AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I turn to look and find the guy she’s talking about. “What the hell?”
“This is LA.” She shrugs. “I guess we shouldn’t be that surprised to see a man with a camera.”
“Yeah, but this is a playground. There are kids here. Not all parents want their kids’ pictures taken. I know I don’t. And where is this guy going to post these pics?”
“Inquiring minds want to know,” Lani jokes.
“You should become a reporter. You have the mind for it.” I smirk at her.
“You mean the nosiness that I have so much of? Maybe you’re right. Butting into things that aren’t my business does sound like fun.”
Our eyes follow the man as he wastes no time going right to the edge of the play area before kneeling so he can get down on the level of a child.
“Should I get Aurora?” Looking around, I spot the mother of the little girl Aurora is playing with. She doesn’t seem concerned about the camera guy. “Am I overreacting? I mean, I’m sure it’s okay, right? The hotel wouldn’t let some weirdo come out here where kids are.”
“I guess.” Lani takes another bite. “I mean, it could even be a hotel employee, and this is a complimentary service for all we know.”
“You’re right.” I still want to run over there, grab Aurora, and carry her inside, but I force myself to focus on my conversation with Lani. “Anyway, I think this is it. I really do. He’s the only man I’ve ever loved. The father of my child. This could be it for me.”
She nods. “Are you thinking marriage?”
“That wouldn’t be the worst idea ever. But it’s too soon. We’re just trying to see where we are and how we fit with each other in all of this. And we have to consider Aurora as well. She needs stability, and us racing into a relationship can be a disaster waiting to happen.”
“I can see that. His career isn’t exactly family-friendly.”
“But that’s just the thing. Why can’t it be? He doesn’t have to tour all year. He can have some time on the road and some time home here with us. It’s all about finding the right balance.”
“He’s under contract,” she reminds me as she finishes off the bagel.
“I know.” I gnaw on my lower lip. “I’m not saying he has to give anything up. And for the next year or two, until Aurora goes to school, we could even tour with him when he has to go. It’s not ideal, not what I really want. But I would do it so we could stay together.”
She looks me dead in the eye. “You really love him, Luce, don’t you?”
“Yeah, I do. He’s the best. And I don’t just mean in bed. Though let me tell you, girl, I have no complaints there.” Fanning myself as heat surges through me, I laugh.
Then I sigh. “But he’s also a great father and a great partner in this whole parent thing. He stuck with me through Aurora puking her guts up all night long. Then he stayed with her while I worked, and I didn’t have to clean anything up. He called in a crew and brought us here while they do their thing.”
Lani stands up, shouting at the man with the camera as he seems to be zooming in on Aurora. “Hey, you have to get her mother’s permission before you take that girl’s picture, asshole!”
I look at the man who ignores her, snapping picture after picture of my daughter. “Stop that!”
I run and grab Aurora as Lani steps in front of the camera.
His eyes finally come to me, and he stands to take pictures of me holding my daughter.
Lani tries to get in his way, waving her arms as I turn away from the camera. “What the fuck is your problem, prick?”
Someone comes out of the hotel, waving at the man. “You can’t be here. The cops are on the way!”
Lani and I hurry inside the hotel as the guy dodges the clerk to get a few more pictures in before running out the door.
“What a freaking perv.”
I’m fuming as I go straight to the woman at the reception desk. “Who do I complain to about a man who was taking pictures of my daughter?”
She looks at me with wide eyes, then looks at Lani. “Um, I can give you a paper to fill out, I guess. But this kind of thing happens all the time. Most people in your position have bodyguards to stop things like this from happening.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
