Page 20 of Under the Same Sky

I throw a fist in the air, and yell, “Fuck yes!”

“Boys want to celebrate before Penelope and I leave tomorrow. You up for it?”

“Yeah, of course. Tell them to be at the ranch at six, and we’ll have a bonfire.”

“Sounds good, see you later.”

I end the call, and shake my head.

“What are you celebrating?” Reese asks next to me.

“Fourth album just went platinum.”

“That’s great, Thorin. Congratulations.”

Her expression makes me chuckle. “You have no idea what that means, do you.”

“Not a clue, but it sounds like a big deal.”

I can’t help but laugh. “It’s a big deal.” It’s fucking huge, like one-million-albums-sold huge. “The guys are coming over to celebrate. You should join us.”

Reese purses her lips, and for a split second I worry that she’s going to decline. I wouldn’t blame her, given the history she has with me and my bandmates, but I’m hoping to get a chance to prove to her that we’re not the same punks we used to be. Mostly. Okay, fine, we still behave like a bunch of childish misfits from time to time, but we’ve changed in the ways that count.

“Okay.”

I exhale, and before I can dissect why it feels like I was holding my breath in anticipation of her answer, she places her small, delicate hand on my thigh.

“For what it’s worth, I’m proud of you, Thorin.”

Well, damn. It means a helluva lot coming from her.

“And I know Ryan is too.”

Chapter Nine

Reese

I can hear Thorin and his band outside by the fire pit, but have yet to muster up the courage to join them. They’re celebrating, and after googling what it means when an album goes platinum, I don’t blame them. Of course, googling the band had me going down a rabbit hole, and after reading one too many articles about Thorin, I closed my browser and spent an hour getting Eli bathed and dressed, before hopping in the shower myself. After the meeting with Mr. Idris and breakfast with Thorin, I’m feeling out of sorts. So much so that I’ve tried on every outfit in my closet. For a damn bonfire. You’d swear it was a date or something. Ugh. I groan at my reflection, and decide casual is as good as it gets. I braid my hair, and let it hang over my shoulder, pull on some skinny jeans, a knee-length sweater, and dark, chocolate brown over-the-knee boots. When I walk into Eli’s nursery, he’s awake, and wriggling around.

“Okay, little man. Time to get you to Grandma.” After I dropped Thorin off at the house down the road, I made arrangements with Maggie to watch Eli for a while. It’s still too cold to have him outside, and I don’t want to be rude by not celebrating with Thorin and his band. I didn’t really think it through when I said I’d join them, but it’s too late to back out now and God knows I’m not a coward. Besides, if it any point I feel the need to flee, I can always make up an excuse and come back to my house. There’s a knock on my front door, and I frown. I’m supposed to take Eli to Maggie, not have her come stay here. But when I open the door, it’s not Maggie.

Thorin grins, and steps inside, reaching for Eli.

“Thought I’d spend a few minutes with our boy before we hand him off to Mom for the night.” The way he says our boy…le sigh.

“Of course.” I step aside, and hand Eli over. “I just have to grab my jacket.”

Thankfully, my house is clean—yes, I may have cleaned again, don’t judge—but the idea of having Thorin in my space makes me more nervous than I care to admit. If Mya were here, she’d slap me on the ass and tell me to get a grip. And she wouldn’t be wrong. Thorin cradles Eli, and then starts walking around. I covertly take stock of how good he looks—dark mane loose, tousled in a I-woke-up-looking-this-sexy style around his face, the scruff on his chin a little thicker, which really does it for me for some reason, a long-sleeve navy Under Armor shirt beneath a charcoal jacket, designer skinny jeans and dark blue suede Timberland boots. Everything about him screams rockstar, and I’d be stupid not to acknowledge how easily he fills the space around him.

“Nice place,” he says. “Pretty big for someone living alone, though.” Why I feel the need to explain is beyond me, but I do anyway. “I needed a home gym, and an office. The two additional bedrooms were your brother’s idea.”

“Hmm.” He takes in the open-plan living room and kitchen area, the high ceilings and exposed beams. While he scopes the place out, probably checking every room in the house, I dash back to my bedroom, and grab my navy blue fur collar coat off the bed. It’s going to look like I color-coordinated with Thorin. You’re being ridiculous, I scold myself. The itch to call Mya and freak out is there, but she’d just reaffirm that I’m overreacting. I take a deep breath, and walk back out into the living room. Thorin walks around, rocking Eli, and I have to admit—begrudgingly—that he’s a complete natural. It shouldn’t surprise me. I’ve come to learn that Thorin isn’t scared of a damn thing, never has been.

“Ready?” I ask, making a beeline for the door. Thorin chuckles behind me, mumbling something to Eli about how he thinks he makes me nervous. Pfft, fucking understatement, buddy. He steps outside, and waits for me to lock my door. We walk up to the main house, Thorin whispering to Eli about girls, and me smiling like a loon because clearly, I’m a moron. It’s just Thorin, for Pete’s sake. Thorin and a baby, I remind myself. Once upon a time I fantasized about our future—you know, when I was hopelessly in love with the asshole—and it definitely included a house full of mini Thorin’s running around. That was before he forgot me altogether, and before I realized how cruel life could be.

Maggie’s sing-song voice shakes me from my thoughts, and she immediately takes Eli from Thorin’s arms. He side-steps her. “Na-uh, Mamma. You’ve had him all to yourself today, and we’re in the middle of a serious man-to-man conversation.”

“Oh, hush. I’m leaving in a few days, then you’ll have him all to yourself. How dare you rob a grandma of precious time with her only grandbaby.” She winks at me, and I know she’s playing with Thorin’s feelings. He’s been a total sucker when it comes to his mom all his life, and she knows how to use it against him. Wicked, smart woman. Thorin’s expression is comical, and I stifle a giggle when he looks torn between keeping Eli to himself, and letting his mom take him.