Page 145 of Second-Rate Superstar

“She told me to let her know if I needed anything. So, once I took care of some unfinished business, I asked if there was any way I could bum a ride with them to the Finals.”

“Wait.” I halted her story. “You were there the whole time?”

Her cheeks turned pink. “Yeah, but I didn’t want to be a distraction. You needed to focus.”

“You are something else,” I mused.

“I think if you can, you should come back up here. Just for a few days.” She smiled. “Spend some time with the kids. Have you seen Max? He’s so big!”

My heart ached thinking of those kids growing up without me. “Yeah, Nat held him up to the glass pre-game last night.”

“There’s something else I need to tell you.”

I tensed, not sure what to expect. “Okay . . .”

“I went to see my dad.”

That was the absolute last thing I expected to hear from her mouth. “You did what?!” I ran my hands up and down her arms. “Are you okay?”

Dakota nodded. “Yeah. Better than okay, actually.”

“Why?” I didn’t understand.

“Natalie was right. I wasn’t going to be able to move forward with my life until I confronted my past. I looked that man dead in the eye and told himexactlyhow I felt about the type of person he was and condemned his mistreatment of my mom and me. And then I walked away without a backward glance. I’m done looking back. Only forward motion from here on out.”

I huffed out a disbelieving laugh, cupping her face with both hands. “I am so proudof you.”

“Thank you.” Black eyelashes fluttered against her cheeks before she trained her eyes on me. “I think you need to sit down and talk to your dad.”

Dropping my hold on her face, I stood from the bed. “No.” I shook my head for emphasis, repeating, “No.”

Scooching to the side of the bed, she reached for my hand. “The expectations placed on you were far too high. No child—no adult—should have to fight so hard to feel worthy in their parents’ eyes, let alone on such a public stage.”

“You don’t know what you’re asking of me. I don’t have the option to walk away and not look back, like you did.”

“I would never ask that of you,” she vowed. “But if we want this fresh start, we both need to come into it without any past burdens.”

I was reeling, and she could sense it. Standing, she looped her arms around my neck, effectively grounding me. I buried my face in her neck, needing the comfort of her touch, her smell.

“I know it’s not easy. Fuck, it’s terrifying. But you have no idea how liberating it is. You’ll never be free to move on with your life, to be happy, until you have an honest conversation with your father. And it’s not so much about fixing what’s broken but more about laying out how he made you feel. My only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner.”

“He’s not an easy man to talk to.” I sighed.

“It doesn’t have to be a conversation. You can make it clear at the start that you wish to be the only one talking. This is about your healing, not his. And if you want, I’ll be right by your side.”

Stunned, I pulled back to peek at her. “Really? You would do that for me?”

“Of course.” A smile curved on her lips, and she toyed with the hair at the nape of my neck.

“I love you.” The words slipped out. I knew we were moving slowly, but that didn’t change my feelings for her.

Blinking furiously, Dakota’s eyes grew glassy. “I love you too. I never thought I’d hear you say those words again.”

“Me neither,” I confessed. “But they never stopped being true. Even when we were apart, I couldn’t shut off my feelings. It was painful as hell, but I couldn’t stop loving you.”

“I’m never going to mess this up again. I promise,” she whispered, voice thick.

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep.” I nuzzled my nose against hers.

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