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“I have a house,” I replied, reaching into the fridge to get out two beers.
“It’s in LA. You could have bought one here.”
I handed him the beer. “I live alone. I don’t need a damn house here. This place has three bedrooms, a sauna, Jacuzzi, and a view.”
Rush chuckled. “Yeah, after you completely renovated it. Whatever, Dad.”
“What? It’s a great building, and it needs some work. Gives me something to do. I got this place so I could be close to my family. The kids are growing up, and I want to be here for it, but I need a fucking life too. This is a project. It’ll keep me busy.”
Rush smirked. “For now.”
I walked over to the white leather sectional and sank down on it, then propped my feet up on the ottoman. “When this is finished, I’ll find a new project,” I replied.
Rush took a long pull from his bottle, then leveled his gaze on me. “That’s not what I meant. Kiro will get bored and want to tour again, and then you’ll be back on the road.”
That was always a possibility, but this time, I wasn’t so sure. Kiro seemed done. When he wasn’t living his rock-star life, he was in Rosemary Beach, visiting his daughter and granddaughter. Even if he did want to tour again, this was where I would be for now.
I shrugged. “Who knows? We might do a few concerts here and there, but I think we might be done with the road.”
“I’ve heard that before,” Rush drawled.
I wasn’t going to argue. He’d seen it all in his lifetime. I wasn’t sure what the future held for Slacker Demon, but it no longer controlled me. The fame, women, music—it had all gotten old. I wanted more than that life.
“Have you met your tenants?” Rush asked with an amused tone.
I shook my head. “No.”
I’d thought about it, then changed my mind. They’d eventually know I was living up here. I couldn’t keep that hidden long. Even with my private entrance and garage, they would see me.
“You can’t hide the fact that you’re living up here. It’ll get out.”
“I know.”
“You should have bought a place in Rosemary Beach. They’re used to celebrities. You wouldn’t have been bothered.”
Rush lived in Rosemary Beach and had since he was a kid. I’d bought him a house there and allowed his mother to live in it with his half-sister until Rush was old enough to decide if they stayed or went. It was a small, elite coastal town, and I was glad my grandkids were growing up there, but I didn’t want to be there. Not that close. I wanted to be a part of their lives, but not completely embedded. They needed their space, and I needed mine.
“I like it here. Always have. It’s bigger than Rosemary Beach, but not too big. It’s also closer to the airport.”
I started to say more when Rush’s phone rang, and he glanced down at it before answering.
“Hey,” he said, standing back up and walking toward the table, where he had dropped his keys. “I’m at Dad’s new place, but I am leaving now. I’ll be there in thirty minutes. I love you.”
I glanced over at him, already knowing that was his wife, Blaire. “Everything okay?”
Rush paused at the door. “Yeah. Nate punched some kid at the country club.”
I grinned. “What’d the kid do?”
Rush shook his head. “Blaire said the kid called Lila Kate a name or some shit. I don’t know. I just have to go help her deal with it.”
Lila Kate was Kiro’s granddaughter. The one he adored. Nate and Lila Kate were growing up together in Rosemary Beach, like family.
I held up a hand to wave but didn’t get up. “Don’t be too hard on my grandson. He acts just like his father did.”
Rush let out a short laugh. “Bye, Dad.”
“Bye,” I called back and took another drink of my beer.
