“Here’s why,” Johnny said. “Because I’ve known for a long, long time that the part of my life with Memphisto was done. Deep down, I knew it from back when we were putting out our second album. But I was in denial, thinking there was something wrong with me.”
He took another sip.
“But now that I’ve been with you, Kendra, I know it wasn’t that. I wasn’t imagining that there was something I’ve been wanting more than the band.” He took my hand. “Having you, having a family with a woman like you—that’s what I want.”
His words were sweet, and a major relief. But that didn’t shake the fear of what Rick had said. Not to mention the fact that it sounded like he was upending his entire life for me.
“You mean you quit for me?” I breathed.
“You were a big part of it, that’s for damn sure,” he said. “But even from a creative perspective, it was the right thing to do. My heart’s not with Memphisto anymore. Writing my solo music has been what’s made me happy over the last year, and playing for that little crowd in Pine Bluff, just me and my guitar, that’s what I need.”
That set my mind at ease. I was glad to hear there was more than only me factoring into the decision.
But still, there was Rick.
“And now I can write the music I’ve been wanting to,” he went on, “and be with you and the baby. It’s a win-win, as far as I’m concerned.”
He didn’t know what was at stake. It was the only explanation for why he was so thrilled and why he didn’t seem to be scared in the slightest.
Johnny cocked his head and narrowed his eyes slightly, seeming to pick up on it.
“There’s…something wrong,” he said. “You’re about ten percent as happy about this as I thought you’d be.” He squeezed my hand in a reassuring way. “I know this is going to be a huge change for both of us, but the important thing is that I’m going to be here for you.”
I slipped my hand out of his and grabbed my ginger beer, taking a sip. There wasn’t any booze in it to make all of this easier, but I could at least pretend.
“It’s not that,” I said. “I’m thrilled that you’re going to be there for the baby and me and that you’re finally going to be making the music you want.”
“But…” said Johnny.
“But Rick.”
“Screw him,” said Johnny, waving his hand through the air.
“No,” I said. “I told you what he told me, that he said if I broke up the band and caused a loss of profits, he’d sue me for all I had. Then he’d come after you and do the same. What if he does it? Sure, we might be free, but what good does that do us if we’re broke?”
Then the reality of what I was saying dawned on me.
“I can’t believe I’m talking like this,” I said. “I must sound so superficial.”
“No,” Johnny said. “You’re right. It’d be a bad scene if you had to work at a coffee shop and I had to play music for change on the corner.”
“And he said you’d be banned from releasing any new material for five years, that he’d blacklist you from the industry,” I went on, the words tumbling out now. “That you’d never get anyone to sign you again.”
That was it. All of my fears had been laid bare. My words hung in front of us, and I was half-expecting Johnny to sit back and say “oh, shit” as he realized what he’d done now that the high had worn off.
Instead, he said exactly what I wanted to hear.
“You don’t have to worry about a thing,” he said.
“What?” I asked.
“And I’m not saying that out of my usual sense of overconfidence,” he said with a knowing smirk. “I made sure to get all of this sorted out with my lawyers before I pulled the trigger.”
“You did?”
“I did. Nothing Rick told you was true—most of it, anyway. He can’t come after you for loss of profit; nowhere in my contract does it say anything about a non-compete clause, and he can’t blacklist me from the industry. Those were some bullshit, empty threats he told you hoping to scare you into keeping the pregnancy secret from me.”
“Are you serious?” I asked. Now I was more mad than scared. I was furious, in fact.
“I’m serious,” Johnny went on. “My contract with Redemption is pretty solid, but it’s not unbreakable. The only thing I’m putting at risk by jumping ship are my royalties from the second and third albums, and I’m getting my lawyers to see what I can do about that. But I’m still making tons from the first album, and I’ve got more than enough saved up from what I’ve made over the years.”
I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding.
“And as long as the rest of the guys keep playing for Rick for the next few months, they won’t be at risk of losing out on any money. They weren’t happy that Memphisto’s done, but they’re still going to afford their rock star life.”
“That means…you can still make music?”
“That’s exactly what it means,” he said. “Things are going to be tied up in court for a while, but we’ll still be comfortable. And when it’s all done, I’ll have an album full of songs ready to produce—”
He let a broad smile form on his face. “—on Avalon Records.”
Whoa. I’d been fantasizing about something like this, but hearing it was something else. Before I had a chance to react, however, Johnny went on.
“But I don’t care about the fame or the money or anything else. You’re what I want, Kendra—you and the baby and the family we’re going to have. I couldn’t wait another year for us to be together. The thought of you having the baby and me not being there for it, and then you having to raise our child all on your own while I was on the road…”
He brought his eyes back to mine.
“It wasn’t acceptable, and now it’s not going to happen.”
“Then…that’s it?” I asked. “You’re free now?”
Johnny smiled.
“I’m free. The moment I walked off that stage I became all yours. And now it’s all about you and me and the baby.”
