Her face finally lit up. “Of course he does! Who else brings presents?”
We both laughed together. “She’s very much like her mother.” Almost instantly, I felt myself shutting down.
“Your wife?”
As if instinctively, I rubbed the area on my finger where I’d worn the ring up until three years before. “Yes.”
“What was she like?”
“Let’s not talk about her, Lainey. There are areas of my life that will remain completely private. I hope you understand.”
What I could never share with anyone including inside my family was that my grief was more about the fact I’d failed her when I’d promised to protect her.
Maybe that’s why the nagging thought in the back of my mind persisted.
I would do anything to keep Lainey protected.
Anything.
CHAPTER 7
Lainey
“Are you kidding me?”Scott growled.
“Does it sound like I’m kidding you, Scott? I’m finished with Damien. I already removed the ridiculous photographs from my social media. I suggest you do the same on the hidden accounts you didn’t think I knew about.”
“Mark Zimmerman isn’t going to be happy when I tell him.”
I knew he’d toss my record producer in my face. He was still doing his best to manipulate me.
“I don’t give a shit.” I smiled, feeling much freer than I had in a long time, as if the noose surrounding my neck had been pulled free. I was almost giddy inside, even after everything Damien had said and done the night before.
“You’re finished, Lainey. I’m going to make certain that happens.”
“You’re threatening me now? Isn’t that a little beneath a man like you?” Wow. Now I was pulling out the stops, tossing out all the barbs I’d thought of and had never said.
He huffed and guffawed, shocked that I’d finally stood up for myself. “I’m simply telling you the truth. You’re a washed-up has-been, Lainey. You have been for a while. There are plenty of younger, hotter singers eager to please.”
The man made my skin crawl. “Then go find them. I’d be careful if I were you in handling certain merchandise. You know the kind I mean and the girls you prefer. Jailbait.”
His silence wasn’t surprising although maybe a tad bit unnerving. Still, there was no turning back.
“Have it your way, Lainey.” The abrupt end to the conversation didn’t bother me in the least.
A deep, sharp, and heavy sigh left my mouth as I shoved the phone into my back pocket. In spending time deleting the photographs I’d mentioned, I’d seen the change in myself over the years. The once bright eyes of a girl filled with joy had turned dull. Dull skin. Dull eyes.
No smile except when faked.
I laughed at myself, trying on a real smile since I was standing in Sasha’s house after an incredible night of raw and very real passion.
Men were far more emotional than women realized. While they did their best to act nonchalant about whatever mishap was occurring in their lives, there was always a tell.
Much more so than women.
Contrary to popular opinion, we could be very good at keeping our emotions in check. Not that we didn’t use them if and when necessary. They were a useful tool to have in the toolbox. That’s what men didn’t often understand. We could definitely be conniving when it suited us and pull it off with ease.
Men were in your face, blunt, and often reacted from rage instead of common sense. They’d explode without a single thought about consequences.
