Page 22 of Rising Star

A strand of hair fell across her forehead, and I fought with myself the urge to push it away. Restlessness clamped my shoulders as we stood closer than we had in a long time.

After a second, she brushed the tendril away herself.

“If you need anything, call me, okay?”

“We’ll be fine, Sam. I’ve spent the last few months caring for Mika and Justine. I know everything there is to know. Don’t worry. Do what you have to do, and don’t let your mind run wild.”

“Listen, about earlier”—I had no idea how to deal with the whole mama-thing Justine threw at us, as if she required more reasons to bail on me—“thanks for jumping in. I’ve been having this conversation with Justine a few times already, but for some reason, she has decided that my explanations aren’t satisfying enough. I’ll talk to her again when I get back.”

The same strand of hair, that Madison pushed away seconds ago, fell over her eyes once again. This time I didn’t think before I combed it to the side, shaping my palm to her cheek.

Electricity, powerful and sizzling, traveled from her visage to my hand. Hair stood on end on my arms. I breathed, but my airways had gone on strike.

The temperature of the room skyrocketed.

Our gazes melded together, and everything around me stopped. She rubbed her cheek against my palm. With a strangled voice, I added, “I’m sorry. For this morning. I was out of line. And an idiot.”

“Which part?” she asked.

I licked my lips to return moisture to my mouth. “All of it.”

Justine ran our way and snaked herself around my leg, interrupting us. This kid had a skewered sense of timing. “Daddy,” she singsonged.

I released Madison’s face and dropped my hand at my side to pet her hair, and the suffocating tightness between Madison and me evaporated.

I swallowed hard.

“Come here, baby,” I said, picking her up and perching her on my shoulders. “Uncle Riley will be here soon. Let’s wait for him outside.” I angled my body to face the woman it hurt to leave behind. We locked eyes. There were so many truths I hoped I could tell her. Instead, I said, “Call me. For whatever reason. I’ll be back in two days.”

“Don’t worry.”

She waved at me, avoiding my stare as I walked away, a rock replacing my dying heart and my heels concrete heavy.

7

MADISON

Sam had left about four hours ago, and already I was a living bundle of nerves. It didn’t help that he called twice to make sure I had no questions or missed anything. I could hear the anxiety lacing his voice. And each time, it sent a fresh batch of jitters to my stomach. I knew tonight was a big deal for him. Even bigger than his album launch. And even though my place was here, taking care of Justine and Mikaella, a big part of me wished I could stand tall by his side. Holding his hand and whispering in his ear that I believed in him and everything would be all right. That he got this. But all those scenarios were just fragments of my overactive imagination.

The girls and I had prepared a surprise for him. Something I set up with Riley. To make the first show after his long hiatus worth it. To make it super special. Unforgettable.

Now that the girls were napping, I busied myself with folding laundry. And sorting tiny pairs of socks. When that didn’t work to distract me, I sat with a novel on the back deck, away from any direct sunlight, and lost myself in the pages.

The rest of the day passed in a blur.

We called Sam on video chat after dinner, and I put the girls to bed soon after since they kept arguing about anything and everything. They too could sense the anticipation permeating the air.

Sitting in my favorite chair in the den with the novel I started earlier, I tried to keep myself busy and prevent my thoughts from wandering to uncharted territory—Sam’s territory. Unable to get engrossed in the story, this time around, I opened the messaging app on my phone, a tug-of-war rising inside me about whether I should wish him good luck for his big show.

Even after convincing myself it was cringe-worthy, I still did it.

Me: Enjoy tonight.

He answered seconds later. A piece of me wished he was debating the same thing on his side, whether or not to contact me.

Sam: Thank you. How are the girls? I felt the excitement earlier when we talked.

Me: Deep asleep.