Page 45 of Protecting Hailey

My father looked at my mother, shrugged, then picked up the bowl and passed it to me.

“Thank you,” I said. After serving myself, I passed it along to Christian.

“Is this from the place you were telling me about?” I asked him.

“It is.”

“You picked the restaurant for today’s family dinner?” my mother asked, raising her eyebrow.

“He did,” I said and took a bite of the penne carbonara. “Mmm, this is delicious.”

My mother tried a forkful herself and shrugged. “I guess it’s all right.”

I smiled and considered it a win.

Turning to my cousin, I smiled at her. “How’s school going, Anya?”

“It’s great,” she said, cutting into her veal parmesan.

Anya was a year younger than me, but since I’d been in the business since I turned sixteen, I’d never had a chance to go to college. When Uncle Joe asked me to help pay for her tuition, I didn’t hesitate. I wanted my cousin to have experiences I never had.

Aunt Betty rubbed Anya’s back. “Anya’s doing really well, too. She presented a paper on environmental changes.”

Anya groaned. “Mom, everyone had to present. It was no big deal.”

“Of course, it’s a big deal, honey. Not everyone gets to stand in front of all those people and not be nervous.”

Aunt Betty's eyes met mine, and she cringed. “Sorry, Hailey. I didn’t mean it that way.”

I waved her off. “Don’t worry about it. I do get nervous in front of a crowd. I swear, some days, I just want to quit while I’m ahead.”

“No!” shouted the entire table, and I blinked at them. Christian closed his eyes and turned his head away.

I laughed uncomfortably. “I was only kidding, but good to know y’all feel so strongly about my career.”

“Of course we do, sweetheart,” said my mother, and with a side glance at Christian, she added, “We wouldn’t want you to lose what you’ve worked so hard to earn.”

Those words could easily be applied to herself. My mother paid for my guitar and piano lessons. She took me to every audition, and even pulled me out of bed in the middle of the night to perform at some club if the owner allowed it. We would enter through the back way and leave right after my set. She protected me and I wouldn’t begrudge her our success. I just wished it felt a little more personal.

“So, Hailey. I hear you’re single now. I can hook you up with some guys I know on campus. Jared is real cute.”

Christian dropped his fork, and I smiled. It probably had nothing to do with Anya’s suggestion, but a small part of me would be thrilled if it bothered him even a little.

“Thanks, Anya. But I’ve been told twice today to keep my lips to myself. I think I’m just going to focus on my music.”

“How’s the new album coming along?” my father asked.

“Really good. Tessa and I have three songs recorded already. I love—”

“Don’t dilly dawdle with this one, Hailey,” my mother said, putting her fork down. “You need to strike while you’re hot. You know how quickly the court of public opinion can turn on you.”

“I certainly do. But that has nothing to do with my music. At least it shouldn’t.”

“Of course it does. It all goes hand in hand.” She blew out a frustrated breath. “You understand that good music is only half of a successful career. You need to play the part, be seen with the right people, date the right men.”

Date the right men.

My heart stopped, and I looked up at my mother. She pushed the green beans around on her plate before finally sticking a fork in one.

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