Page 53 of Timeless: Encore

I nod, unable to say anything.

He runs upstairs, which gives me a great sense of relief.

At least for my daughter.

Zane is the best father she’d ever hope to have.

Her mother, on the other hand, is a fucking mess.

Chapter eighteen

ZANE

A Couple of Weeks Later

Zane

A couple of weeks later

Two months.

The day I’ve been obsessing about is two months away. So much crazy shit has happened to all of us this past year or so. It’s a miracle we’re still on track.

My band’s agreed to a schedule. After The Mission show, we’re going to write. Play a couple of unannounced festival shows. Then record. Hopefully release something before Christmas.

Now it’s me who’s freaking out a little bit. I haven’t said anything to anyone, but …

I’m really worried about Fee.

“Meems, are you ready?” I tap on her door. “We need to leave a little early, your mom left her tote bag and she needs it.”

Mia emerges from her room. Black-and-white knee-high socks. Pink tutu. Purple sweater. My darling rock goddess. “Can you put my hair in space buns?” She holds out two pink elastic bands.

“Of course.” I move behind her, tie her black hair back into two ponytails then wind her hair around itself and secure it. Floof out the ends for a bit of flair.

She dashes back into her room to inspect the style from all angles, declaring, “Oh, it’sgood!”

“I’m the official space bun guy then?” I call after her as she flies past me and slides down the stair rail. “Hey, your mom doesn’t like it when you do that.”

“Youdon’t care.“ She shrugs and puts on her backpack.

Oh boy. I made the classic rookie parenting deflection boo-boo. Now, I’ve got to adult. “Uh, yeah. Idocare. For one, whatever your mom and I decide goes. For two, it’s dangerous. You could get hurt if you fell off, and I would cry if you got hurt. So would you.”

“Okay. I’m sorry.” Mia watches me intently as I descend the stairs. Our daughter hasn’t seemed to have internalized anything after Faye’s visit. Her behavior most stems from missing Fee, who’s essentially living at Gus.

I grab my keys, wallet, and luckily remember Fee leaves Mia’s meals in the fridge so I whoosh into the kitchen and grab her lunch. “Ready?” I say as I open the front door.

“Uh, Mommy’s tote bag?” She holds it up to me.

Jesus, Fee’s lost without it. “How are you so fucking smart?” I kiss her forehead.

“Inherited.” She flounces to the car.

Have I mentioned how fucking much I love my daughter?

I consider bringing Mia with me to give Fee an extra moment with our daughter.No. Today, I need that second for myself. I decide to take Mia to school before I drop the tote off.

There’s no way after what happened with Faye that Fee’s okay. She’s been doubly—no triply—driven ever since the incident. We barely have sex, and we’re back to doing it in the middle of the night with all the lights off when we do.

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