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Apollo
The whole ride back to Lucy’s apartment, she was silent despite all the questions I asked. She would nod or shake her head in answer, but she never spoke a single word.
So, I know something went on. Did my brother say anything that put her in this mood? Or was it something else?
For a second there, I thought I’d seen Ty, but he wouldn’t be there, right?
Whatever happened isn’t meant to be said in front of our daughter, that much I’m sure of.
When we get to Lucy’s, I wait for Aurora to run to the kitchen to hang our painting on the fridge, then I grab Lucy by the arm before she can run off. “Hey, we need to talk before I have to take off for that interview.”
For a long moment, her eyes search mine, then she nods. “Aurora, you need to go next door to give Miss Betty those cookies we made last night.”
“Okay,” she shouts, then comes running. “I can take them to her.”
Lucy gets the cookies, then walks next door with Aurora, leaving her with the neighbor so we can talk in private.
“I don’t know how to even start this conversation.” She paces in the little living room, and I can tell whatever it is, it’s not good.
Grabbing her, I pull her with me, and we sit on the sofa. “Just start from the beginning.”
Taking a few deep breaths, she closes her eyes, then it comes pouring out. “Ty wants me to set you free. He thinks I’m to blame for the band not gaining more fans. He thinks I am running you, controlling you. Your whole band hates me, Apollo.” Crying, she puts her hands over her face.
Fuck. Fucking Ty. He was there, and he did this. I could kill him for making Lucy cry.
I have no idea what to do, but I have to do something.
Pulling her to me, I cradle her in my arms. “It’s okay. You don’t have to cry. Those guys are screwed up right now. They just don’t want to accept that I’ve changed, and they’re trying to do everything in their power to get me to go back to my old ways.”
Teary eyes look into mine. “What do you want to do, Apollo? You can be honest with me. I won’t judge you. I know you’ve given up your life for your daughter. If you want to walk away from us, then I won’t try to stop you. I just want you to be happy. Even if it means we have to lose you. Not that I want to lose you but—”
“Stop. Just stop saying what you think I want to hear.” Kissing the top of her head, I know she’s struggling only because of what my fucking manager has said to her. “He had no right saying anything to you.”
She sniffles, trying to stop crying. “I can’t understand why he thinks you’re better off without your family.”
“The label is greedy.” Gritting my teeth so hard I can hear them grinding, I know what I have to do. “Sweetheart, everything with us is great. I want our little family. I have never wanted anything more than I want this. And I am not about to give up this gift I was given. Aurora is the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and I will never walk away from her or you. You’re stuck with me.”
Kissing her on the lips softly, I let her go and stand. “I need to get to Ty and the guys to set them straight once and for all. I never want anyone talking to you like that again.”
“He’s not exactly wrong, though.” Looking up at me, her lower lip trembles. “I asked you to stop drinking, partying, messing with women, and you’ve done it.”
Getting down on my knees, I take both her hands and hold them against my heart. “You feel that?”
“Your heart?” She frowns.
“Yes, my heart. It beats different since I found you again. It beats with hope for a future that’s limitless now that I have our daughter and you in my life. You did ask me to quit those things. And initially, I did stop for you. So I could be a part of our daughter’s life. But something changed inside me, and it became me who didn’t want to do those things anymore. I want my daughter to be able to look up to me. I want her to be able to respect me for the person I am.”
Kissing her knuckles, I think about how low Ty got, coming after the people I care about. “Thank you for making me the man I have become. The man I was always meant to be. Thank you for everything.”
Nodding, she bites her lower lip as her eyes glisten. “Truth is, I don’t actually think you changed.”
My heart stops for a second.
“I think you changed back. You are back to your old self. And I’m so happy for you.”
My chest puffs up as my smile grows. She is right. And I never want to go down the dark road I walked for the last four years.
“Me too.”
