She nods. “Now I’m going to have to find something equally unique for mine!”
“Have you set a date?”
She shakes her head. “No. We’ve been in couples counseling—we hit a rough spot early in our relationship—so we’re just going with the flow. We live together and are finding our way as a couple. We’re not in a rush to make it legal.”
“But you want to marry him?”
“Oh, absolutely.” She nods emphatically. “But I’m happy to let him focus on the band for now. I can do my own thing while they work on being the biggest rock band in the world.”
“Do you worry about being apart a lot? Don’t you own a magazine?”
“I don’t worry about us being apart because even when we are, we talk and text all day long. And we own the magazine together, though he’s more of a silent partner. I’m busy with that so I have responsibilities separate from our relationship, which is important to me. I didn’t want to have to rely on him for everything. I mean, I absolutely rely on his emotional support, always, but I like having my own career. My own friends. My own life that isn’t about his.” She cocks her head. “Are you worried about losing yourself in Tate?”
“I’m worried about losing myself in motherhood. That’s kind of what my mom did, and while she was the best mom, she gave up the best years of her life for me. At the expense of her own happiness. When my dad left, she never dated or did much of anything that didn’t include me. Now she’s sick, and I feel like she wasted her life.”
“But that was her choice,” Ryleigh says gently. “I mean, I don’t know her, but she made a choice to prioritize you. That doesn’t mean you have to. You can’t go into this relationship assuming he’s going to leave and then you’ll be on your own. That’s not what my independence is about. I think it makes us stronger to have our own things going on.”
“I’m trying to build up my baking business, but I don’t want to open a bakery because that would mean crazy hours, away from both Tate and the baby. That’s not what I want.”
“Think about what’s going to make you happy—outside of Tate and the baby. And also, just because I wanted my independence, that doesn’t mean you have to find a career. Lots of women are happy being mothers and homemakers. You can still build a life that way. Friends. The baby will be starting school before you know it, and I hear that’s how most women make friends during the child-rearing years. And of course, you’ll have us. The band wives. We’re a family too.”
“But you live in Minneapolis, right?”
“I do, but Taryn technically lives in Los Angeles. She and Mick are basically nomads at the moment because she doesn’t want to upset her son’s life. He had enough of a struggle with the leukemia.”
“I can’t even imagine finding out my kid has cancer,” I whisper.
“I know. That’s why they’re a bit nomadic. They live with her mom when they’re in L.A. They keep stuff at our house in Minneapolis right now, because we have a lot of room and there’s no reason for them to spend money on an apartment they’re not in very much. And Kirsten’s in college in New York, with no idea what’s next for her, so she and Sam do their own thing and then come together whenever they can. There are no set rules in life or relationships. Follow your heart, Summer. Don’t let Tate or the pregnancy or anything else derail your dreams.”
“Thank you for this,” I say. “I needed to hear that.”
She smiles. “That’s what friends are for.”
It feels really good to hear her say that—and she’s given me a lot to think about.
Chapter 27
Tate
Mick and Taryn’s wedding is amazing. Sasha lives in the biggest, most incredible mansion I’ve ever seen, much less been inside. Of course, she’s the daughter of rock and roll royalty as well as the stepdaughter of a European king. On top of that, she’s married to a professional hockey player named Anton Petrov, so it makes sense that her house is over the top.
And it’s a great place to have a wedding.
She has a massive fenced-in back yard that’s been decorated for the event. There are pathways to walk for people who want to get outside for fresh air and seating for those who may want to escape the music and have a drink.
Inside, she’s turned the formal dining room into a buffet, with food and desserts. A room I can’t quite identify now that it’s been turned into a ballroom of sorts has linen-covered tables and chairs, along with a small area for dancing.
I have no idea how this is normally decorated—or what she does with all this space—but it’s incredibly generous of her to throw a party like this for Mick and Taryn. It’s a testament to the friendship we’ve built with both Sasha and the record label headed by her mother.
Especially since Mick and Taryn were truly planning something low-key. Once Sasha got involved it turned into something memorable. It went from about thirty people to over a hundred, and now that dinner, dancing, and the cake cutting is over, I pull Summer onto the dance floor. “Marry You” by Bruno Mars is playing and though it’s not a slow song, I wrap my arms around her anyway.
She’s wearing a slinky pink dress that falls to mid-thigh and gives me a breathtaking view of her cleavage. She smells nice too, and I’ve never wanted to scoop a woman up and carry her up to bed more than I do right now. Sasha probably wouldn’t appreciate it, but it’s a fun thought.
“Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?” I ask.
“You look pretty handsome yourself.” She runs one hand up my chest and adjusts my tie. “I’ve never seen you in a suit.”
“And I’ve never seen you in a dress like this.”
