Page 53 of Animal Beats

“Mr. River.”

“Mr. River,” Hayden corrects herself. “and I have to get on the road. I’m so happy to see how well you’re doing. Keep it up for me, okay?”

“Will do.” Mila bestows another long hug on her sister. When she’s done, she races over to me and wraps her arms around me as well. Pure joy comes off her in waves. I can’t help but want to bundle the feeling in my heart forever.

Hayden and I walk Mila to her classroom, where the other kids clap when she enters. Without turning back, she waves at a couple of kids, and hugs others. Next to me, Hayden tries to hide her tears, pivoting away from the door and speedwalking toward the front of the building.

I catch up to her in three long strides. “Hey,” my hand lands on her shoulder. “Mila seems to be doing well. That’s what you wanted, right?”

She keeps her profile pointed downward. “Mrs. Smitty told me she had to restrain Mila, which is why she went into her bedroom first. When I walked in, Mila was free but out-of-control. Everything was on the floor. You just heard about her phone.”

I consider what she told me. “Did Mila tell you why?”

Her head shakes.

Perhaps she was acting out in a similar way that I used to? “Maybe she was missing her big sister?”

“That’s what Mrs. Smitty said.”

“Seems to me you made her feel better.” I smile. “Crisis averted.”

“For now.” She stops. “What if I couldn’t have gotten here as quickly as I did?”

“Mila seems like a resourceful girl, and she’s surrounded by lots of love. I’m sure she would’ve gotten through it. Especially with a call from her big sister.”

A small smile plays around her lips. “Thanks, Mr. River.”

“Call me Río and I’ll accept your gratitude.” I can think of a few different ways I’d like to receive it. I put my arm over her shoulders and together we leave the school.

We climb into the SUV. “Where to?”

She looks at me. “I don’t know? To the jet?”

“Our flight crew had to switch off here, remember?” The FAA has strict rules. “We’re not expected back at the jet for another couple of hours. How about I rent us a room so we can decompress?”

“Get a hotel for a few hours? That’s so, I don’t know, tawdry?”

Her remark leads me to believe she’s never done something as crazy as have quickie monkey sex in a hotel room midday. Mind out of the gutter, Mr. River. More likely she wouldn’t ever spend money on such a luxury. I pull out my phone and do a quick search, then tell the driver to take us to a local hotel.

“Río, this is too extravagant.”

“My middle name.”

“No. It’s ‘Entitled.’”

I grab my chest. “Oh, ouch.” If she truly believes this about me, I need to do something to change her mind. “I’m anything but entitled. C’mon. You met my father. Do you honestly believe my life before the band was a bed of roses?”

“Well, no. But UC changed all that.”

“Did it?” We don’t speak for the entire ride to the hotel. I get us the key and lead her to the elevator, which takes us to the top floor.

I’m unlocking the door when she says, “Penthouse. Point proven.”

I need to get to the bottom of her money issues. Once inside, I say, “Snark doesn’t become you, Hayden.”

“It’s been a long morning.”

“It has.” I bring her to the sofa, and we sit. “Why do you consider me to be entitled?