Questionable Love (A Love Beyond Labels #2)

by Danielle Rocco

  “Jace?” Shay yells, walking from Jules’s office. She stops and looks at Hunter and me.

  “Yeah, baby?”

  “Oh, I was just going to show you something cute Jules and I saw.” She looks up at Hunter. “Hi, Hunter.”

  “Hey, Shay,” he says, making my jaw tick.

  “Why don’t you come play me the song you worked on with Hunter?” I slide my eyes to Hunter. “Is that okay with you? Do you have time to show me the song you had my girl sing with you?” He starts chewing on his lip and shrugs his shoulders.

  “Yeah, I have time if Shay’s okay with it.”

  I glance back at my girl and ask, “You’re okay with showing me the song, aren’t you? We don’t have anywhere we have to be.”

  “Yes, of course,” she says, playing with the ends of her hair. I know what that means. She’s nervous.

  Hunter walks into the studio, and Shay and I follow. They both pick up a guitar that is against the wall for artists to use, and I stand in the back, arms folded, as they both sit in chairs alongside each other. I already hate that, and they haven’t even started singing yet.

  Hunter clears his throat, and Shay sits up straight, pushing her long hair over her shoulders and placing her fingers on the strings. She looks at Hunter, and I really hate that. He quietly says something to her about waiting for his cue, and then he looks up at me. “I’m still writing the song, so we’ve only been working on the chorus.”

  I just nod and wait for him to start. When he does, he looks deep into her eyes.

  Deep breaths, slow sighs, baby let’s get lost tonight

  You and me and no one else

  Let’s make love all damn night until the sun comes up

  My girl starts singing, and my eyes widen and my jaw clenches as they sing the words to each other.

  I walk out the door.

  JUST BE A NICE FRIEND

  AND, WHEN WE HIT the last note for the second time through, I glance up and see Jace has left the room. “He’s not happy,” I say, looking over at Hunter. He looks out and sees Jace is gone.

  “I’ll give you a minute,” he says, messing with his guitar.

  “Thanks.” I get up off the stool. “Hunter?”

  “Yeah, I know he’s not going to want you to do the song.”

  “I’m sorry, but I told you that if he felt disrespected—”

  “I get it, Shay,” he interrupts me. “I don’t think I would want my wife singing to another guy about making love all night.” He smiles devilishly.

  “And, you better not ever send me a text message like the last one you sent me. Jace was furious when he saw it, and it really is rude, Hunter.”

  “He warned me about the message as soon as he saw me in the hall, so don’t worry. I won’t send any more out of respect for you, and because your future husband is intimidating as shit. He’s got that whole Mark-Walberg-Calvin-Klein-underwear-ad-thing going on with the bad boy look, and knowing he actually is a bad boy…”

  “Jace is not bad. Just because he made a mistake and went to prison doesn’t mean he’s bad.”

  “I’m just saying… I don’t want to mess with him. He’s very protective of you.”

  “Just be a nice friend, and he’ll be fine with you,” I say with a smile and walk out the door to find my boy.

  ALWAYS TOGETHER

  I PACE THE HALLWAY with my hands gripping my neck as sunshine and happiness grab tight to the looming cloud over me. I stop, breathe her in, then turn around and pick her up. I take her around the corner just like football game surprises as she wraps her legs around me.

  “Do you love me?” she asks me.

  “More than anything.”

  “You left the room.”

  “I listened the first time through, but I couldn’t listen the second time.”

  “Are you being a jealous boy?”

  “Yeah, I am.”

  Her hands find my hair, and she pulls me down to her lips.

  “Give me your lips, Jace,” she demands. I let out a shaky breath.

  “Who do your lips belong to, Shay?”

  “You. Only ever you,” she answers quickly. I nod and kiss her lips tenderly. “I feel your heart beating in your neck.”

  “That’s because I just listened to my girl singing with another guy about making love.”

  “It’s just a song, Jace,” she scowls. I close my eyes.

