“I know,” I huffed. “But I think I let it all go last night. I can’t cry anymore, Michael. She’s finally released me from the worry and guilt. I couldn’t help her. And I’ve got to move on for me.”
He cradled my face the way I loved. “Just promise me you’ll talk to me or someone else if you need to. No matter how you feel about her, she was still your mama.”
I shook my head. “See, that’s the thing. I lost her a long time ago. And now I’m exactly where I always knew I’d be.”
Michael furrowed his brows. “And where is that?”
I looked away from his penetrating gaze. “Alone in the world. No family of my own. No grandparents or cousins. No father. I know I have the Bradleys, but it’s different when you know there’s no one out there to give you a kidney if you need one. No perfect match.”
Michael snorted. “You planning on needing a kidney, Rockstar?”
“No,” I answered petulantly. “You know what I mean.”
He smiled and pulled me to him. “Yes, I do know what you mean. But—”
“But what?” I asked, shifting to look up at him.
Michael ran a hand through his wet hair. “I really didn’t want to have this conversation with you in the shower. Can we get out?”
I nodded, my interest piqued. “Yeah, just let me wash and condition my hair. Today’s my deep conditioning day. Gotta keep the locks looking good.”
Michael grinned at me. “Why didn’t I know you were so high maintenance?”
“Because I hid it from you in all my clutter,” I said, reaching for the shampoo.
“Hurry up, Rockstar. You’re sexy enough,” he griped without heat.
I smiled and finished showering when he stepped out. Michael had a way of putting me at ease, and I was going to miss that when we were on tour.
When I’d finished showering and gotten dressed, I found him standing in the kitchen preparing coffee. Sitting down on a bar stool, I gazed at his naked back and muscled ass in those low-slung sweatpants.
“I’ll have a venti iced mocha thing with cream foamy stuff and chocolate syrup all over it.”
Michael turned and smiled at me. “Got it. Black coffee it is.”
Now I smiled. “You have no future as a barista, babe. I’m sorry.”
“Think I’ll keep my day job,” he said, stalking toward me with his sexy walk and sexy lips and sexy mouth. “And my night one, too,” he whispered in my ear.
I shivered animatedly, making him chuckle.
“Come on, Rockstar. I’ve got something else to tell you.”
He reached out to me, inviting me to stand up off the stool. But I stayed planted. Michael gazed at me with curiosity. “What’s going on?”
I shook my head. “I can’t take any bad news right now, so if that’s what you’re going to tell me, it’ll have to wait.”
I really couldn’t do any more bad news; I simply wasn’t in a place to handle it. And if that made me weak, well, I was cool with that.
Michael stepped closer and planted a kiss on my lips; his warm coffee-breath was comforting.
“I don’t think this is bad news, babe. In fact, I believe this is the perfect time to share it with you.”
I tilted my head in confusion. “Share what with me?”
He chuckled and ran his hand over his chin. “Do you really want me to give you potentially life-changing news while sitting in the kitchen? Or would you like it on the sofa?”
“I always like it on the sofa,” I teased.
