“Wow! That would be amazing!” Vivian screeches.

“I would owe you so big, man!” Brooks says at the same time.

Apparently they are more desperate for a weekend together than I thought. I look to Carly, my voice of reason. “Well, if everyone is on board, then I’m okay with it. Are you sure about this, Jen?” she asks.

Shit, I’m backed into the “we” corner. I have no choice but to agree, or I come off as the asshole who doesn’t want to help out friends.

“Of course! There’s a Walmart a few miles away where we can get the fishing gear and anything else we need, the camper is great, and the hiking trails are wonderful. The kids will have a blast; there’s nothing to worry about.”

Eyes wide, everyone’s attention is now on me. I thought I was pretty convincing.

“You went to a Walmart? Casen, what did you do to our friend? She wouldn’t have been caught dead in a Walmart,” Brooks says.

“Oh, screw you guys, you want the gift or not?” I shoot back.

“There she is,” Vivian laughs. “Yes, we accept your gift, thank you.”

Smiling, I turn to Casen and silently mouth the only words, which come to mind, “We’re fucked.” He laughs, but I’m entirely serious.

Casen

“Dude, that was fucking epic,” Seiger yells, running off stage. “This was the best show of the tour.”

I couldn’t disagree. We played our hearts out tonight, thank God. Campbell didn’t tell the other guys, but there were record label representatives in the audience tonight. My stomach has been in knots all evening, but not because of our chance at a record deal. My anxiety stems from the extra guests I’ve invited to the show who are waiting for me in the dressing room. Campbell got me the number I needed and slipped them backstage, but she did so with a cautionary warning. My plan could blow up in my face, but I just couldn’t leave it alone.

Sweat is dripping off all of us; John looks like he walked through a car wash. That doesn’t stop Jen from taking pictures of us, though. Campbell meets us off stage with towels and a giant smile. She is absolutely dressed for the occasion. Her hair is pinned up in a sleek rockabilly hairdo, which matches her form-fitting dress and patent-leather heels. We’re all careful not to get her pristine outfit wet.

“I’ve some great news for you, boys,” she announces. “I have a meeting set up for you tomorrow with a rep from Sony Records. Congratulations, guys, they’re prepared to offer you a record deal!”

“Fuck yeah they are,” Royce shouts, high-fiving Seiger.

John picks up Campbell, disregarding his sweat, odor, and her outfit, and swings her around, landing a sloppy kiss on her cheek. “We owe you so big, Cam.”

“Don’t thank me. You guys play the music they like, I just got them to the show,” she laughs, taking the towel from John and drying herself off.

Jen hangs back away from our celebration, capturing the moment on film. Grabbing her hand, I pull her into the excitement. “I want to share this with you, sparky. This is something I’ve always wanted, and you’re helping to complete the other missing piece,” I tell her, adding a chaste kiss which makes her giggle.

“And what would that be?” she questions.

“A family,” I murmur in her ear. She smiles so bright and luminous it melts me. I want nothing more than to look at her smile every day for the rest of my life. I only hope I still get the chance after Jen finds out what I’ve done.

“Let’s go celebrate! Beers on me tonight,” Royce shouts, earning cheers from everyone.

“Thanks, man, but I have some people waiting for me,” I tell him, declining his offer. Jen looks at me confused and I give her a reassuring smile. I glance over at Campbell and her tight-lipped smile does nothing to ease my nerves. I have never been so unsure of anything in my life.

“I’m going to stay behind and finish some things here. Text me where you guys decide to go and I’ll meet you there,” she tells Royce. I know she has nothing to finish. She’s staying for moral support in case my plan goes south. Whether she’s there to comfort me or calm Jen, I don’t know. Either way, I’m glad she’s willing to stick around.

They agree and head out the backdoor, leaving Campbell, Jen, and me alone. “I’ll be around, Casen, if you need anything,” Campbell offers and returns to the front of the bar.

“I’m starting to feel uneasy, Casen. What in the hell is going on?” Jen asks. She’s looking around, searching for clues as to what I have in store.

I grab her hand, weaving her fingers in mine and kiss her knuckles before tucking them into my chest. “I need you to follow me, but first I need to tell you something.”

“You’re freaking me out. What in the hell is going on?” She takes a step away from me, but I pull her back into my embrace.

“I want you to know I love you, and what I’ve done, I did because I love you. I know this is the first time I’ve told you that, but I do. I love you, and I need you to hear it and believe it.”

She reaches up and lightly brushes her hand against my cheek. I close my eyes and lean into her hand, memorizing her touch. “I love you too, Casen. Now tell me what you did.” Noticing my distress, her voice is soft and comforting.

“I made some phone calls and invited some people to meet us tonight. I didn’t think you would ever do this on your own, so I’m giving you the nudge I think you need. They’re in the dressing room waiting for you. If you want, I can go in with you, or I can wait out here. I’ll do whatever you ask.”

Her brows pull together briefly before she yanks her hand from mine and storms off down the hall toward the dressing room. She stops in front of the door and pauses with her hand on the doorknob. She looks at me one last time, before twisting the knob and pushing the door open. Standing in the doorway, frozen in place, she stares at Maggie and Abby who are waiting on the other side of the doorway.

She closes the door and hastily returns to me. “Leave,” she demands. She is shaking and on the verge of tears. The last thing I want to do is leave her when she’s like this, especially because my actions caused this.

“Jen, please—” I begin to plead, but her shout interrupts me.

“I said leave,” she screams, her tiny hands finding strength in her rage to push me away. “How dare you go behind my back and do this. Seeing them was my decision, not yours.”

Her anger radiates off her and I realize nothing I say will tear down her wrath right now. The best I can do is respect her wishes at the moment, and hope she forgives me later.

“I’m sorry, Jen. I just thought this reunion wouldn’t have happened without a little help. I thought I was doing the right thing.”

“Maybe it wouldn’t have, but it was my choice to make,” she sighs, tears filling her eyes. “Please, Casen. Just go. I can’t do this right now.” She looks down at the floor, unable to look at me anymore, leaving me nothing left to do except leave.

I kiss her head and allow my fingers to run through her silky hair. I feel her take a ragged breath under my hand, and it rips my heart from my chest.

“Please,” she whispers.

I nod and walk out the backdoor; leaving my heart behind, I hope it makes its way back to me.

Jen

My legs won’t move. I’m torn between running out to the parking lot and getting as far away as possible, and going back to the dressing room to meet the daughter who was taken from me, the person I didn’t think I deserved.

I’ve held onto my aunt’s letter for a month, trying to decide what to do. Eventually I would have reached out to them, but when I first read it, and every time since, I’m overwhelmed with anxiety. I’m conflicted with a number of intimidating thoughts: Fear of rejection, fear of having to explain where I’ve been and why I haven’t been in her life, fear of telling her how she came to be. Talking about those things makes them real, and for the last decade I’ve done a great job of avoiding it all. When I left my aunt’s home I shoved all those cruel memories deep down, hoping that they would never resurface. It wasn’t until Casen that I was forced to face my hurtful past. Now, my previous life is sitting on the other side of the door waiting for me.