Page 47 of Poison's Promise

“Sounds perfect.” I stand up, extending a hand to help her off the couch.

My phone starts ringing and I notice it’s a video call from Rachel.

I suck in a sharp breath and excuse myself, “Sorry, I have to take this.”

I walk off the tour bus and click the accept button, surprised to see Rachel actually on the other end. “Is everything okay?”

Rachel licks her lips, looking more tired and worn down than usual. “Yeah, my attorney suggested I call you and let Tilly see you, so I’m just doing that.”

I swallow hard, unsure where to go from here. “You don’t think we can settle this out of court? Without all of the attorneys and mumbo jumbo?”

She cackles maliciously. “No, there’s no way we’re going to handle this without attorneys. I’m not playing these games with you anymore, Asher.”

I look at my daughter, right into her eyes as she’s sitting on her mother’s lap, wishing things were different.

I wish she was here with me and not in Los Angeles with Rachel.

I shake my head, “I’m not playing any games with you. I just thought given our history the two of us could be adults about this whole thing and try to work it out, try to do what’s best for Tilly.”

“What’s best for Tilly,” Rachel repeats, “What’s best for her is to be with her mother. Not with her father, who’s a world renowned rockstar, traveling for the foreseeable future, and likely whoring it up with a whole bunch of random girls.”

I shut my eyes for a brief moment, trying to maintain my cool. “Rachel,” I start, being extremely careful. “I’m not doing anything you think I’m doing. I’m working things out with Polly and we’re giving it another go.”

Rachel forces a sour laugh. “Oh! Of course. Why didn’t I think of that? It’s not surprising, and this is exactly why I hired the best attorney in the city to represent me. Your home life isn’t a stable enough environment for our daughter. So, it’s best that she's with me.”

My nostrils flare as I clench my fists in frustration. “My home life is more than stable, Rachel,” I shoot back, trying to keep the venom out of my voice. “And denying Tilly the chance to know her father is not what’s best for her.”

“Save it, Asher,” she interrupts, sneering at me through the screen. “We’ll settle this in court.”

With that, she ends the call, leaving a blank screen and an emptiness in its wake.

I stand there for a moment, staring blankly at my phone before turning it off and stuffing it back into my pocket.

I turn around and walk back inside the tour bus.

Sydney looks up at me, her gaze filled with concern.

“Everything okay?” she asks gently.

“It’s fine,” I lie, trying to force a smile on my face.

But I guess my eyes give me away because Sydney doesn’t look convinced.

“It doesn’t seem like it,” she says.

Honestly, I’m not okay, but I don’t have the option to let myself get depressed right now. It’s not going to help me, and it certainly won’t help my daughter.

“I think I just need a drink,” I say, rubbing the back of my neck. “How much longer until we can get out of here?”

Sydney nods, “I’d say maybe ten minutes.”

I shift from one foot to the other. “Okay, that’s not too bad.”

Things are silent for a couple of minutes until she breaks the ice.

“You want to talk about it?” she asks, her voice barely audible.

“Not really, It’s just...” I pause, struggling to articulate my thoughts. “It’s just that I never thought I could feel so powerless. This custody battle shit isn’t for the weak.”