Page 130 of On Her Team
“I spoke to my mom after you left.” She pauses but I don’t rush her. I have all the time in the world for her. “She told me why my dad left.”
“You didn’t know?”
“Mom never talked about my dad. She refused to answer any of my questions. At some point, I stopped asking.”
I squeeze her hand. “You don’t need to tell me.” I can’t stand causing her pain.
“Wrong, I do.” She inhales a deep breath before launching into the story. By the time she finishes explaining her dad’s illness and how her mother reacted and relied on her for years, tears are streaming down her face.
I need her in my arms. I can’t stop her tears. But I can comfort her until she finishes crying. I pick her up and settle her in my lap.
“Eek! The steering wheel is fusing to my spine.”
“Oops. Sorry.” I push the seat back as far as it will go. She wraps her arms around my shoulders and buries her face inmy neck. I rub my hand up and down her back until her tears subside.
“It’s okay, songbird. I’m here. I’ll never leave you,” I murmur.
She looks up at me. “You better not, since you are currently looking at the proud renter of an apartment in Steel City.”
“You already rented an apartment?”
“Not exactly. It’s included in my contract with Juliet Ash.”
“You finally spoke to the lawyer?”
“Yep. The deal with Juliet changed. In addition to recordingIf I Asked,she wants to collaborate with me on more music.”
“Holy shit!” I squeeze her up tight. “I am so proud of you.”
She beams at me. “Juliet wants me in Steel City a few weeks every quarter. And, thanks to the attorney you recommended, who is a total shark by the way, an apartment is part of the deal.”
“A few weeks a quarter? You’ll be in Smuggler’s Hideaway the rest of the time?”
“Nope. Mom is kicking me out of the house. It’s time for me to ‘live my own life’.”
“I fucking love your mom.”
“Of course, you do. You’re getting exactly what you want.”
Not exactly. What I really want is for her to live with me. I want to wake up to her every morning. Fall asleep with her in my arms every night. It’ll happen. It’s where she belongs after all.
“Damn. All of those flights I booked to visit you during my off time are wasted now.”
Her forehead wrinkles. “You bought flight tickets to visit me?”
“And reserved the resort.”
“After I walked away?”
“Songbird, I told you. I’m not letting you go. I love you. I want to spend every minute of time with you. But if I can’t, I’ll accept whatever time you have available to me.”
Her nose wrinkles. “I’m not certain how much time I’ll have. Since I’ll be writing songs for Juliet Ash.” She bites her bottom lip. “What if I’m a one-song wonder? What if I can’t write any more songs? What if I’m a failure?”
I tug her lip from her teeth. “You are the most talented woman I know. You’re going to write a million hits.” I smirk. “Especially since you’ve met the man you love and he inspires you.”
She slaps my chest. “Awfully full of yourself.”
“But you do love me, don’t you?” I push. I need to hear her say the words.
