Page 4 of Broken Strings

"Uh, no." Theia laughs.

"Figured you were going to say that."

"On the bright side, at least you get to meet all the fancy pants people, drink expensive wine, and see concerts for free while you're figuring it out," she says. "So it's not all bad."

"I need so much wine right now," I whisper, making her laugh. "Brinley was pissed that she couldn't come with me tonight. She said I was ruining her life by not letting her meet Kasen Alexander."

Laughter burbles down the line. "I'm on her side. I'd do shady things to meet him, too."

"Yeah, but you aren't five!"

"True." Theia laughs loudly. "Just ask him to sign something for her if you see him. You'll bet the best mom ever again in no time."

"Until she remembers I just moved her across the country," I mutter, sighing heavily. My daughter is going to take over the world one day…or destroy it trying. She is five going on fifteen. She's sassy, loud, and opinionated as hell. And right now, she is not very happy with me. I just ripped her away from everything she knew to bring her to Nashville. Her whole life changed overnight, and she doesn't understand why.

Most kids would be thrilled to go from a tiny duplex to a mansion overnight. Not Brinley. She wants her life back, not the one my dad just foisted on us. And honestly? I don't blame her one bit. I don't want this life, either.

I want the one that was stolen from us six years ago. It's all I've ever wanted. But I'll never have that. All I have are memories that haunt me and the daughter Grayson and I made.

Somehow, it has to be enough to sustain me for the rest of my life.

"Mina!" Riley Jamison throws her hand up, waving me over as soon as I enter the area roped off for VIPs. I sigh in relief when I see her familiar face and immediately make a beeline toward her, grateful as hell there's somewhere here I know, at least somewhat.

She owns a talent agency in town. She stopped by to introduce herself after the funeral. I guess my dad's lawyers help negotiate the contracts for most of her clients. She wants me to keep thecompany, but I don't know the first thing about entertainment law or intellectual property law, and I don't have a hankering to learn.

I do like her, though.

"Hey," I say, giving her a genuine smile as I reach her side.

She wraps an arm around me in a quick hug. "I'm glad you made it. It's a freaking madhouse here! Oh. Mina, this is Addison Devine, one of my managers. Her husband is performing tonight. Addison, meet Mina."

"Hi," I murmur, smiling at the petite, curvy brunette standing at Riley's side. She's beautiful, but she looks as anxious to be here as I feel. "It's nice to meet you."

"Hi," Addison whispers, her voice barely audible over the roar of the crowd. She gives me a shy smile. "I'm glad you're here." Her eyes fly open wide, her cheeks turning red as if she just remembered why I'm in Nashville. "Oh! I didn't mean…"

"It's okay." I place a hand on her arm, trying to reassure her. "I knew what you meant. And I'm glad I'm here too." I laugh softly. "My daughter may shiv me when I get home, though."

Riley's eyes light up. "You have a daughter?"

"I do. Brinley is five." I roll my eyes. "Going on fifteen."

"She sounds like she'd get along excellently with my oldest daughter," Riley laughs. "Tia hates the word no. Her daddy is the only one who can do anything with her. Naturally, he's wrapped around her little finger."

The comment is innocent, but memories of Grayson are too close to the surface. It feels like a dagger stabbing me right in the heart. Brinley won't ever have Grayson wrapped around her finger. She'll never have him at all.

Something of my thoughts must show on my face because Riley reaches for my arm, her expression falling. "I said something, didn't I?"

"No, of course not," I whisper quickly, shaking my head. "I just…" I clear my throat. "Brinley's dad died before she was born."

"Oh, Mina." Riley's expression wells with empathy as she throws her arms around me in a fierce hug. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to bring up a painful subject for you on a fun night out." She hesitates, nibbling on her bottom lip. "Can I be honest with you?"

"Of course."

"I didn't start working with your dad until a couple of years ago," she admits softly. "I didn't even know you existed until the funeral. He never mentioned you. So I'm sorry in advance if I say the wrong thing. I don't mean any harm."

Of course he didn't mention me. Once upon a time, I was his pride and joy. And then I chose Grayson. I don't think he ever really forgave me for that. He had plans for my life, and none of them involved a foul-mouthed, tattooed guitarist he found living on the streets or a tiny little apartment. They didn't involve me getting married and pregnant at nineteen, either. Guess he stopped talking about me after I moved to San Diego. Why bother bringing up the widowed, single-mother daughter who hated him?

"We weren't on speaking terms," I say. "We hadn't been for most of the last six years." I exhale a quick breath, pasting a bright smile on my face. "So being back here is bringing up alotof old memories. But please don't apologize. You don't know what you don't know."

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