Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 100441 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100441 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
I lean forward in my seat. “Okay, maybe I’ll put it another way. What’s your earliest memory? How old were you?”
He thinks about it. “Maybe four or five? I guess. I remember the old house we used to live in before my dad took off and it became just me and Mom.”
Wow, okay, I didn’t expect him to share that much, but it does prove my point. “Know how old my daughter is? She’s almost five. I don’t want her first memory to be strange men in her face asking if the rumors about her dad’s sexuality are true. I don’t want them telling her she’s adopted or a test tube baby or any of those other stupid rumors out there. She already calls them the bad men with cameras. You remember your dad leaving. Imagine the kind of mental toll it would’ve taken if paparazzi were there taking photos of that moment and asking you about it. I need to keep her out of that life as much as possible. Even if it means I don’t get a social life.”
Cash frowns. “Okay, but you’ve hidden your sexuality from the public forever without it getting out. I don’t know why a kid changes anything.”
“Because before, the only person coming out could hurt was me. It’s not worth the risk.”
“Are you saying you don’t trust me to keep it between us?”
“It’s not that exactly. It’s …” I don’t know how to explain it. “Okay, I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but I actually learned something from all those ‘God is great’ schools I went to as a child. You know how they’re all about ‘the only form of safe sex is abstinence’? Same motto. I don’t have to worry about anything getting out if there’s nothing there.”
Cash opens his mouth to say something when my phone starts vibrating on the table next to me.
“Shit, it’s Kaylee’s school.”
I give him an apologetic stare as I answer the phone, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t thankful for the opportunity to get out of this conversation. “Hello?”
“Hi, Mr. Kennedy. It’s Tiffany from Vista Point.” Her voice is the annoying, cringy type of bubbly. No one is that naturally happy. It’s impossible.
“Is Kaylee okay?”
“Oh, well, we had a little incident.” She’s still bubbly. Like, so sorry, sir, your daughter is in the hospital, but look on the bright side, she’s not dead yet. Yay.
“What type of accident?” I growl into the phone.
Fuck this school.
“Another … biting incident. Though, this time she’s asking for you.”
“I’m on my way to pick her up.” I hit End before she can tell me in her bubbly way that she’ll see me soon.
She should be apologizing for not providing adequate care to my child.
“Rain check?” Cash asks.
“Sorry.” I stand and shove my phone into my pocket.
“All good. When can we rework the song?” he asks.
“I was lying. You nailed it. We can move on to another song during your next session.”
Instead of getting pissed for giving him shit, he laughs as he grabs his jacket and we walk out together.
Cash climbs onto his Vulcan motorcycle parked in my driveway and reaches for his helmet.
I eye the sexy bike but can’t help asking, “Does the label know you ride around on that thing?”
“What they don’t know won’t hurt them.”
“If you die because a semi flattens you, they’ll hurt lots.”
“Nah, they’ll love it. Imagine my album sales if I die.”
I cock my head. “I guess that’s a positive way of looking at death?”
“It’s not like I have anyone who’ll miss me.”
His sad confession hangs in the air, and I feel like I should say something.
As if sensing my concern, Cash dismisses it. “I mean, I have no responsibility like you do with your kid. I realize that might’ve come out more emo and depressing than I intended it.”
I’m not entirely convinced, but whatever I sensed is gone as he sends me a cocky smile.
“Until our next session. I’ll get my people to call your people.”
I snort. “I don’t have people anymore. Just a connection at the label who’s throwing some producing work my way.”
He puts on his helmet and fastens it, giving me a wave when he starts his bike and takes off.
As I get into my car and start the drive to Kaylee’s school, my anger starts to simmer.
The school is doing nothing to help Kaylee.
My mind goes back to the guy offering to fix this situation for me.
There’s something about the guy. He looks like an artist but has the soft touch of someone who works in childcare, and I can’t help thinking he would be good for Kaylee.
At least, that’s what I tell myself until my dick perks up and makes me think I’m contemplating hiring him for my own selfish reasons.
Though, it’s not like he’s unqualified. He’s already saved me hours of sleep this week with his bedding trick.