Page 68 of Cougar

“Where’s Princess? I didn’t see her car in the garage.”

I frown but Grace says, “She went to get coffee.”

“We have coffee here,” I argue, and Grace shrugs. “I’m gonna go hop in the shower. B, will you call Jay and see what she’s up to today?”

“I’ll make you something to eat,” Grace calls out.

* * *

We’re just finishing up breakfast when Jay walks into the kitchen and drops her purse down on the island.

“Hi there,” I greet her. “Where ya been?”

She leans across the counter and snatches a piece of bacon from the tray. “I went to this little breakfast place a few doors down from Starbucks,” she tells me, not meeting my eyes. Instead, she focuses on the plate of bacon in the center of the island. “Their lattes are pretty good. Then I went by Mac’s to see Alex.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. I had an idea for the Project Mayhem class, and I wanted to run it by him to see what he thinks. I met his mom.”

“Sophia,” I say, realizing my mistake too late.

Jay doesn’t miss it either. Her brows dip in confusion. “You know Alex’s mom?”

I shake my head. “No. I just remember he mentioned his mother’s name was Sophia. It’s a pretty name.”

“She’s a pretty lady. She’s got blonde hair. I pictured his mom to have black hair like his.”

I shrug. “Both Mimi and Aunt Jessica have blonde hair,” I remind her.

She nods slowly, staring off in the distance. “That’s true.”

“So what’s the idea?”

Her eyes flick to me. “Huh?”

I raise my brows.What the hell is going on with her?“The idea you had,” I prompt.

“Oh. I was thinking if the students in the class are serious about performing, then they need to learn to perform in front of people other than just our classmates.”

Color me impressed. She’s thinking like her father. “That’s a great idea, Jay.”

“That’s what Alex said. He said he’s happy to see that I’m taking the Project Mayhem class seriously and hopes I’ll get more involved after the tour.”

“Will you?” I ask, hopeful. This is what Marcus really wants for her.

“I really like it, Mom. No offense to you and Daddy, but I don’t want to spend my life living on a tour bus.”

“Jay, after this tour, you can do whatever you want. If you want to take over the Mayhem Foundation, I’ll help you. Or you can just run Project Mayhem. It’s your choice. Mimi is good with running charities. She can teach you everything you need to know.”

Jay nod. “I’d like that.”

She pushes herself up and off the counter. “I’m gonna go check out my music room.”

Turning in my seat, I call out to her retreating back, “Are you gonna play?”

“Maybe.”

Grace smiles at me and does a little happy clap. Jay hasn’t written a song or touched an instrument in over a year. Elated doesn’t even begin to describe how I’m feeling right now.

---