Page 75 of Saved By the Rockstar Daddy

I can’t help myself and go stand behind her so I can see what she’s looking at.

“Apollo and Ares are no longer in Shakedown. How interesting that both of them left the band.”

Lani points at something a little lower on the search engine page. “Look at this. It says the label ended Shakedown’s contract after lackluster sales after the departure of lead singer and frontman, Lo.” Smiling, she looks up at me.

He told me he was leaving the band, but I never thought he would. Not after I stepped aside.

Is he okay? Does he need something?

God, I hate that I pushed him so far away that he no longer keeps in touch.

I grab my phone and go to his contact.

I want to hear his voice so bad. But I shouldn’t. I’ve been doing all I can to be forgotten by the press. Can I really bring him back into my life?

Maybe one text won’t hurt.

And I have to find out what the hell happened.

I text Apollo, “How have you been doing?”

“There, the ball is in his court. Let’s see how he plays it.”

It takes all of a split second before he texts back.

We should talk.

“Wow. Okay, then.” I look at Lani, and she nods, so I text him Lani’s address. “So, I guess this is it. We’re going to talk.”

I don’t know what I’ll say, what he’ll say. Does he still want to be a family? Or has he moved on already and just wants to co-parent Aurora?

My chest hurts at that thought. More than I thought possible.

Because I love him. So much. And being apart from him for this long has been hell.

“Oh God, Lani. What if he doesn’t want me anymore? What if he doesn’t love me anymore? I don’t know if I can survive a second time of him breaking my heart even if this is my fault all over again.”

I want him back so badly. And my little girl is desperate to see him.

I’m shaking. “This conversation will decide the rest of our lives, and I’m not sure it will go the way I wish it would.”

But then Lani’s standing, arms around me, hugging me tightly. “This is good, Lucy. It’s what real grownups do. They talk about things and how they can make things work for their family. I think you two are finally figuring out how to adult properly.”

I could argue that I have been adulting for the last four years, but I why bother.

She’s right. Apollo and I have to talk. We have to do what’s best for our daughter. I just hope there is still some way that it might include me in his life too.

“I was so stupid blaming him—no! punishing him for something he had no control over. It was not his fault at all, and I punished him and my daughter because I was scared. I guess I punished myself too. Why do I have to be so stubborn?”

“You were in shock. And I guess, after that, you were just too ashamed of your actions or too proud to reach out to him. But now you have. And you can apologize and explain, and you guys can get everything out in the open. Just listen to your heart and for once follow your instinct instead of your head.”

“But what if—"

“Breathe. Look, I’ll take Aurora out for breakfast so you and her daddy can talk in private. Just speak from the heart and listen, really listen to what he has to say. Keep an open mind and everything will be okay.”

God, please let her be right.

“Okay.” I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Then I smile at her. Not a huge smile, but still.

---