Page 64 of One More Song

Millie’s cheeks turn bright red. “I knew I never should have told you about last weekend.”

“I think it’s hot.” Her, Keith, and Granger had another threesome. And apparently there are plans for more rendezvous in the future. “You are going for what you want. No apologies.”

“Why don’t you do the same?”

“I tried, Millie. And I crashed and burned. He never even said goodbye.”

“I know, babe.”

We look out at the playground, I can’t bear to meet her eyes, I’m scared I’ll start blubbering over Ash again. My heart hurts, knowing that to him, it was all just sex.

When to me, it felt like everything.

“I keep torturing myself, following them on Instagram,” I admit.

“Me too. Looks like they are almost done recording their album. It’s kinda cool to see all the footage in their stories.”

I squeeze my eyes shut, knowing I should take Cadence home before I start crying at the neighborhood playground.

Millie squeezes my hand. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“It’s fine. It’s just, those songs? The ones they are recording? They are all about me. About Cadence. About us. And it’s brutal. Because what we had wasn’t real, and the songs make it sound like it was.”

“Maybe—”

I cut her off. “I’m not making excuses for men anymore, Millie. Either he chooses me, or he doesn’t. I’m not going to beg him to love me.”

“And you shouldn’t. Look, you know I’m here no matter what.”

“I’m so thankful for you.” I give her a hug before calling Cadence over. “Love you, girl,” I tell her.

We leave the park hand-in-hand and we soak up the late afternoon sunshine.

“What’s for dinner tonight?” she asks.

“I was thinking of making my grandma’s mac and cheese. Sound good?”

“Yum!”

I smile, listening as she talks about her day, about the game she was playing at recess, about the new class pet hamster. “Wow, sounds like school is going amazing.”

“Mostly.”

I unlock the front door. “What do you mean, mostly?”

“Emily said it’s my fault her mommy is so sad.”

My heart falls. “Oh, sweetheart. Just because your daddy and her mommy aren’t friends doesn’t mean you did anything wrong.”

Tears fill her big blue eyes. “Emily said I ruined everything.”

I pull her into my arms. “That isn’t true, sweetheart.”

“I tried to tell her. But she wouldn’t listen.” She bites her bottom lip. “Maybe I can write her a letter? Tell her I’m sorry she is sad? Tell her I’m sad too?”

“You’re sad?”

Cadence’s lip trembles. “I miss the band, Mommy,” she says, wrapping her arms around me. I pick her up, carry her into the kitchen and set her down on the island.

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