Marie wagged her finger at her. “Make sure you bring enough. We don’t want to run out. We’ve got to pace ourselves if we’re going to make it past two.”
Noah nodded. “Sounds like a good plan. So is there going to be a pillow fight?” He grinned and waggled his eyebrows. The ladies laughed and told him that if he wanted to join he could, but he’d have to wear lingerie.
CHAPTER
NINETEEN
Lexi didn’t arrive home until after noon. She was hungover but excited after the night she’d spent with the Trio. It was never dull hearing their comments while watching a movie with hot guys in it. Lexi chuckled to herself as she unpacked her suitcases and started the laundry.
She rushed down the stairs when she heard a bark at the back door. She opened it and Pepper rushed in, followed by Noah. After giving her dog the proper amount of hugs, she turned to Noah who opened his arms. She melted into him, resting her head on his shoulder.
“I see you survived last night. Everything all worked out?” He rubbed her back.
“Great. I didn’t even try to keep up with them. The cops weren’t called and no one broke anything, so I’ll take it as a win. What did you do last night?” She closed her eyes enjoying the moment.
“Spent the night talking to the band about what’s next.” He frowned when Lexi pulled away and walked into the kitchen.
Lexi tried to stop her hands from shaking as she got a bottle of water from the refrigerator. After taking a drink, she turned around to face him. “That should’ve been productive. When do you leave?” She’d known this moment was coming. She thought she’d prepared for it, but her heart was breaking.
He crossed the room and grabbed her by the upper arms. “I’m not leaving. With the guys being married and having kids, they were only staying because of me. They’ve wanted out for a while. We are—I won’t say breaking up, because we’re like family, but we won’t be recording anything new or touring. Looks like you’re stuck with me.”
She looked up at him with huge eyes. “But you love music. It’s been your life for over fifteen years. What are you going to do?”
He rubbed his hand along the back of his neck. “Well, remember how I have been working on a lot of different kinds of music?” When she nodded he continued. “I can be a song writer and just write for other artists. I can do that from anywhere. I don’t have to be in Los Angeles. I’ll have to go back sometimes, but I can live here full time.”
Lexi walked past him and went to sit on the couch. “I don’t understand. Why are you doing this? I thought you loved making music, touring and living on the west coast.”
He sat down next to her and took her hands. “You know why I’m doing this. I can’t see my life without you. Don’t you think I know you’d be completely unhappy there? And touring, it’d be fun for a while, but it’d get old quick. You’d start longing for your solitude here on the beach, not to mention your little old ladies. Your happiness is more important to me.”
She stood up quickly and started pacing. “No, Noah. I’m not going to let you do this. What do you mean ‘my happiness is more important?’ Bullshit. Don’t you think I know after a while of being here without all the excitement you’ll get bored and become unhappy?” She spread her arms out. “This is nothing like what you are used to, nothing like what you’ve been living for years and years. It’s all fun and games now but you’ve only been here for a couple of months. What happens during the winter when the wind and snow blows so hard you’re stuck inside for days?” She shook her head. “Right now, we’re having this fun summer romance, but what happens when that all ends?” She turned away from him.
He strode across the room and spun her around. “What makes you think I’d get bored being here? You don’t know what my life has been like. This is the first vacation I’ve had in years, Lexi. Years. I’ve done my time, now I want to enjoy it, with you, before I get too old.” He gave her a little shake. “Damn it, I want to build a family with you. I want to discover things with you. I want to grow old with you. I’m not about to bail. What’s going on?”
Lexi tried to back out of his grip. “I know we’ve talked about this, but what’s going to happen when you let the public know that Last Stand is breaking up? Just because you aren’t actively seeking press, they’re still going to hound us. They’re going to find out who I am, if they haven’t already, and start plastering it all over the place. They’re going to beat down our doors to get the rest of the story. People are going to come out of the woodwork. Not to mention everyone will see me as the reason you guys broke up. How can we handle all of that on top of normal relationship crap?” She threw her hands up in the air.