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)
“Kissing is yucky, Daddy.”
“Oh, so sorry.” I run after her while crouching. “I guess you’d hate it when I do this, then.” I grab her and pick her up, planting kisses all over her face.
She squeals while trying to fight me off. “Stop, Daddy. Stop!”
I let out an exaggerated sigh. “Fine.”
As soon as I put her down, she runs behind Lyric for protection.
“Ooh, don’t think he’ll save you,” I tease.
“Kaylee, run!” Lyric yells.
This time she runs around the counter while I try to chase her, but Lyric’s in my way. He wraps his arms around my waist.
Kaylee runs behind Maggie this time.
“Oh no. She’s found my weakness.” I pretend to be in pain and sink to my knees.
“Women?” Maggie jokes.
Lyric snorts.
I glare. “Not cool, baby momma.”
She cocks her eyebrow at me.
I hang my head. “I won’t call you baby momma ever again.”
She smiles as I get to my feet.
Lyric leans in. “She really is your weakness.” He lifts his chin in Maggie’s direction. “You’re gonna have to teach me how to do that.”
“Sorry. It’s a gift. It can’t be taught.”
They share a look, and shit, it’s moments like this when I really think we can make this all work.
Of course, we’re going to have to get Maggie on board with my plan, but I don’t know if she will be.
“Hey, Kaylee, how about you help Lyric set up the backyard for the party while I talk to Mommy?”
Lyric holds out his hand. “Come on, little one.”
Once they’re gone, Maggie gives me an inquisitive stare.
“I have some news,” I say.
She beams. “You’re pregnant!”
I flip her off. “Funny. But, uh, can we sit?” I gesture to the small dining table.
“Uh-oh. Sounds serious.”
“It is, but it’s good news. I promise. I just don’t know how you’re going to take it.”
“You want me to move out?”
“Oh my God, woman. Just sit.”
She does, but her green eyes that are so much like Kaylee’s stare at me with worry.
“Lyric’s moving in.”
She doesn’t appear surprised. “That’s amazing. He’s really good for you. I’ve never seen you happier, and that includes when you were this big pop star with the world at your feet.”
“To be fair, I don’t think I was overly happy back then.”
She reaches for my hand. “Was that all you had to tell me?”
“No. There’s more.” I swallow hard because this is the part she won’t like. “With Harley and me starting this label and Lyric being signed, we’re both going to be busy in the upcoming months.”
“Which reminds me. You know that Brix guy? He’s ex-army as well, and while Harley was here and he was playing with the kids, we got to talking. He offered me a job on Harley’s security team.”
“A job …” I’m not sure if I can work all of this out without Maggie’s help, and if she’s on tour with Harley, and us, that means Kaylee would have to go back to the life I took her away from on purpose.
Maggie leans back in her seat. “I told him I’d have to think about it. And now with Lyric signing to Harley’s label, it will probably mean you’d need a new nanny, and—”
“Okay, well, that’s the thing. I was hoping … I mean, you said you wanted more time with Kaylee, and I’ve always had full custody, but maybe it’s time to change that. I figure if we work out a custody agreement where you become the primary carer and Lyric or I are on tour or whatever, you could bring Kaylee to see us on weekends when she’s not at school. Unless it’s too much for you, and—”
“Oh my God, I’ll do it.” Her brow furrows. “But what does that mean for me getting a job and working?”
Yep. There it is. “If you can get a job that works with our hours, then that’d be perfect, but …” Fuck, I’m sweating. I bumble the words in a hurry. “Do you know how much child support I would have to pay if we changed custody agreements? You wouldn’t have to work. And I know you want to work, and you’re independent and don’t want my money, and I can already hear you yelling, and—”
“You know me too well, but—” She bites her bottom lip. “—getting to know my daughter is more important right now. Eventually, I will want to work, but if this is a way I can get close to Kaylee and make up for lost time, I’ll take it. I just thought you would never let this happen. I mean, in the past, you’ve been worried about me trying to change our custody agreement.”
“I’m not going to lie, and you know I love you, but you coming to take Kaylee away from me has always been in the back of my mind because you left her with me so she could have a ‘good life.’ But the media hasn’t left us alone for five years. My fear comes from feeling like an inadequate parent, not thinking you’re an evil person who wants to steal her, and if I can overcome that, I’m certain we can do anything.”