Page 56 of Rockstar Daddy's Second Chance

“Balanced,” she echoes softly. “What does that look like for you, Cass?”

I take a deep breath, the salty air filling my lungs as I try to piece together the vision I’ve been forming in my mind. “It looks like this,” I say, gesturing to the ocean, the sand, the space around us. “It looks like having you and Cassidy with me, not just waiting for me to come back but being a part of my life—every part of it. When I do travel, I want you by my side. And Cassidy, when it’s possible.”

Her eyes search mine, a flicker of hope lighting up her face. “But what about Cassidy’s school? Her life here?”

“We could hire a tutor when we’re on the road,” I suggest gently. “Make sure she keeps up with her studies, even if she’s not in a traditional classroom. And it wouldn’t be constant travel—just enough to keep the music alive, but not at the expense of the people who mean the most to me.”

Kendrick’s lips press together, her gaze dropping to the sand. I try to read her expression. She takes in a deep breath, finally looking up at me, and there’s a quiet strength in her eyes.

“You’ve really thought this through,” she murmurs, her voice soft but weighted with emotion.

“I have,” I say. “Because I don’t want to choose between my career and my family. I want both. I want it all, Kendrick. And I know it won’t be easy, but we can make it work.”

She exhales slowly, her shoulders relaxing as she processes my words. “It’s… a lot to think about,” she admits. “But I’ll tell you this much—I walked away once, thinking it was the right thing to do. I’m not making that mistake again–ever.”

The conviction in her voice makes my chest ache in the best way. She steps closer, so close that I can feel the warmth of her body. And though there’s still space between us, it feels like the distance is closing—not just physically but emotionally.

“Kendrick, when you left, I poured all my emotions into my music. My grief is what made me a better artist. In a way, you helped make me the singer and songwriter I am today.”

“Thank you for telling me that, Cass,” she says, reaching up she places her hand on my face. “If being with you means finding a way to balance everything, I want to try.” Her look is direct.

We’re not saying the L word yet, but it’s there in how we look at each other and how we’re both willing to fight for what we want.

“I don’t deserve you,” I confess before I can stop myself. The words slip out, raw and unguarded. “But I’m going to do everything I can to make this work.”

Kendrick shakes her head, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “Don’t say that, Cass. You’ve always deserved this—you just needed to discover what is truly important to you.”

Her words hit me hard, and for a moment, I can’t speak. I reach for her, wrapping my arms around her as my lips find hers in a crushing kiss.

Kendrick melts against me, and the world fades away as we lose ourselves in each other. I press her firmly against me, letting her feel my growing response to her soft body. I roughly take her lips again in a deep kiss, exploring her mouth, almost forgetting where we are—a public beach in broad daylight.

We’re abruptly reminded as the words “Get a room” are yelled by a rowdy group of young people laughingly making their way down the beach.

Reluctantly, I raise my head, stepping back. Both of us were breathing heavily. My eyes take in Kendrick’s upturned face, her flushed cheeks, and swollen lips. I can’t help but feel a masculine satisfaction fill my chest. I take a mental picture to remind me of this exact moment—the moment when I know without a doubt what and who will be sharing my future.

Kendrick’s eyes look intently into mine, ignoring the loud group as they continue walking past us. Her eyes stay locked on mineas she rises on her tiptoes, sliding her arms around my neck. She pulls me into a final, lingering kiss before stepping back, her hands trailing down my shoulders. Then, she slowly releases me. “You know what?” she murmurs, stepping slightly back.

“What?” I say softly, my hands spanning her waist, not allowing her to get too far.

She gazes up at me, her clear gray eyes shining—a small smile playing on her lips. “I think we’ve really got a shot at this, Cass. At figuring it all out.”

I nod, my heart feeling lighter than it has in years. “Yeah,” I say, my voice steady. “I think we do.”

Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, drawing her close as we turn toward home. Each step we take feels like a promise, a commitment to the life we’re building—one challenge, one kiss, and one precious moment at a time.

Twenty-Seven

Kendrick

The late afternoon sun spills through the living room windows, casting warm golden light across the floor. Cass is stretched out on the couch, his phone glued to his hand, his face creased in concentration. I watch him from the armchair, waiting for the right moment to ask.

“Busy?” I finally say, breaking the silence.

Without looking up, he just makes a noncommittal noise. “Derrick is trying to lock in tour dates. Feels like the whole damn world wants a piece of me right now.”

I hesitate, not wanting to interrupt, but then I decide to push forward. “How’s the band doing?”

That gets his attention. He glances up, his brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

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