Page 15 of Rockstar Daddy's Second Chance

His laugh is sharp and cutting. “Cass, what proof do you have that the child is yours?”

I grit my teeth, keeping my tone even. “She’s my daughter, Derrick. I know she is.”

Derrick sighs, the sound harsh and calculated, like he’s trying to piece together a strategy that doesn’t exist. “Cass, listen to me.Being a superstar brings all kinds of people out of the woodwork. A kid! Really? This is probably some slut groupie hoping to get some hush money by trying to pawn another guy’s kid off on you.”

My patience snaps. “Derrick, this isn’t a scam! It’s not like that. And this is my daughter we’re talking about.”

Hearing the firmness in my voice, Derrick grudgingly relents, “Listen, I’m not saying you can’t see her, Cass. I’m just saying you can’t be seen with her. You’re at the top of your career. Let’s not let anything jeopardize that. A kid blows up everything we’ve worked for. Your brand–heartthrob rocker? Gone. You’ll be nothing but tabloid gossip.”

My voice tight with resolve, I reply, “I’m not going to hide my daughter, Derrick. She’s going to be part of my life now, whether it fits the ‘brand’ or not.”

A long silence stretches between us, and finally, Derrick lets out an irritated yet resigned sigh. “Alright. But no announcements. No pictures with her in public. We keep this low-key until we figure out the best way to approach it, okay?”

I nod, even though he can’t see me, tension still simmering beneath the surface. “Fine. But she and Kendrick, her mother, are coming with me, and I won’t let anyone treat them like a dirty little secret.”

“Okay, but only if you agree to a paternity test,” before I can interrupt, he continues in a calm voice, trying to reason with me.“If you’re sure the kid is yours, it will only confirm it. Make it official.”

“Fine,” I say flatly, ending the call.

Derrick’s words echo in my head, but I push them aside. My focus is Cassidy now, and nothing my manager says will change that. As I pack for the trip, his words linger, but they’re outweighed by the determination I feel pulsing in my chest. I may have lost eleven years with Cassidy, but I’m not letting go now.

We step onto the tarmac, where a sleek private jet waits under the soft haze of morning light. Cassidy’s eyes widen as she takes in the plane. She glances back at me, her smile tentative but filled with wonder. It’s the same look I had the first time I stepped onto a private jet years ago, the thrill of it tempered now by the endless flights and routines. Seeing it through her eyes makes it fresh. She’s sharing my world now, and I see her excitement as a bridge between us.

“It’s like something out of a movie,” Cassidy whispers, glancing at her mom, who gives her a warm, encouraging smile.

We climb the stairs into the jet’s cool, quiet interior. The luxury is understated but undeniably there: buttery leather seats, polished walnut accents, and a small table set with drinksand snacks. Cassidy immediately slides into one of the seats, grinning as she runs her fingers along the edge of the seat’s armrest.

“This is fantastic,” she says, her voice hushed.

I grin, sliding into the seat beside her. “It’s all part of the life, Cassidy.”

Kendrick sits across from us, her gaze flicking between Cassidy and me. A faint smile lingers on her lips, but there’s something guarded in her eyes, a hesitation of sorts. I can tell she’s taking it all in—the fancy jet, Cassidy’s reaction, the strangeness of us all being here together. This would have been unthinkable years ago before I became famous. But now, here we are, a strange mix of old memories and new possibilities.

The flight attendant comes over, greeting us with a bright smile and offering drinks. Cassidy asks for a soda, and I ask for a coffee, feeling the need for something to steady me. Kendrick declines, her gaze moving to the window, lost in thought.

I try to focus on the hum of the engine, the quiet murmur of Cassidy’s excitement, as we soar toward New York. The silence between Kendrick and me is filled with a tension that’s been building slowly since the moment I invited Cassidy on this trip. Every now and then, I catch her glancing over, her eyes searching mine as if she’s trying to reconcile the man I am now with the one I was back then.

After a smooth flight, we touch down at a private airstrip just outside of New York City. Derrick’s waiting for us, already on his phone as we step off the plane. He’s barking orders into his headset as he motions us toward a blacked-out SUV waiting at the edge of the tarmac. He gestures us over impatiently, giving Kendrick a cold, harsh, assessing look, but Kendrick raises her chin almost in challenge.

Cassidy clings to Kendrick’s side as we follow him, her excitement tempered by the intimidating frown etched on Derrick’s face.

“Alright, let’s go,” Derrick says curtly, opening the door to the SUV. “We need to keep things discreet. The last thing we need is word getting out that you have guests.”

Kendrick stiffens beside me, her gaze hardening. But she doesn’t say anything, and neither do I. It’s a battle I’ll have to fight with Derrick later. Right now, I just want to get them settled and let them experience New York City without a media circus hanging over our heads.

We climb into the darkened SUV, the doors shutting with a soft thud. Cassidy is glued to the window, her eyes wide as she watches the city blur past us. Kendrick sits next to me, silent, but I can feel the unease radiating from her. I want to reach over, take her hand, or say something that will bridge the chasm between us, but I know it’s too soon.

My gaze settles on Cassidy, pleasure swelling in my chest as I watch her take in the world around her. It’s as if the emptinessI’ve been feeling is gone, replaced by the old enthusiasm I used to have. She’s my daughter, and now I finally get to share my life with her and her mother.

Eight

Kendrick

“Is it always this busy?” Cassidy asks, her face practically pressed to the glass.

“Always,” Cass says, smiling at her. “It’s New York City. There’s always something happening.”

The car weaves through the thickening traffic, and we drive in silence, all of us lost in our own thoughts. For me, it’s the tension of the past. I’m unsure about bringing Cassidy into this world of excess and manipulation. For Cass, it’s probably being able to share this world—and continue to spend time with his daughter. And for Cassidy—well, she’s got the thrill of the city and finding out her favorite singer is also her newfound father. I can only imagine what this must feel like for her; the worldsuddenly expanded, filled with new experiences and all kinds of possibilities.

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