Effortless (Thoughtless, #2)(72)

Jenny shrugged. “Well, since he knew the party would get started late, I guess he figured it would go until the early morning. Most suburban-ites aren’t okay with that, so he gave them money to encourage them to let it go for one night.” She shrugged again. “He said if they did, he’d double the amount. We’re supposed to deliver that payment.” I shook my head at how much that must have cost him. And all so he could give everyone a good time on the band’s last night in town. Shaking my head, I glanced out the window. “That must have cost him a fortune.” I looked back at Jenny. “Is that even legal?” Jenny shrugged. “I don’t know, but I told him I’d take care of it. He left some money here…somewhere.”

As Jenny began to search for the envelope padded with hush money, I frowned and put my hands on my hips. “Why didn’t he ask me?” I muttered.

Anna, resting on the couch with her feet up, heard me. “Probably because he knew you’d get that look on your face, and object to him throwing his money away.”

She smirked after she said it and I frowned at her. Damn right, I objected. But still…I was his girlfriend, not Jenny. Slipping money under people’s doors should have been my job. Laughter swung my attention around. Jenny and Rachel were in the corner of the room reserved as the kitchen, and were staring into a can of coffee grounds, chuckling.

Curious, I walked over to them. Jenny shook her head, pulling a thick envelope out of the can. “Kellan and his coffee,” she murmured.

I flushed, my own memories of Kellan, coffee, and an espresso stand that I’d never forget, mixed erotically in my head. Not noticing my face, Jenny opened the envelope and did a quick count of the cash. When she 201



got to the end of the wad, she pulled out a piece of paper. Seeing my name on the outside, she looked up and handed it to me.

“Here, it’s for you.”

I smiled as I grabbed it. I smiled even more reading it.

Don’t be angry. I asked Jenny to do this because I knew you’d be upset with me for spending so much money. I had to, though. I had to give you a memorable evening, and preferably one that didn’t end with us all being arrested…although, seeing you in handcuffs…

Anyway, please don’t be mad. I did it for you. You deserved a good night last night. You deserve everything. I love you, I miss you. Kellan.

Gazing stupidly at his handwriting across the paper, I didn’t notice the person reading over my shoulder. I noticed when she shoved me forward. “Goddamn, he’s sweet. I really wouldn’t have expected that from him.”

Folding the note, I looked back at Anna. She giggled and hugged me.

Kissing my head, she added, “You’re one freaking lucky girl, sis. I hope you know that.”

Smiling, I raised my chin a bit. “I do.”

Squeezing my shoulders, Anna laughed a little harder. “And I’m lucky, too. I’m going to have the hottest brother-in-law on the planet!” I playfully pushed her away from me. “We’re not…he’s not…” Slinging her arm around Jenny, Anna continued undaunted. “Can’t you just picture what my nieces and nephews are going to look like?” Jenny laughed as Anna sighed. “Those deep blue eyes, that jaw, those lips…”

“That hair,” Rachel quietly added.

I flushed and smacked my sister on the arm. She was the one that had started this little, embarrassing conversation, and as family, I had the 202



right, no…duty…to wail on her; I was pretty sure that had been covered in my ethics class.

Stepping away from me, Anna leaned over to Rachel. “And you know I’m going to have loads and loads of them, because their parents can’t keep their hands off each other.” As I covered my face with my hands and shook my head, Anna sighed again. “I’ll have to get a bigger place, just so all the beautiful little babies can visit me.” Removing my hands, I rolled my eyes. Anna shrugged. “Just saying.” As I turned to leave the loft, since we were finished with the instruments, I heard my sister murmur to the girls, “I cannot wait to see our dad’s expression when he finds out that a rock star impregnated his daughter…it’s going to be epic.”

They were all laughing as I left the room, my body heating at just the thought of one day carrying Kellan’s child. It was a very nice thought. I wondered how Kellan felt about having kids… Hmmm, maybe I should wonder about how he felt about getting married. First things first and all.

I smiled as I opened the door to his Chevelle. I’d never truly considered marriage with Denny. Maybe because we’d been so young, maybe because I always knew he’d never agree to it until he was settled in his career. With him, it had just seemed a far off goal that we’d eventually reach one day, and I hadn’t felt the need to make that day come any faster than was necessary. But with Kellan…well, my heart beat faster at just the thought of a ring on my finger. And aside from the honor of being his wife, a ring on him would be a back-off symbol to every other girl out there.

I paused as I reached the key to the ignition. I didn’t like that thought.

I didn’t want to marry him just so he’d be “off the market.” I wanted to marry him because he was my world. And he was…but there was an ul-terior motive in me being his wife and I didn’t like myself for it. I guess I wasn’t ready yet. I had to get over wanting to stake a claim on him first. I had to be so comfortable in our relationship that no one outside of it mattered.