Luc winced.“So, you broke up with Grace?”
“What choice did I have?”
“I don’t know, buddy.That’s a tough call.But I do know one thing, I couldn’t live without Marisa.That girl’s my whole world.So, as much as I love my daughter, if she’d given me an ultimatum like that, I would have told her me and Marisa are a package deal and she’d have to learn to live with it.”
Luc made it sound so easy.But I felt like my back was against the wall and I didn’t have a choice.I couldn’t abandon my daughter again.I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.
“I don’t know what the hell to do.”I clenched my jaw.“Grace is dating again, if you can believe that.”
My sister sent me a pic Grace had posted online.She was at some party, cozying up to some asshole who looked like a GQ model.I’d wanted to find out who he was and beat him senseless, but I knew this wasn’t his fault.It was mine.If I hadn’t let Grace go, he couldn’t have moved in on her.
“Why wouldn’t she be?She’s young, beautiful, smart, and single.She should be dating.”
“I hate you.”
Luc laughed.“No, you don’t.You hate yourself for being such a dumbass.”
“You’re right about that.So, tell me, boss man, what am I going to do?How should I handle this?”
Luc snagged his phone before standing.“I can’t tell you what to do.But I told you what I’d do in your position.So, take that for what it’s worth.”
It was worth a hell of a lot to a guy as lost and confused as I was.
ChapterTwenty
Taz
I was in Grace’s office building.No, I wasn’t stalking her.I’d made an appointment with the therapist she recommended, because I needed to know how to deal with my daughter and get myself out of the mess I’d made.
Jasper’s receptionist, a pretty young blonde, smiled when I entered his office.“Mr.Azevedo?”
I nodded, trying to shake the discomfort that came with hearing my surname aloud for the first time in years.
“Jasper is just finishing up with a patient.He’ll be right with you.Can I get you anything to drink in the meantime?Coffee or water?”
“No, I’m fine, thanks.”I settled into one of half a dozen armchairs positioned around the small waiting area.I glanced at my phone before silencing it and slipping it into my pocket.
“Refresh my memory,” the receptionist said.“Did I email you those intake forms to fill out?”
“Yeah, you did.”
“Ah, right.Here they are.Perfect.”
I hoped she wasn’t the chatty type.I felt like crawling out of my skin right about now.The last place I ever expected to be was in a therapist’s office, getting ready to spill my guts.But I couldn’t go on pretending I was fine when every day felt worse than the last.
I glanced up when I heard male voices.I recognized Jasper from the photo on his website.He looked confident, secure, in control.Probably because he, unlike me, hadn’t spent a lifetime making messes it took years to clean up.
Jasper waited until his patient left before crossing the room and offering me his hand.“Tane?”
“I actually prefer Taz,” I said, shaking his hand.
“Taz,” he repeated, shooting a glance over his shoulder at his receptionist, who was typing on her computer, before he said, “The singer?”
I nodded.It wasn’t the first time I’d been recognized.Walking the streets in the birthplace of country music without getting noticed, was getting harder every day.Not that I was complaining.I’d signed on for this, and was ready for all the crazy that came with fame.
“Okay, well let’s step into my office,” he said, leading the way.Closing the door, he rubbed the back of his neck.“Uh, Taz, this is a bit awkward.But Grace is a good friend of mine, and I know you two broke up.”
Grace had been the one to suggest I see this guy, but that was before I broke up with her.Then she’d been suggesting I see him with my daughter, to try and heal some of her scars.Now that I was getting to know Quinn, I had no doubt she’d laugh in my face if I even suggested we get professional help to build a better relationship.
