell?”
“We need you back in there, Jaxson. Serena and Gage can’t agree on song choice and she won’t sing a fucking word until they do.”
I patted myself down, looking for my phone. I slipped away to my office for an hour nap, setting an alarm to warn me when to drag myself back. It hadn’t even gone off yet. Serena couldn’t give me one flipping hour.
“I thought we settled this,” I replied. “We’re not using all of her new material. It’s not ready. And where is my phone?”
Gwen scooted the upturned table aside and retrieved my cell off the floor. “She changed her mind. She and Gage have been arguing on and off for the last three hours because she keeps storming out.”
Surprise stiffened my spine. “Last three hours? What time is it?”
“Almost seven thirty.”
I snatched my phone out of her hand but the clock only confirmed it. “No. No, no, no, no! I set an alarm.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I have to go.” Grabbing my jacket, I raced out.
“But what about Serena,” she shouted after me.
“I promised Val I’d be there!”
I escaped the building, dialing Val on the way. The calls went straight to voicemail.
I cursed the whole drive. Cursed myself. My phone. My job. And Beyond Berlin. Five months ago, I walked into the Taproom looking for the next big hit. I found them.
Dad loved their demo. He ordered the contract written up and put in their hands before the ink dried. Their first album we recorded and released in two months and they took off like no band I’ve ever witnessed.
My summer changed in a blink. Forget chasing Adam around the yard, or slathering sunblock on Val at the beach. Beyond Berlin was back in the studio recording an album of new, original tracks that they would take out on tour. A process that we thought would go as smoothly as recording their first album.
We were