He reached over and placed his hand on my belly. His touch was like nothing else. Then he moved in and put his lips on mine.
The kiss was incredible. It wasn’t simply the kiss itself—it was knowing what it meant, what it represented. It was a kiss that was the start of a new chapter in both my life and his.
When he finally took his lips away—and part of me wanted him to never do it—he spoke.
“There’s only one question,” he said.
“Yeah?” I breathed. “What’s that?”
“Are you ready?”
I didn’t even need to think about it.
“You bet.”
Chapter 40
Kendra
Three Months Later
The baby kicked. Hard.
So hard, in fact, that I wondered if this was it, that it was time for the kiddo to come out.
“You all right over there?” asked Johnny from the living room.
“Yeah,” I said, steadying myself against the kitchen counter. “Just baby feet flying around in there.”
“Kid sure can kick,” said Johnny as he scribbled down some notes on a music book in front of him. “Making me think we’ve got a boy in there.”
“Hey, girls can kick hard too,” I said with a smile.
He grinned before turning back to his guitar and plucking out a few notes of the main melody line for one of his songs.
“You don’t have to go tonight,” he said. “You can stay here on the couch, watch some bad TV, and stuff yourself full of junk food. Wouldn’t think less of you for it.”
“Nah,” I said. “Tonight’s a big night. I want to be there with you for it.”
And it was a big night. The rest of Memphisto had kept the tour going after Johnny’s sudden departure, and now they were in Seattle.
“Appreciate it,” he said, setting down his guitar and coming over to me.
Johnny stepped behind me and slipped his arm
s around my waist in that way I loved. I leaned my head back, resting it on his shoulder. He placed a soft kiss on my cheek, and I let myself become lost in the moment.
“You must be proud of those guys,” I said.
“You have no idea,” I said. “This might sound totally conceited, but I’d been wondering what they were going to do after I left.”
“Maybe a little conceited,” I said with a smile. “But it’s a good question. The whole ‘Johnny Maxton sound’ was pretty much the center of Memphisto.”
“Right,” he said. “The guys are crazy talented, but those were all my lyrics, my melodies, hell, even my song names. They were welcome to play them, of course, but I knew they had to go in a new direction.”
I picked up the tablet in front of me as Johnny let me out of his arms. With a few swipes, I pulled up the website for the venue tonight. Right on the main screen were the three remaining members of Memphisto, but with a different name.
“‘Wicked Custard,’” I read aloud. “Not sure about the name change.”
“It’s a Cole thing,” he said with a grin. “Long story. But I told them they were welcome to keep the name.”
“And they didn’t want to?”
He shook his head. “Said it wasn’t Memphisto without all four of us.”
“That’s…kind of sweet,” I said. “For a bunch of rockers.”
“They’re all softies,” he said. “What can I say?”
He checked his watch, his eyebrows flicking up as he did.
“Okay,” he said. “We ought to get going. You ready?”
“Ready.”
One more kiss and we were off. The trip down the stairs was tricky with a massive belly, but I managed it.
“Starting to think we might need to get some sherpas to help you up and down the stairs,” he said with a grin.
I gave him a playful swat on the arm as we continued down. The car was parked out front, and Johnny offered to drive. Once we were inside, I glanced up at my apartment building as he started the engine.
“Still thinking about moving?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” I said. “I mean, there’s no reason why you need to move into my place and not vice-versa.”
“Of course, there is,” he said. “I can do my work anywhere, and you can only do it here in Seattle. And that place in LA…I’ve actually been considering selling it.”
This was news.
“Are you serious?”
“Yeah,” he said. “I paid for it in full when I bought it, so it’s not like I have payments to worry about. And it’s…I don’t know. All I think about when it comes to mind are boring parties and hangovers and all sorts of reminders of the life I used to live.”
“And my apartment?”
He smiled and took my hand. “I think about you.”
“Cornball,” I said with a smile.
“You love it,” he said.
I did—he had me there.
He turned his eyes back to the road as we made our way downtown toward the club.
“Well, as nice as the sentimentality is,” I said. “We’re about to have a baby. And a little one-bedroom apartment isn’t going to cut it after the first few months.”
“You’re right about that,” he said.
“And it’s not like I own the place.”
A thought seemed to cross his mind. “I’ve got some plans in the works. But you know I like my surprises.”
“I do,” I said. “Just make sure to let me know before you sign on any dotted lines.”
“You got it,” he said.
I couldn’t help but wonder what he had in mind. The subject of where we were going to end up had been the elephant in the room for the last few months of my pregnancy since he’d moved in, but I knew that priority number one was to get this little guy—or girl—out of me. And with only a week until the due date, the time was fast approaching.
The towers of downtown Seattle passed, and I watched them begin to twinkle with their evening lights. I loved the city, no doubt about that, but over the last few months, I kept finding myself thinking about Pine Bluff, the cute, charming little town where Johnny had grown up.
