Page 64 of Saved By the Rockstar Daddy

“I just told you he had some things he needed to do, sweetie.” I go to my bedroom and grab some shoes out of the closet.

As I tie my shoes, I jerk my head in the direction of her sandals. “You want to put those on so we can get going?”

“Sure.” Going to sit on the floor next to the shoes she kicked off just before her nap, she begins putting them on. “What about Aunt Lani? Can she come?”

If I invite Lani, she’ll have tons of questions about Apollo, and I can’t talk about that yet. “No, honey. Today it’s just the two of us. A Mommy and Aurora special lunch.”

“Okay.” Standing up, she looks at her shoes that she put on the right feet this time. “I did it.”

“You did. I’m so proud of you.” Taking her hand as I walk by her, I lead her to the front door. “Ready to have some fun?”

“YES! It’s more fun with Daddy, though.”

And she is right, of course. But after the way I left things, I’m not sure the three of us will be having any fun together any time soon.

“I wish he lived with us. Or we could live at the hotel with him. I love the hotel. But not those people who made you upset.”

As we walk down the street, I look around but don’t see anyone lurking around. “A hotel is not a home, honey. It’s just a place where people stay for a little while.”

“Then where is Daddy’s home?”

“He doesn’t really have one, that’s why he is in the hotel.”

“Then Daddy should live with us.”

I help her get into the back seat of the car, in her booster seat, thinking that her daddy living with us would be amazing, but I might have blown any chance I had with him because I’m so stubborn. My pride and selfishness prevented me from seeing what he was saying all along.

He was right.

But it’s too late now. I pushed him away.

As I buckle her up, she says, “We can all sleep in your bed.”

“You know, if Daddy lived with us, you would have to sleep in your own bed. Mommies and daddies don’t sleep with their kids in their beds.”

“Tyler sleeps with his mommy and daddy. He tells everyone at daycare about it all the time.”

“Well, that’s not how we do it at our house.” Closing the door, I get into the front seat.

I know the reality of what life with Apollo would be. He wouldn’t be able to keep his hands off me if we were in bed together. Our daughter would have to sleep elsewhere. “Our lives would be very different if your father lived with us, Aurora. I think that, for now, it’s best we live separately.”

“I want Daddy with us all the time.”

“Of course, you do.” Rolling my eyes, I adjust the rearview mirror so I can see her through it. “But that’s just not possible right now.”

Trying to change the subject, I think about what else we can do to stay away from the apartment. “How about we go see a movie after we have lunch? I think there’s a new cartoon out.”

Clapping her little hands, she looks excited by the idea. “Yes! Can we see the one with the unicorns?”

“Sounds good to me.” Anything to keep us out of the house so I don’t have to remind myself constantly of how poorly I handled things.

“Can I call Daddy?” Aurora asks.

Looking at her through the rearview mirror, I remind her, “Aurora, I told you he’s busy right now. I’m sure you can talk to him later. For now, can’t it just be the two of us like it used to be?”

“Yes, Mommy. I just want to tell Daddy something.” Jutting out her lower lip, she crosses her arms over her chest.

It’s not her fault that I’m upset.

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