Page 2 of Saved By the Rockstar Daddy

But even if I tried, how could I? I see him in our daughter every single day. It would be impossible not to still hold love in my heart for the man who fathered the person I love most in this whole world.

“I brought you this. You have to wear it. He will die.” Lani’s voice comes from behind me.

Turning around, I see her holding up some skimpy red dress.

Raising my brows, I shake my head. “Are you serious? That’s too short to be even called a shirt. How is that a dress? And those cut-outs are way too much. There’s no way I’d be comfortable showing that much skin.”

I get up and head to the closet. “I was thinking of wearing some black jeans, a black T-shirt, and my black Converse, paired with a black jacket. Black’s never failed me yet.”

“Do you even realize how boring that sounds? I know you love jeans and the color black, but just this once, how about wearing something different?”

“Nope. I don’t want to pretend to be someone other than who I am. Besides, I wasn’t all glammed up when you-know-who spotted me at one of his concerts.”

“And look how that all ended.” Lani’s eyes roll so hard, I worry they’ll get stuck in the back of her head.

“It wasn’t all bad.”

“You’re right, it wasn’t. You were happy, and you gained something out of it.” Her eyes pointedly go to my daughter. “But when it ended, you were crushed and had to go through everything alone.”

I know she is right, but still. “I wasn’t alone. I had you.”

“Yes, you did. You still do. Always. But you know perfectly well that’s not what I’m talking about.”

“Yes, I do. But I don’t want to talk about him or anything else right now. I just want to get this date over with. And I intend to be myself while I’m at it. If I’m putting myself in an uncomfortable situation, I might as well be comfortable.”

Being reminded of what my life could have been and how all of it fell apart makes tears well up.

“I’ll be right back.” My words are a bit hoarse, but I won’t have my baby see me crying.

Lani nods. “I’m going to leave the red dress out. The style isn’t the same as it was back when you were going out. It’s a lot more glam now.”

I appreciate her changing the subject more than she can possibly know. This emotional overload is too much. I need some normalcy for a few seconds to be able to not drown or not throw up.

“I will not wear that tiny tank top you insist on calling a dress. If you want to add glam to my outfit, you can find another jacket or shoes for me to wear. But my body will be covered.”

“Can I choose too, Mommy? I want you to be pretty too.”

“I smile at the little voice coming from the bedroom.

That girl means everything to me, and all I want is to give her the happiest life I can.

“Sure, honey. Go help Aunt Lani.”

Alone in the quiet of the bathroom, I try not to let the tears run down my face or my makeup will be ruined, and I don’t have time to redo my whole face.

I suck it up, force all the emotions way down deep, then lock them away.

An hour later, I step out of the Uber at the venue.

Lani’s sparkly, strappy sandals catch the light, making me want to find a rock to crawl under. “Why did I agree to wear her stupid shoes?”

To make matters worse, I agreed to wear her rhinestone studded jacket, and now heads are turning my way.

“Lucy?”

I look to find a man who is not nearly as tall as his profile says he is. “Brandon?”

“Yeah, it’s me.” Practically running to me, he attempts to hug me.

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