But I put it all out of my mind as we approached the venue. Johnny parked, and we were soon making our way to the stadium. He pulled the hood of his sweater over his head, reminding me of that first night we’d met when he came into the bar, his gorgeous face shrouded in darkness.
“We’re going in the side entrance,” he said.
“Sounds good to me,” I said. “Can’t imagine the scene if people found out you were here.”
We hurried across the parking lot as fast as my pregnant body would allow. And as we drew closer to the stadium, I found myself chuckling.
“What’s up?” he asked.
“Nothing,” I said. “Only thinking about how the last time I was here, I was dressed in a delivery-girl uniform and sneaking in to see you.”
“Oh yeah,” he said with a grin. “Time flies.”
He took my hand.
“But I have to tell you a secret,” I said with a sly smile.
“What’s that?” he asked.
“I told you that I wanted to see you so I could get you on my label.”
“Right…” he said.
“But really, I wanted to see you in person.”
He laughed. “When stalking pays off.”
“Hey,” I said. “‘Stalking’ is such an ugly word. I prefer to think of it as ‘close-distance admiration.’”
Another laugh. “With that kind of creativity maybe you ought to consider writing some songs of your own.”
“Nah,” I said. “I’ll leave that to the professionals.”
The security guards noticed our approach and quickly waved us in once they saw who we were. Or, more specifically, who Johnny was. Though anyone who paid any attention to music gossip knew that I was his girl.
His girl. Part of me loved it, and another part of me wished that he and I could be something more, something official. But I put it out of my mind. Like our living situation, this was something that would be better to think about once the baby had arrived.
Johnny led me through the back halls of the stadium and up a flight of stairs.
“You’re going to love the seats,” he said. “Best view in the place.”
We arrived at a small elevator and stepped inside, the doors shutting and leaving us in relative quiet. Seeing him standing there, looking as handsome as ever, I couldn’t resist grabbing onto his hips and pulling him in for a long, deep kiss.
Even months into our relationship the man still could cast a spell on me. His touch, his taste, his kiss was all like nothing else. I knew without a doubt that I’d be a happy girl if these lips could be the last ones I’d kiss for the rest of my life.
The doors opened, and he slowly pulled away from me.
“We might have to come back to this once we get home,” he said with a grin.
“Maybe if you’re good,” I said. “And if it’s even logistically possible.”
“Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” he said. “And there’s definitely a will.”
He led me down another hallway to a locked door. He took out a keycard and swiped it in front of the lock, opening it up. On the other side was an enclosed booth that looked out over the entirety of the stadium, the stage right in front of it. From there I could see that the stadium was packed.
“A private booth, just for us,” he said, gesturing to the long line of plush seats. “And with a press of a button, you can have anything you want delivered up here.”
“A far cry from mosh pits,” I said.
“I’m sure there will be one down there,” he said. “Might be one way to get the baby out nice and early.”
I gave him another playful swat on the arm.
We settled into the very, very comfortable seats, my legs crying out with relief as soon as I was off of them.
Johnny gave a quick call, and within mi
nutes, a veritable buffet of treats was brought to us. There were nachos and hot dogs and candy and soda—all the stuff my pregnant belly was crying out for. Hand in hand, we watched the opening act rock the place.
“Should be going on soon,” said Johnny.
“How do you feel about it?” I asked.
“I don’t know,” he said. “Still weird to know that the guys are playing without me. I know it was the right call, and they’re doing awesome, but…” He shook his head. Then he placed his hand on my belly and gave me a loving kiss. “But I don’t doubt for a second that I made the right call.”
“Good to hear,” I said with a smile.
Right as he sat back down, however, the phone in the booth rang.
“Expecting a call?” I asked.
He shook his head. “Nope.”
He answered the phone, his eyes lighting up as soon as the person on the other end spoke.
“Yeah?” he asked. “I’m up here. Booth thirty-two.”
He leaned forward as someone I recognized as one of the members of Memphisto peeked out onto the stage and waved. The mystery of who was on the other end of the line was solved.
“Nah, I’m up here with Kendra…”
A thought occurred to me, and I held up my finger to get his attention.
“What’s up?” he asked.
“What’d he ask you?”
“Cole wants to know if I could come backstage to say hi. But I told him I was here with you.”
I titled my head to the side. “Babe. Your guys want to see you for the first time in months, and you’re saying no?”
“I figured I’d stop by after the show.”
“No way,” I said. “Get your butt down there and tell them to break a leg.”
“You sure?” he asked.
“I’m sure.”
Johnny confirmed the plans and hung up.
“I’m totally fine here,” I said. “And I’ll call you if I need anything.”
“Okay,” he said, giving me one last kiss. “I’ll be back before too long.”
He gave my hand a squeeze, and he was off. And I settled in, ready to enjoy the show.
Chapter 41
Baby Surprises 7 Book Box Set Page 71