Page 30 of Ever With Me

The money hadn’t been as substantial at first, but a year later, he’d graduated and started making more by getting a full-time job. LA hadn’t come until Kayla had graduated from high school and started at the University of Virginia.

He’d gotten her away from Fountain Springs.

Kept her from all the ugliness there.

You weren’t able to stop her from meeting Mike at UVA, though.

The voice in his head was ugly. Condemning. He should have been around more. Done more to step in as Kayla got more and more involved with Mike.

“That’s too bad,” Kayla said, interrupting his thoughts. “Logan says she’s amazing with their family business. Brilliant with PR and marketing and sales. It’s always the smart ones who men treat like crap.”

“It’s because insecure weenie men can’t handle their women shining.” Cormac shrugged. “A real man has no problem looking like second best beside the woman he loves. Women need to look for the guys with actual balls.”

“I like balls!” Audrey said, popping her head off the couch just then. She slid out from under the blanket and came over to them, her bed hair sticking out in a thousand directions. “Can I get a new ball, Uncle Books?” She gave him a wide grin.

“You need to stop spoiling her. Notice how she skips right past me and goes straight to you?” Kayla said dryly. She plucked Audrey over toward her and pulled her onto her lap. “Stop asking Uncle Brooks for things. You have more toys than any one kid can even play with.”

“What type of ball do you want?” Brooks said with a wink, taking out his phone.

“Brooks August Kent. I will kill you if you keep buying her things. We’re going to need a new house to fit all the crap you send her.”

Brooks smirked and gave her a look. “What type of new house do you want?”

Kayla rolled her eyes. “You know, you can’t use your money that way. It’s not like an endless supply that will never dry up. Money won’t buy away every problem that comes along.”

“Has she seen your house?” Cormac grimaced at Brooks, then looked at Kayla. “It’s practically a shack. I’ve never met a famous musician that lived in a smaller place—even the poor struggling ones in Nashville.”

“A shack on the beach, though,” Kayla countered. “That’s probably over one million dollars because of its location. And yes, I’ve seen it. Audrey and I have to take his bed since he insists on sleeping on the pull-out couch when we visit.”

Brooks shrugged. “Location was all I wanted. Why do I need a big house when I’m one person?”

“You have a nice car, though,” Cormac said.

“Because he insists on driving himself everywhere,” Kayla said, bouncing Audrey on her knee. “Because he’s weird and neurotic.”

“What’s noo-ro-tic?” Audrey asked.

“It means your uncle Brooks is smart.” Brooks dug into his egg with the edge of his fork. “But enough about me. What should we do while you guys are up here this week?”

“Hot tub!” Audrey smiled, continuing to bounce exaggeratedly on Kayla’s knee.

“We can do that. What else?”

“Wait, hold up. Four is too young for a hot tub.” Kayla cut a look at Brooks. “And we don’t need to do anything crazy. Just spend time with you. Maybe Cormac knows of a good playground around here.”

Cormac chuckled. “I can ask my one billion nieces and nephews for recommendations. Maybe even ask for a playdate. A couple of the kids in my family are Audrey’s age.”

Audrey’s eyes lit up. “Can we? Pwease?”

Kayla’s phone rang beside her. She lifted it and frowned. “Hold on. I’ll be right back.” She transferred Audrey to the floor, then hurried away. “Hello? Hey, Stephanie. . .” Her voice faded as she shut the door down the hallway.

“Did you get some breakfast?” Brooks asked Audrey. He tried to ignore the curiosity that had arisen in his mind as Kayla had left. If he didn’t know any better, she’d looked worried.

She shook her head. “Can I have a popsicle?”

This kid.“I might be gullible, but I’m not that gullible. Your mama isn’t going to say yes to that one. Plus, I don’t have any. How about a scrambled egg?”

Audrey shook her head. “Dip egg?”

---