Page 41 of Mayhem

But Charlies request at least pulls my mind from the song the guys are working on. Would Brad want us to go out like that again? The three of us? After what happened yesterday with the post, I’m not sure. The hug he gave me earlier and his reassuring words make me think he might be open to it.

“Well, we’ll have to ask your dad and see what he says,” I finally admit. I don’t want to promise her something that Brad would be against. I need to be very careful with how I handle Charlie. The last thing I want to do is cross another boundary that I can’t see.

While things might be fine between us, I still feel like I’m walking a tight rope. Trying to balance work, the band, Brad, and his family, while not completely losing myself or screwing any of it up is starting to feel like more than I bargained for when I took this job. But then, I didn’t expect to find myself falling for the singer, either. Or growing to really like his daughter.

I wonder if the walking on eggshells feeling will ever go away now that it’s settled in.

The band wraps up for the day, and I corner Dakota briefly to set a time for us to chat tomorrow before rehearsal. I should have done this days ago, but it’s better late than never. He’s a little hesitant and is obviously uncomfortable about having to talk about his private life with me. Yesterday’s incident must be affecting everyone after all. I don’t know why I hadn’t considered that prospect. Of course everyone would be affected by it.

After a little more convincing, he agrees to talk. I sigh inwardly with relief that I can at least make some progress. Getting his story and setting parameters around it about what can be public, and what can’t, will get his introduction to fans off on the right foot. To be honest, I should have done that with everyone. Maybe I still should do that.

As I’m gathering my things to leave for the day, Charlie pulls Brad over to me by the hand, and his smile at her antics warms my heart.

“Daddy, Tess said we should all go to dinner tonight,” she announces, and my mouth drops open.

“I did not say—” I start, shocked at her twisting of my words.

“Oh, really?” Brad asks, arching an eyebrow at me, knowing full well I didn’t say that. I love that he’s playing along with it, even though I was not prepared for this ambush.

Charlie bounces on her toes, excited that her scheming might be working. “Yup. She said we should all have dinner like last time. Maybe we could go to the same place and get burgers again!”

Her excitement is contagious, and I can’t help the hope that wells up inside of me at the prospect of repeating our first dinner. It was when I initially took a real liking to Brad, seeing him interact with his daughter. It made him a real person to me for the first time. I’d love to recapture that feeling again.

“I mean… I’m happy to go along with you guys if you want…” I stumble, still not sure that everything is mended between us. Yes, he said it was, but my guilt won’t let me accept that completely yet.

“What are you talking about? Of course we do,” Brad says, reaching out with his free hand, and taking mine. The three of us are now a linked chain, and it just feels right. There’s no other word to describe it.

He leads us both toward the door, and Charlie leans back to peek at me behind her dad, her triumphant smile beaming. I can’t help but beam right back at her.

She knows exactly what she’s doing. And, God damn it, I don’t mind it one bit. I should feel like a pawn being played on Charlie’s chess board, but even if I am, I’m not going to complain.

I’m happy to be here.

25

THE SUMMONING

BRAD

Iknow what’s up. Charlie isn’t fooling anybody, but I’m more than game to take Tess to dinner with us. It’ll be like a pre-date date. A chance for us to break the icy wall that still feels like it lingers between Tess and me. I hate that it’s there, but it is what it is. I also can’t deny that I’m the one that built the damn thing in the first place.

As we’re shown to our booth at the restaurant, Charlie positions herself on the end of a bench so that I need to sit next to Tess. Again, not complaining. I’ve wanted to get closer to her all day since our hug earlier anyway. Something about having her right next to me is calming somehow that makes no sense to my wrinkly brain, but I’m not about to fight it. Or Charlie.

After we order our drinks, we’re all looking over the menus trying to decide on our meals, but I can feel Charlie staring at us. I debate internally whether to call her out on it. Staring isn’t polite, or at least, that’s what I’ve been told, and the way she’s doing it – trying not to get caught at it – keeps me from saying anything.

That is, until she starts being obvious about it.

“And what exactly are you staring at?” I ask, laying my menu on the table to give her my full attention. She blushes but doesn’t look away. That’s my Charlie.

“What? You two look cute together,” she shrugs. Nothing but the truth from this girl.

Tess starts coughing next to me, nearly choking at Charlie’s bluntness. It gives me the opportunity to reach over and pat her back gently, but then smoothly slide my arm around her shoulder and pull her against me. I like the way she feels in my arms.

“Do we now?” I look down at Tess next to me, who I can tell is embarrassed by this entire conversation. “What do you think, Tess? Do we make a cute couple?”

She starts coughing again, and luckily the server comes back with our drinks, from which Tess greedily grabs her glass of water and starts chugging it, stifling the onslaught. Deftly avoiding answering the question.

But Charlie’s not done with us. Not by a long shot.

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