There was nothing I wanted more than to show off the mark on my arm she had made when she came for the first time, but this morning, when she had seen it, embarrassment had lined her face. I never want her to feel ashamed when it comes to me. So, I wore long sleeves in the dead heat because I knew she would want me to.
“She’s a biter,” Rowan notes, looking at the mark as I unlock my front door, excited to see my girl.
“Tell us,” Axel presses, “how was she? You got in bed with the queen herself. Everyone imagines this.”
My blood boils.
Turning before I open the door, I glare at my two bandmates. “You know I don’t share my sex life. Drop it.”Especially about Amelia. She’s all mine.
No other man is going to know how it feels to be touched by her, what it sounds and feels like when she comes. I’m determined to find each and every birthmark on this girl.
I’m utterly obsessed.
“You are no fun.” Axel pushes past me and yells out, “Stelly! Daddy’s home!”
I give him a horrified look before shoving him back and glaring at Rowan. “Control your best friend.”
“He’s your best friend too,” he shoots back and shoves Axel away.
“I’m everyone’s best friend,” my annoying friend says, walking farther into my house like he owns it.
“Lee’s home!” I hear yelled from somewhere in the house.
Next thing I know, a little girl wearing a fuzzy Sulley onesie is running to me and launching herself into my arms.
“You’re home, Lee!” Her tiny arms and legs wrap around me and squeeze happily.
I feel instantly at peace.
“I missed you, princess.” I kiss the top of her head, breathing in her familiar lavender scent.
“Where did you go?” Eyes almost identical to my own peer into mine, hurt layering the beautiful orbs.
“I had to go away for work. You didn’t have fun with Nora?”
She nods. “I did. But I missed you, especially at nighttime,” she whispers.
The last part makes me sigh.
I knew she would have trouble falling asleep without me, but I checked in with her babysitter hourly. I felt comfort when I knew she was safe and happy, but I’ll always feel guilty, leaving her behind. I separate her from that world for the greater good. She doesn’t deserve to be in the spotlight unless she tells me she wants to be. Fame is a cruel thing, and until she tells me what she wants, I’ll keep her hidden.
Yes, the money is good, but feeling like you’re being watched all the time …itsucks. It’s like I have a twenty-four/seven stalker.
“Well, I’m here now.” I kiss my sister once more before putting her down and smiling at Nora. “Thanks for watching her this weekend. It means a lot.”
The sweet lady squeezes my shoulder. “It was my pleasure. I had tons of fun. All she wanted to do was watch those cars drive in circles.” Turning, she smiles brightly at my sister. “I know you’re going to make it big one day, and when you do, don’t forget about me.”
“I wanna be a birdy!” she exclaims, pouting her lips while pushing her hands in the air.
My heart jumps.
Nora laughs. “Silly goose, you can’t be a birdy!”
My little sister places her hands on her hips very sassily, but before she can speak, I explain to her babysitter, “That’s what she calls race car drivers. She wants to race cars.”
I nearly swoon, looking down at my sister. I kneel down to talk at eye-level with her. “You want to be a birdy?”
“Yes!” She jumps, wrapping her arms around my neck, almost pulling my body down. “I wanna be fast and free, like them.”
