Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 81401 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 407(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81401 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 407(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
“That’s fine,” I tell her, agreeing that right now is probably not the best time. “I thought about selling the house, but am going to keep it. We’ll keep the house stocked for right now so that when we have to come back here for auditions and whatnot, we have a place to stay.”
The previous set scowl starts to ease up, but not by much. I know I have a long way to go until I can get a smile out of her. I move a few of her things over to her bed and sit on the edge. Stormy stands off to the side, fiddling with the hem of her shirt.
“About Zara. . . I know that I told you earlier this week that she and I were friends, and we are, but we’re also attracted to each other. We’re exploring a relationship, Stormy.”
“But, Dad—”
“There are no buts, Stormy. We’re adults who have a lot of chemistry, and we like each other. I know it’s hard to take in because of your situation, but believe me when I tell you this—I never thought in a million years that I’d have anything in common with a woman like Zara.”
“But you do?” she asks.
I shake my head. “It’s different. Whereas I had everything in common with your mom, Zara and I are learning to adapt to each other. Up until we met, neither of us had any idea who the other person was. I’m country. She’s rock and roll. I’m quiet. She’s loud. Her fans are crazy. Mine are subdued.”
“She’s more punk than rock and roll,” Stormy says, cracking the death glare she’s been giving me with a quick smile.
“Right, see! I don’t even know her genre, but I do know that I like her and she likes me.”
“She’s married,” Stormy points out, causing me to hang my head. This is my biggest fear and one that I haven’t admitted to anyone but myself. She and her soon-to-be ex have a history, one that is deep. There isn’t anything holding Zara to me.
“I know, but they’re getting a divorce.” At least that is what I’m telling myself until Zara proves me wrong. I know she’s filed, but with Van disappearing into rehab that has put everything on hold. Still, there’s a part of me that wonders what’s going to happen when he’s out, cured, and wants Zara back. Where does that leave me or us?
Stormy finally decides to sit by me. Her shoulder touches me, and I take that as a sign she’s willing to forgive me. “Here’s the thing, Daddy. All the dancers think I bought my way into that lead and they’re pissed. They don’t understand that you didn’t know Zara until the day of the video shoot.”
“Baby girl, that is going to happen no matter what. If you get a lead in a play or get accepted to a school that is hard to get into, people are going to say you bought your way in because of me. Even as you make a name for yourself with your talent, which I might add is very impressive according to Zara, but everyone is going to say things were handed to you because of me.”
“That’s not fair though. I’ve worked hard.”
“I know you have, and I’ll never dispute that, but when you hear things like that or come across something that upsets you, you can’t let it get to you. In every aspect of life, you need to have thick skin.”
“Easier said than done, Dad.”
“I know, and I’m sorry you had to find out about Zara and me like that. It wasn’t our intention.”
“I thought that by Willow and me moving home, it would just be us, and now she’s there.”
“I thought you liked her?”
“I do, but as Zara Phillips, lead singer of Reverend Sister but not my dad’s girlfriend or someone living in our house.”
I try to imagine myself in her shoes and can easily see where she’s coming from. I can’t exactly tell Zara to leave, not that I’d want to do that and I think deep down Stormy doesn’t want that either. But I have to be conscious of my girls’ feelings and make sure they’re my priority. Zara will understand that.
“I understand, Stormy. Zara won’t be in the way or always around if you don’t want her there. She’s there to hide, relax, and regroup.”
“And be your girlfriend?”
I shrug and find that I can’t keep the wide grin from spreading across my face. I like the idea of her being my girlfriend. It makes me feel like a teenager again.
zara
Twenty-Five
When Van and I split, I had trouble sleeping. I knew it was because I had spent so much time sleeping next to him that with him gone and the damage that he had done to me, sleep evaded me for weeks. The last two nights have been the best night’s sleep I’ve had in a long time. Admitting that, though, breaks my heart because it makes me realize that there were signs with Van that I was missing or too naïve to see. I thought what we had was a perfect marriage, and on the outside, we did. We were always affectionate to each other, especially when we were out in public. We rarely fought or argued, and now that I look back, I see that we rarely spoke about anything that wasn’t band related.