"Casey?" Easton said softly. "You okay, kiddo?"
She didn't answer. Just kept moving food around her plate, her jaw tight, her shoulders hunched.
I reached over and touched her hand. "Baby, talk to me. What's wrong?"
"I don't want to go back to school," she whispered, so quietly I almost didn't hear her.
"We talked about this in the car, remember? We're not going to hide."
"I don't want to hide." Her voice cracked. "I just don't want them to take pictures of me anymore. I don't want Emma's mom looking at me like that. I don't want everyone staring."
Easton pushed back from the table and kneeled beside her chair. "Casey, look at me."
She did, and her eyes were glassy with unshed tears.
"Those photographers? The security team I hired starts tomorrow. They'll make sure no one bothers you at school. And if anyone does, you call me. Immediately. Okay?"
"What if they follow me home again?"
"Then I'll be there," Easton said firmly. "Or someone I trust will be. You're not alone in this, Casey. You have your mom and me, and we're both going to protect you."
Casey's lower lip trembled. "Are you going to leave?"
The question hung in the air.
"What?" Easton looked confused.
"Emma's friend Sophie said that famous people don't stay in small towns. She said you're going to go back to your real life and forget about us." A tear slipped down her cheek. "Are you?"
"No." Easton's voice was fierce. He took both of her hands in his. "Casey, listen to me. I live here. In Amber Falls. This is my real life. You are my real life. I'm not going anywhere."
"But what about hockey? Don't you have to travel?"
"Sometimes, yeah. For away games. But I always come back. And when I'm gone, I'll call you every single day. I promise."
"Every day?" Her voice was so small, so hopeful.
"Every single day." He squeezed her hands. "And on the days I'm here, I'll pick you up from school. We'll practice hockey. We'll have dinner. Whatever you want. Because you're my daughter, and that will not change just because some photographers are being jerks."
Casey was quiet for a moment, processing this. Then: "Can I stay with you sometimes? At your house?"
I felt my chest tighten. This was happening faster than I'd expected.
Easton glanced at me, clearly asking permission.
I nodded. We'd have to figure out the logistics, but if it made Casey feel safer, more secure…
"Absolutely," Easton said. "We can set up a room for you. You can help me decorate it. Pick out whatever you want."
"Really?"
"Really." He smiled. "Maybe this weekend we can go shopping. Get you some stuff for there."
"Okay." Casey wiped her nose with the back of her hand. "Can we still have ice cream? Even though I didn't eat my dinner?"
Despite everything, I laughed. "Yeah, sweetheart. I think today definitely deserves ice cream."
Easton stood and ruffled her hair. "What flavor are we thinking? I saw some chocolate chip in the freezer."
