Page 124 of Luci’s Lullaby

“Well then, you gotta quit living like a rock star.” He laughs as I stand, my breathing leveling out.

I reach for his hand. “Thanks for waiting.”

“Not a problem.” He points over his shoulder to Reese. “Now, that’s a problem.”

I twist my mouth. “Yeah, I see that. Do me a solid, come save me if Walker starts beating my ass.”

“Oh, hell naw. That’s your mess, I’m too pretty to get this face jacked up.” He winks, stroking his chin.

I roll my eyes and start toward Reese. She’s holding on to Walker, crying. I have never made this girl cry and always swore to kill anyone who did, including her big hulking man.

I stop a few feet away. “I’m sorry, Reese Cup.”

“Nope, not good enough.” She peeks up at me. “Please don’t ever do this to me again!” She almost knocks me down running over to hug me.

“I know I have so much to make up for. I promise to be the best man I can be.”

“You already were, you just didn’t see it.” She latches onto my neck and hugs me hard.

Walker slaps me on the back. “Now, you need a real shower.”

“And a toothbrush.” Reese holds her nose.

“I also need a job and a ton of money, because Sam is suing me.”

“Don’t worry about Sam, she messed with the wrong person’s kid,” Chord snickers.

“Huh? What’s going on?”

“One is after her and I guarantee, she won’t be around for much longer.” Chord waits for me to fist bump him.

“I heard that.” I frown as a sharp pang hits me in the center of the chest. “I need to see Luci. I hope she hasn’t forgotten me.”

“She hasn’t, but first, we’ll need to pry her from Charlee’s arms.” Reese grins.

My frown deepens. “Why is she in Charlee’s arms?”

“We have so much to tell you but first, shower and food,” Chord says, fake punching me.

I stop, holding up my hand. “How did y’all know to wait?”

Chord grins like a shit-eating possum. “We saw you running through the lobby.”

“Fuck you all.” I flip them off as we all laugh.

I walk into my apartment, and I’m immediately overcome with the scent of my girls. Memories crash back in like high tide on the beach. I muster the courage up to walk through the house and look around.

I push the door to Luci’s room open, and I’m blown away by what I find. Shades of pink, gray, and charcoals. A mobile made from music notes and guitars hangs over her bed. A pillow with sheet music on it sits in the rocking chair.

A silhouette of a little girl floating in the air with record balloons to the left of the door. A pink tie-dyed flower made from sheet music on the closet door and behind the crib, a wall of sheet music with the word, Lullaby, written across the top.

“Charlee Rae, you incredible creature you.” My heart rockets, sending sparks flying through my body.

My bedroom is spotless, nothing like I left it. Just as I turn, something gets my attention overtop the bed. I flip the light on and see they’re not the same pictures. A set of three hang in their place.

As I walk closer, I see a guitar in one. I step closer, and it takes my breath away. It’s Luci, propped up on my acoustic guitar, her hands under her chin with a pale pink blanket.

I gaze at the other one, a picture of Luci and me. Her back against my chest, and I’m kissing the top of her head. She’s so incredibly tiny, I barely remember her this way.