Page 41 of How to Catch a Rockstar

She melts into my arms, and I lift her and carry her to the sofa. I arrange her in my lap as she continues to sob.

“I’m sorry,” she says into my shoulder.

I brush her hair away from her forehead so I can see her face. “For what?”

“For crying all over you. It’s the hormones, I swear. I’m not usually a crier.”

“There’s nothing wrong with crying.”

She snorts. “Except it’s weak.”

I squeeze her neck. “There isn’t a weak bone in your body.”

“I don’t usually talk about my parents.”

“I get it.” And I do. I never talk about my past to anyone. My bandmates know but we never discuss it.

She studies my face for a few moments. “You do, don’t you?”

“Yep.” I tweak her nose.

“Anyway, now you know why my little bean won’t have any family.”

“Any family? What about the rest of your family?”

She shrugs. “Don’t have any.”

“But what happened to you when your parents died? You were fifteen. You weren’t old enough to be living on your own.”

“I went into a group home where I pretty much took care of myself.”

I wince. I know how it feels to be ignored in a group home.

“How long were you there?”

“Two years until I got early admission into college.”

Two years isn’t too long but it probably felt like forever to a girl who came from a loving home and just lost her parents.

“I’m sorry,” I say since I have no idea what else to say.

“Sorry I got early admission into college?” she teases.

My shoulders sag as the tension leaves me. My feisty girl is back. Nothing can put her down for long.

“You can stay here.” The words escape my mouth before I realize what I was going to say. But the words feel right.

Maybe I can’t have Aurora. Maybe I can’t be the partner she needs. Maybe I can’t be the dad her child needs. But I can provide her with shelter.

Her eyes widen. “You’re sure? This isn’t you feeling sorry for me?”

“I know better than to feel sorry for you. If I showed you any pity, you’d skin me alive before parading my skinless body around the town.”

Her nose wrinkles. “Sounds bloody. I’d prefer to sell your organs to the highest bidder. Baby needs a college fund.”

As if I’m going to let anyone else pay for the kid’s college except for me.

I set her on her feet. “I assume the girls put you in Gibson’s old room.”

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