Page 68 of Hayden's Stalker

“Tío!’

“Hi, Carm,” I say, smiling at the beautiful little face looking at me.

“Mommy says you’re going away tonight.”

She looks sad, and my face falls as I nod. “I am, but I’ll call you guys all the time.”

I don’t want to mention that I’ll be away for her birthday, and I feel guilty as hell that I’ll miss it again this year because Imissed it the last time we were on tour. She was younger then, so she didn’t really realize it.

“Wanna see my drawing?”

“Of course.” I smile at her.

She runs away, and I get a view of Vanessa and Ramone again.

Ness smirks at me. “It’s a caterpillar. Just so you know.”

I’m about to ask why she’d feel the need to tell me what it is, but then Carmelita comes back, and I have to resist the urge to burst into laughter. She proudly holds up a picture that absolutely looks like a dick spurting cum, and I work hard to keep a straight face.

“Wow! That’s awesome, Carm. Can you tell me about it?”

“It’s a caterpillar,” she says proudly. “See the long body with different parts and the head here?”

She points to it, and I nod. “Yup. That’s a really good caterpillar you’ve drawn there.”

“What if you draw a picture of Tío Hayden, and he can take it with him on his tour?”

“Ooh, yes! That’s a great idea, Ness. I’d love a picture, and Mommy can bring it to my concert tonight.”

“Mommy says I can’t come to your concert.” Her face falls as she says it.

Technically, nothing is stopping her from coming, but I know Ness and Alex want a night out, so they’re getting a babysitter.

“That’s sad,” I say with a nod. “But I tell you what. I’ll give Mommy a present from the concert for you.”

Her face brightens, and she smiles at me. “Thanks,Tío.”

“You’re welcome, chiquita.”

We end our call, and I smile out the window as I think about my sister’s life. I want that. She met Alex when we were in Hawaii for our cousin’s wedding. They’ve got three kids, and tome, that’s a perfect life, being with someone you love who loves you back wholeheartedly.

I look at my phone, and I also have a message from Blake and click into our messages to read it.

I’ll be late for the party but I’ll be there before the concert starts.

A part of me wants to chicken out and tell him that it’s over via text, but I know I should do it in person. I’ll have to find the right time to do it tonight. Even with him being late, I should be able to get him to come to my dressing room so we can talk in private before the concert.

My heart starts racing at the thought, and I focus on my breathing, then look out the window again and try to name five things that start with the letter ‘L’ to calm myself down.

I can do this.

I write out a response to him.

Great. I’ll see you there.

I almost tell him that we need to talk, but he’d just want to have the conversation now if I do. I open the Kindle app and read my book until the feel of the room changes as Tati opens the door.

I whip my head around to check and see if Jesse is with her, and I’m relieved when he isn’t, but nervous as hell when I ask, “How did it go?”

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