Page 46 of One More Song

His words send a jolt through me. Is he really wanting to leave? And more than that...he wants to go to the Caribbean? The way he talks, it’s like it isn’t a big deal at all.

In our moments of happiness, I forget the divide between us - but as quickly as the feelings come, they fade. Ash gives me a grin. “Wouldn’t that be awesome, for all of us to head to paradise for a few days?”

“I’ve never even left the country,” I admit.

Dusky shakes his head. “Lass, we’ll need to change that. You and Cadence can be our roadies for our next tour, see the world.”

And just like that, it’s normal again, the guys laughing and Cadence running her fingers over the piano keys. And I realize these guys really do care about my daughter and me in the same way that we care about them.

“Forget tropical beaches, I’d be happy to be back in L.A.,” Saint says, and the other guys grunt in agreement. “Cadence would love Malibu,” he continues. “I could take her to my favorite taco trucks.”

In moments like this, it feels like Absinthe is more than a rock band, it feels like they are the uncles my little girl never had.

There’s a knock on the door, and I pull myself away from the conversation, a smile tugging at my lips, so wide it makes my cheeks hurt. My heart feels light.

Everything seems right.

But as I open the door, and see the stern looking man in a suit, holding a manila envelope, I feel the ground beneath my feet start to shift.

“Can I help you?”

“Ember Hamilton?” he asks.

“Skye,” I manage to say. “Hamilton was my married name.”

“I need you to sign for this.” He holds out a clipboard and pen, and I take it, scribbling my signature.

“What is it?”

He takes the clipboard back, then hands me my envelope. “Custody papers. You’ve been served.”

Chapter Eighteen

Ash

Despite how strongshe’s trying to be, I know Ember is a mess.

She’d come back into the room looking like she’d seen a ghost, and when I’d scanned the papers she handed me, I knew why.

The asshole was claiming she’s unfit, and like she’d feared, he was using her criminal charges against her.

Charges that should have been his.

I hate the fucker. But as much as I want to drive over to his place and make him pay for the anguish I see in Ember’s eyes, I know that would only make things worse.

I feel helpless.

And responsible.

Synn is still angry with me, but I tell him and the guys what happened, and that I need the day off. Ember needs me, more than I need to come up with another hit. And honestly, we already have enough songs for a full album.

Dusky and Saint seem happy about the break, but Synn just grumbles and heads back to his room.

After I make a few phone calls, I find Ember in the kitchen preparing lunch, and I can hear Cadence’s giggles in the backyard.

“Hey,” I say, wrapping my arms around her waist from behind and pulling her back against my chest. “How are you doing?”

She sucks in a shaky breath, melting against me, and whispers, “I can’t believe he’s doing this.”

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