  “Okay, you can totally call your boy an alpha now, because there is just no way I can handle you singing to another guy about making love. I can’t do it, Shay. I’ll want to hurt him.”

  “You’re overreacting,” she says as I hold her up by one arm and pinch her butt with the other. “Ouch, protective boy.” She giggles.

  “Yeah, I know I’m being completely ridiculous. You’re right. It’s just a song, but I’m the only one that has ever been inside you, and the thought of Hunter singing to you, and knowing damn well he would love to get in your pants makes me crazy.”

  “Then I won’t do it.”

  “No…no… I don’t want you to not do something because you have a jealous man at home. I’ll work through it, baby.” I rub her back and stare into her eyes. “I don’t want to hold you back from doing something you’re passionate about.”

  “I’m passionate about you, Jace. I’m passionate about our life together, and if the boy that gave me his heart on that dirt field doesn’t feel comfortable with me recording a love song with another guy, then I’m not doing it.” I suck my bottom lip into my mouth because she seriously drives me crazy with her sweetness. She runs her fingers through my hair. “You will always come first to me, Jace. You told me when I debuted ‘Moon and Stars’ and we spoke on the phone when we were apart that we would always make the right decisions for us, together, right?”

  “I remember, baby.”

  “Do you want me to do the song?”

  “Absolutely not.”

  “Then don’t tell me you’ll work through something that you are uncomfortable with. I wouldn’t want to work through some hot love scene you had to do if you were an actor.”

  “That would never happen, pretty girl.”

  “I’m just giving an example,” she says genuinely.

  “I told him when I saw you leave the room that we could no longer work on his song together.”

  “You did?”

  “Always together, Jace—just like you told me.”

  “Always together.”

  “Now take me home and make love to me all night long, sexy boy.” She giggles. But I don’t wait until we get home, because when we leave Stark Records and our song comes on the radio while I’m driving, I pull over to a dark alleyway and yank her onto my lap. “What are you doing, rebel boy?”

  “I want to make love to you while our song plays.”

  I’m so fucking glad she’s wearing one of those little dresses. I slide the seat back and unzip my jeans while she straddles my lap. Our eyes meet at the same time as her voice spills from the speakers, singing the words she wrote for me. I put what belongs to her into what belongs to me, and I’m in fucking paradise in the middle of a Los Angeles alleyway. She grips me tight, as our mouths fully love each other. Her hands move to my hair, pulling me to her. I dig my fingers into her perfect waist and pull her down hard over and over again as the car fills with her voice full of all that love she feels for me.

  DO YOU WANT THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH?

  “ONE MORE STORE,” Jules says, dragging me by the arm as my mom laughs alongside me.

  “Shay, you can’t pick the first dress you see! And, it’s not even designer.”

  “I don’t care if it’s a designer dress. Jace will love it,” I counter. She stops walking and puts her sunglasses on top of her head.

  “Mrs. Melody, please tell your daughter she should always look at options before she settles on her first one.”

  My mom looks at me and smiles wide as she answers, “She didn’t look for options after she met Jace, did she? She knew as soon
as she saw him he would be the one, and I think she made the perfect choice—just like the first dress she saw. It’s perfect for her, simple for a beach wedding.”

  “You’re no help.” Jules rolls her eyes and places her sunglasses back on her face.

  “Thanks, Mom. As soon as I saw it, I knew Jace would love it on me.”

  “He will, Shay. You’ll look so beautiful.”

  “So, what’s the plan? You’re getting married in a couple of days,” Jules chimes in.

  “Jace and I are staying in a little cottage in Malibu, courtesy of my sweet parents.” I look at my mom who is on her phone. “We’ll get ready, head down to the beach, and I will marry my boy. Then you said you are taking care of the little reception.”

  “Yes, I am with the help of our mothers. You said Jace’s mom is coming, too, right?”

  “Yes, his parents are coming tonight.”

  “Is that weird?”

  “No, not at all. I love his parents.”

