It was infuriating.
But I couldn’t help but return the grin that slowly spread across Trent’s face. And I knew then, I was well and truly fucked.
Trent
Isnuck a glance over at Madison and my heart swelled at the young woman she was becoming.
“You excited about tonight, Mads?” I asked as I looked up to catch another quick glance at my daughter from the mirror in front of me.
She looked over at me and grinned with excitement.
“Absolutely,” she said, bouncing on the heels of her flats. While I hadn’t exactly approved of the strappy shoes my assistant had helped Madison pick out for the premiere, I couldn’t help agree that they looked cute on her.
Though, she would absolutelykillme if she knew I was still thinking of her ascute.
But it didn’t matter if she was thirteen or thirty-three, she’d still be my little girl. That was something that would never change.
“I’m excited to finally get a chance to go to one of these things.” She flittered her eyelashes as she made her way toward me, and I immediately knew she was up to something. “You’re looking particularly dapper tonight, Daddy,” she continued with a sly look that had me narrowing my eyes at her.
I let out a huff of a laugh.
“Well, it’s a good idea to look nice for these things. Executives and other important people will be there. Dress to impress. Right?” I said with a wink as my heart started to beat out a hurried rhythm.
Madison gave me a soft look as she reached over and straightened my tie.
Seeing the cloudy look in her eyes, my heart clenched. I hadn’t meant to bring attention to the fact I was doing a show without Allen. The last thing I wanted was to bring up painful memories—for either one of us.
“There,” she said with a strained smile.
When she turned her back and started to gather things into her small purse, I struggled with what I was supposed to say to her. More than anything, I wanted to go back and take back the last couple of minutes and have my carefree and happy daughter back.
“Anyone in particular you’re dressing to impress tonight, Daddy?” she asked, her throat thick with emotion but the teasing was unmistakable.
My head shot up and my eyes went wide.
“Wh-What do you mean? Who would I be trying to impress?” My body felt frozen in place. In fact, one wrong move and I was sure I would shatter to a million pieces.
She turned and gave me a knowing look and I swear my heart stopped. With a roll of her eyes, she turned back to her purse and grabbed her lip gloss.
I let out a sigh as her concentration and attention seemed to have gone elsewhere and off me and my non-existent love life.
“Gage seems nice,” she said with a smirk.
My eyes narrowed and I felt like I’d been kicked in the chest by a horse.
“He’s my co-host on the show,” I stuttered, my throat feeling like sandpaper.
The conversation had to end there. It couldn’t go anywhere, because Gage and I couldn’t go anywhere. It was just work, nothing more.
I thought back to the way he always silently offered his support. He always knew when I was struggling with something, even when I did my best to hide it. Gage was always there with a steadying hand. We didn’t even have to say anything, either one of us, he always knew. And it was the little things that he did that let me know he had my back.
Madison walked toward the bathroom and the sunny smile she threw me warmed my heart.
Until her words stopped me in my tracks.
“So was Dad,” she threw over her shoulder just before the door closed softly behind her.
In a daze, I stumbled over to the couch and collapsed onto it.
