Brand New Sky

Sway had always known music was going to be a part of his life. It wasn't until he picked up an electric bass in high school that he thought he might actually have fun with it. Raised by classical musicians with the expectation to follow in their footsteps, Sway had gotten used to not caring what other people thought of his choices. He had made it a habit early on in his career to find the bright side to every situation, even when others—including his fellow bandmates—disagreed with his methods. Or misinterpreted them entirely. Ryan is a moderately successful romance writer. She enjoys her quiet life and does not enjoy surprises. She's tense, suspicious, and completely thrown off by the rock star that has happened to move in next door. She's not looking for an adventure. Or a fling. Or anything really. But she keeps finding herself drawn further and further into the whirlwind that is Sway's life. For the first time ever, she feels like she can be herself... and be loved for it. When life interrupts, and reality checks back in, will what they have built together be solid enough to survive the hurricane that is part of the Double Blind Study world? Or will they be torn apart by simple doubt, drama, and pride? Brand New Sky is the sixth and final in a series of standalone novels following the lives and loves of Double Blind Study. Rated PG 16 for language, light heat, and drama

Chapter 1
Valley of Tomorrow


“So how many girlfriends do you have?”
Sway felt his lips twitch as he sucked on his soda straw. His eyes focused on the tiny version of himself sitting on the other side of the booth eating a burger the size of his head.
“Zero, at the moment,” he answered, wondering what the next question—or statement would be.
Of all the relationships he'd experienced in his life, this was the one that kept him most on his toes.
Miles, his almost eight year old son, shrugged his shoulders indifferently. “I have three.”
Sway's eyebrows went up in surprise and he choked back his laughter. “Three?” he asked, trying to figure out if Miles' mom was going to blame him for this one too.
It had only been four months since Alexa Romero had contacted him to inform him of his parental status. But those four months had been jam packed with enough action to fill a Rambo franchise.
Besides wrapping up a major tour, watching his band mate end up with a fairytale ending, and finding out he was a dad to a seven-year-old, he had backed out of an agreement to tour with another band as a fill-in, started house hunting for something more “kid friendly,” and had been spending time becoming a dad.
It was weird. He still had no idea if he was doing okay.
He thought he'd lived his life in a blur. Always on the move, exploring, touring, writing, living. However, things were moving so quickly now, he had no idea how to keep up.
“Yeah,” Miles spoke around his mouthful and Sway concentrated on the smaller person in front of him. They looked nearly identical. He was so clearly his son it was disconcerting. At least, it had been initially.
“How does your mom feel about you having three girlfriends?” Sway asked, keeping his head from shaking in humor despite the words he'd just said.
“She doesn't like me to say it. But that's what they are.” His bright blue eyes finally lighted on Sway and his fine eyebrows pointed in. “Isn't it?”
This was one of those moments that came out of nowhere. They happened suddenly, like being struck by lightning. Sneaking up on him and grabbing him by the short hairs. Because if he didn't nail this one, there might not be another chance.
Alexa kept telling him that it didn't work that way. That he would have many chances to screw things up as Miles grew. Easy for her to say, she'd been a parent for eight years. Sway had four months of experience that he hadn't prepared for. At all.
Sway swallowed before asking, “What do you mean?”
Miles sighed and set his burger down. “Girls that you would rather play with than other girls. 'Cause they're cool.”
“So they're just friends?” Sway asked slowly.
“Yeah.” Miles nodded once and his eyes lost focus as he thought about it. “They play soccer with us during recess. The other girls don't do that.”
“And that's what makes them your girlfriends?” Sway asked again, finding it harder to disguise his mirth.
“Well, yeah,” Miles said with a frown. “They're friends and they're girls.” He adjusted the burger in his hands. “Girls smell good.”
Sway grinned, suddenly very proud of his boy. “Yes, they do.”
“Mom says you might be moving,” Miles segued effortlessly then took another enormous bite of his burger.
Ah, yes. The big move. While the majority of his life he'd been traveling the world, Sway had lived in or around Boston. But things were different now. Alexa and her husband, James, lived in Connecticut. Asking to use his time with Miles traveling back and forth seemed weird when he had the power and means to shorten that trip.
And since he'd already missed so much, he didn't want to waste any more minutes.
“I'm going to be closer to you this spring. I'm staying at a friend's house in Hartford, actually.”
“That's awesome,” Miles said.
Those simple words filled Sway with more satisfaction than anything else in the world.