  “I still can’t believe my best friend is getting married.” She grins as I hold on tightly to my dress and look at the beautiful ring Jace put on my finger.

  “Love only knows your heart, not your age, Jules. I’m so ready to have my boy’s last name. Shay James,” I say with a dramatic sigh.

  “That’s a really good name, Starkie. I’m super proud of you. You covered all the bases.”

  “What bases are those?”

  “You found the perfect boy. He’s sweet, kind, loving, and super hot, like, way super hot. Oh, don’t forget tough, only has eyes for you, and he has the sexiest name ever,” she teases, putting her hand on her chest with an equally dramatic sigh as I gave her a minute ago. “Jace is like the ultimate book boyfriend, right? Like every single characteristic we like to read about.”

  “No book boy could ever compare to my real-life boy,” I tell her, giggling.

  “You’re not going to put me aside when you get married, are you?” She gets serious. “I’ll be all alone and probably have no one if I don’t have you. Who could possibly handle me? You’re mine, Starkie. Don’t let Jace take you completely away from me when you say I do.”

  “I would never leave you, Jules. You’ve been my best friend my entire life. I love you. We’re like sisters. You will always be my best friend, and Jace will, too, but I can’t talk to Jace about all my silly girlie things. And, he won’t ever really tell me if I look ugly in something. He won’t hurt my feelings. Those moments are always going to belong to you.”

  “You are so right. How could I ever think you would toss me aside? Every girl needs that honest person in their life that doesn’t mind telling the truth when it hurts. Jace will never hurt your feelings and tell you a color just doesn’t look good on you, or that you really do make an ugly face when you cry, but I will always tell you the truth. You can’t ever get rid of me.”

  “Okay, so truth be told… Do you like the wedding dress I picked out for my boy?”

  “Do you want the absolute truth?”

  “Yes. That’s your job as my best friend.”

  “I’m being totally honest…”She pauses and stares at me. “The second you put it on and walked out of the room, I knew that you were made for that dress. It’s so you, and Jace is probably going to come in his pants the moment those toes hit the sand and he sees you.”

  “You have such a way with words, Jules.”

  “I know, right? I’m just kidding. I mean, we know he’s definitely going to be coming after you say I do, but when he first sees you, he’s going to be the happiest, sexiest boy in the world with how beautiful you look in that dress.”

  YOU JUST MISSED OUT

  I SIT BACK ON THE couch with my guitar on my lap while my girl is shopping, doing all her girl stuff. I miss her and hate to be away from her. A year away was fucking torture, and if it weren’t for the fact I can’t see the dress she picks out, I would have tagged along just to be with her.

  I play the song that Shay first taught me and just look around the room at all the love she has set in frames. We look so young, and she literally guts me the way she looks at me in every picture. My phone beeps, and I grab it off the glass table and smile like a kid let loose in a candy store.

  Pretty Girl: We’re at the bakery, and Jules is trying to talk me out of my peanut butter and jelly moment to smash in your face.

  Me: Stay strong. You know what I want.

  Pretty Girl: Yeah, I know, and I’m just so excited! You should see how perfectly perfect our heart-shaped cake is going to be.

  Me: I miss you. Come home. :)

  Pretty Girl: Almost, lonely boy! Are they there yet?

  Me: No, they aren’t here yet. Come home and maybe we can fit in a little quickie. ;)

  Pretty Girl: Jace James!

  I laugh as I read that last text. I’ve been with Shay for so long, and her voice seriously makes me crazy with all its little tones. I won’t spend a day without it ever again.

  Me: Come on, baby. I miss you! You’ve been gone all day. Please let me love you right now. ;)

  Pretty Girl: Don’t make me feel bad. YOU know I love when you love me.

  Me: Nice and slow. I PROMISE, I will rock into you so slow you won’t be able to kiss me with how I make you come undone.

  Pretty Girl: I can’t, you MEAN BOY!

  As I read the text, the doorbell rings. My girl just got lucky because Grace and Jason are standing at the front door.

