“Yes?”
“Do you think I could meet my daughter?”
“Of course.”I laugh, nodding through the tears still escaping in little bursts as I step out of his embrace.“Her name is Larkin, by the way.Larkin Marie.And she looks exactly like you.”
“Larkin.”He says the name out loud.
“It’s kind of after Larkspur.It’s the flower for the month of July.”I shrug.“I’m a Lily, so I figured another flower in my garden.And Marie is my mom’s name.”
“I like it.It’s pretty.”He offers me a smile.“Where is she?”He looks around.“Is she here?”
“She’s at my mom’s.”I explain.“I wasn’t sure how this was going to go, so I dropped Larkin off with her earlier.”
“Can we go see her?”He persists.“Is it far?”
“Let me call my mom.I’ll have her bring Larkin here.”I grab my phone off the counter.“She’s only a few miles away.She helps me a lot.It’s been good for her.It’s filled a big hole for her.With my dad gone.”
“God.”He clutches onto the back of his neck, the expression on his face one of disbelief.“I’m a dad.”
“You’re taking this much better than I thought you would.”
“I think I’m still in shock actually.”He admits.“I thought running into you yesterday, finding you after two years; I thought nothing could surprise me more.”He chuckles.“You sure blew that to hell.”
“There’s so much we still need to figure out.”I remind him.
“And we will.”He points to my phone.“Call your mom.I want to meet my daughter.”
Chapter 19
Luc
Dad
Michele Morrone
I have a fucking kid.Mind blown.Not the news I was expecting to get today, or anytime in the immediate future if I was being honest with myself.If I’m being one hundred percent real, when I originally met Lily, it was the first time I had even considered the possibility of dating anyone long term, but those thoughts never strayed further than that.
Having kids?Maybe one day, but not something I had pondered at all.Shit, I was thirty.Plenty old enough to be a dad.Except that most of the time, I still act like the rockstar I am, and pull shit I probably shouldn’t at my age.Guess having a daughter just put growing up into overdrive for me.
We still had over thirty dates left on our tour, which was supposed to run through August.I had no idea how I was going to try to be a father while I was on the road.The guys were going to freak the fuck out over this news.I was tempted to text them right now, but knew it was news that needed to be told in person.Had a feeling tonight was going to be another late one.
“You doing okay?”It’s Lily, coming back into the living room after stepping away for a few minutes to call her mom.
“Yeah.”I confirm.“Just thinking about what this is going to mean for the band.”I provide more information so she can follow where my head is at.“Me being on tour.”
Her face scrunches, her head tilting.“You think the guys won’t want you to be in the band anymore?”
I can’t help it, I laugh out loud.That wouldneverhappen.As dysfunctional as we all may be, we’re a family.And I know without a doubt, they will accept Larkin with open arms.
“No, no, it’s not that.”I offer her a tentative smile.“I’m on tour through August.I’m trying to work out how I can spend time with you and Larkin.I don’t want to have to wait another two months.”I give a slight shake of my head.“I feel like I’ve already lost so much time.”
“Oh.”Although her expression relaxes, I can tell she’s rolling what I just dropped around in her mind.
“We’ll figure it out Lily.”I don’t want her to overthink it, but the band is supposed to leave tomorrow morning.Our next show is in L.A.two days from now.I can technically take a flight out, instead of travelling on the bus with the guys, giving me an extra day here to try and convince her to do what I already know I want to happen.I need to talk to the guys first about everything.Make sure they are on board with what I have in mind.
She’s pacing, back and forth, again and again, in front of the television mounted against the far wall.She has to be nervous.So much new information to process over the last twenty-four hours.
I want to do something to ease her concerns, her fears, the apprehension she has to be experiencing right now, but I don’t know what that is.I usually fuck or drink my way out of most situations.Don’t think that’s going to work this time.
