Page 68 of Rockstar Daddy's Second Chance

He gives me a small smile before stepping back. “Have a safe trip. I’ll see you around.”

As the door clicks shut behind me, I sink onto the edge of the bed, my mind racing. The reporter’s questions replay in my head. The thought of Cassidy being dragged into this media circus twists my stomach, a sharp pang of protectiveness surging through me.

I glance at my phone, my finger hovering over Cass’s name. I know I should tell him what happened, but part of me hesitates.He already has so much on his plate; I don’t want to add to his stress.

Instead, I take a deep breath and head to the balcony. The city sprawls before me. The noise of the world feels distant here, muffled by the open air. For a brief moment, I let myself imagine a simpler life—one where there are no agents, reporters, or rumors, just us.

But reality intrudes, as it always does. This is the life I wanted for Cass. A life he fought for, the life he’s built through years of sacrifice and dedication. And now, it’s the life I’ve entered, willingly but not without fear. Knowing the challenges, but determined to shield our daughter from its harsher edges.

My phone buzzes, breaking the silence. It’s a text from Cass:‘How’s everything? Miss you already. Not looking forward to sleeping alone. I’ll text you tomorrow night.’

A secret smile tugs at my lips, and I type back:‘Miss you too. Isn’t that what they call sexting?’

Holding my breath, I wait as he types.‘Hell, yeah! Sexting tomorrow. Be ready!’

I let out a small, determined breath. If I’m going to embrace this life with Cass fully, I need to embrace all of it—the glamour, the spotlight, and, yes, even a little boldness. Starting now.

My smile widens, spreading across my face, and heat flows through me. I’ve never sexted anyone before, but with Cass, Iknow it will be fun and a little dirty. I suddenly know what to do with my time left in the city. I walk outside onto the brisk city sidewalk. The doorman offers his assistance and hails me a cab.

As the cab pulls into the traffic flow, I sit straighter, glancing out the window at the blur of towering buildings. My heart is racing with a daring kind of confidence.

“Where to?” The cabby asks in an abrupt, bored voice.

“The closest Victoria’s Secret store, please,” I state firmly, despite my warm cheeks.

The cabby’s eyebrows go up as he meets my gaze in the rearview mirror. “You got it, lady,” he responds, giving me a knowing wink.

Thirty-Two

Cass

The ride back to the hotel feels like an eternity. The car is quiet except for the hum of the tires on the pavement, but my mind is anything but. Today has been relentless, brutal—back-to-back interviews and guest appearances, each one brimming with speculation: about Kendrick, about Cassidy, about every corner of my life. And I wasn’t allowed to say a damn word.

Derrick’s plan to keep my personal life under wraps feels like a straitjacket.Stick to the script,he said. But the script doesn’t work anymore. I’m done performing for everyone else.

By the time I reach my room, my exhaustion is bone-deep. The door closes with a heavy thud, and I fling my jacket over the nearest chair. The air inside feels stale, suffocating. I stride tothe window, wrench it open, and let the cool night breeze spill in, cutting through the heaviness.

Grabbing my phone, I scroll through the endless messages and notifications. Derrick’s name flashes a few times, no doubt berating me about how the interviews went. I don’t bother opening them. Instead, I wearily strip and crawl naked into bed.

Glancing at the clock, I realize that it’s late back on the East Coast. Did Kendrick remember our sexting date? Just the thought stirs new life in me, and with a smirk, I settle back against the pillows and eagerly tap out a message to Kendrick.

‘What are you wearing?’

Instead of a text, she sends me a photo. As a sexy image of Kendrick in a black lace getup wearing a garter belt and sheer stockings comes across my screen, my body instantly hardens, and I let out a low groan.

‘Damn, you look hot!’

‘Are you in bed?’

‘Yes.’

‘Naked?’

‘What do you think?’

‘Smiling emoji - I think you’re naked!’

‘You’re right. Are you in bed?’

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