  Me: You just missed out on a CALENDAR-WORTHY MOMENT with your boy loving you.

  Pretty Girl: ?

  Me: My parents are at the door.

  Pretty Girl: YAY! I’m so glad! But I’m sad you can’t give me a calendar-worthy moment now.

  Me: Trust me. I’m going to give you so many moments that leave you breathless.

  I open the door, and Grace once again blows my mind with how different she looks. I pull her in for a hug.

  “Hi, Mom.”

  “Hi. Oh, Jace, it’s so warm here. I miss California,” she greets me. I kiss the top of her head and look at my dad, and again, it’s like looking in the mirror.

  “Where’s Shay?” he asks.

  “She’s doing all that girlie stuff with her mom and Jules, her best friend.”

  Grace steps out of my embrace and walks into the condo. Jason pulls me in and slaps my back. “You’re going to marry your girl before I marry mine.”

  “You should have done that twenty years ago.”

  “Better late than never.” He chuckles. “It’s you, me, and your mom, and I will finally make her Grace James once we get back on track.”

  “You aren’t back on track yet?”

  “Your mom always made me work for her, and I’m working hard, trust me.” He glances over at Grace as she looks around the condo in awe. “We’re on track, but she’s not on my track, if you know what I mean.” My eyes widen, and I’m speechless. I can’t tell if that was a joke or not. “I’m just messing with you, son.” Okay, so I think my dad might be a jokester. He walks in and looks at the beautiful space. “Not bad for your first place.”

  “It’s not my place. It’s Shay’s parents’ condo, and they’re letting us live here together.”

  “When will Shay be back, Jace?” Grace says, picking up a picture of us.

  “I’m back,” Shay says with the prettiest smile on her face as she walks through the door. I walk up to her and swoop her up into my arms.

  “I missed you, baby,” I tell her, breathing in all that coconut and sunshine.

  “I love you, Jace James,” she whispers into my hair as she pushes it back out of my face. I set her down.

  “Hi, Grace.” She hugs Jason and walks into Grace’s open arms.

  “Your home is just beautiful,” Grace says.

  “Thank you. I picked lots of lemons from my parents’ trees for your lemon water.” She hands me a bag of lemons to put away. “I know you said you drink a lot of it.”

  “I do. Thank you.”

  “Please make yours
elves at home. I know you had a long drive.”

  As they both sit on the oversized chair next to the couch, I stare at Shay. She makes everyone she meets feel like the most special person. Damn, my girl grew up to be the sweetest. I can’t wait to start our family. She is going to be the prettiest mother.

  I walk over to the couch and plop down on it.

  “Come here, baby,” I say, patting my lap.

  SPOON, LIKE IN SPOON?

  I WALK OVER TO the couch, and Jace pulls me down onto his lap.

  “Did you have that blanket specially made with all those pictures of you and Jace?” Grace asks, looking at our picture blanket draped over the couch.

  “Yes.”

  “It’s so cute. You’ll have to have one done with wedding pictures.”

  I hear Jace laughing. “Don’t you like our blanket?” I ask him.

  “If you’re not wrapped up in me, that’s the only other thing I’ll use.” He leans into me. “I need to be inside you,” he whispers, causing my face to turn bright red.

  “Your dad is staring at us. Don’t talk like that,” I murmur, hiding my face in his warm neck. I sit up, trying to regain my composure. “If you aren’t too tired, Grace, I’d love for you to come with my family to get our nails done for the wedding.”

  She looks down at her nails. I can see from here they aren’t painted, but she has pretty hands. I still can’t believe the transformation in her from when we first met. Her long, lifeless hair is gone, now a pretty chestnut color, and her eyes are no longer sunken and dull, but dark brown and full of life. It makes me happy for Jace.

  “I would love to go if it’s not a bother.”

  “You will never be a bother. You’re my boy’s mom.”

  “Then I’d love to go,” she says enthusiastically.

  “Great. Our appointment is in an hour, so I have to go to my room for a few minutes to pack a bag.”