Page 208 of A Song for You

Chloe grins and shifts so she’s looking at me.

“Yes, it was deserved, because I had no business being there. But still, I was freaking out.”

“Until you saw my dad?” she chirps. Somehow, my girl is imagining my first run-in with Jay as a romance novel–worthy meet-cute.

“Um, no, I was still freaking out when I saw him, but he had this look.” I pause, trying to put my finger on it, trying to remember precisely what I thought the moment I saw him all those years ago. Wondering if I knew even then that the moment would become such a turning point in my life.

“He was entranced,” I say when the full memory takes shape in my mind. “Even though I was a disaster and had no idea what I was doing, he looked at me like my every move and my every word were charming.”

“I love this story,” Chloe says with a yawn. “So then what happened?”

“He asked for my name and number.” I chuckle. “And I told him no.”

Chloe’s eyes go wide, and her mouth drops open. “Why?”

“Told him he had to earn it.” I shrug. I can’t help but grin when I remember his shocked expression. It matches the look on our daughter’s face right now. God, she really does remind me of him. Those intelligent, soulful eyes light up, as if she’s just as enchanted by me as her father was.

And it’s in that moment that I know. There is no way I was revenge. The truth behind Jay’s pleading is right there in my daughter’s gaze.

Our story began that day. When a boy walked into a coffee shop and what he saw stole his attention. Reminded him that life was about more than revenge. The day a girl stood at the counter and locked eyes with her future. When she met a man who made her question so much while also giving her the space to find the answers herself.

Our parents had nothing to do with how we were brought together. No, that was the stars. And if I allow our parents to tear us apart, if I allow their tortured history to destroy what that couple from the coffee shop fought so hard for, then I’ll be fighting against the stars.

Forty-Five

Jay

Love Me Again by John Newman

Irun my hands through my hair and groan as I look over the numbers again. Something doesn’t add up. After the merger with the Jameses, I volunteered to go through the financials, since I’m familiar with both companies.

But I can’t find any evidence of the things Theo was supposed to put in place or the plans we made. Either Cash has run this company into the ground in mere months, or we have a much bigger problem.

The truth, though, is that I’m using this as a distraction. I’ve been waiting for Cat to call me and tell me how her conversation went with Chloe. Will my daughter want to meet me? Will she allow me to get to know her?

I don’t even know how to talk to a kid, let alone one who likely hates me.

Cat hasn’t spoken to me since we left Grace’s office. I told her I’d let her stay in her apartment if she allowed security to monitor her building. I didn’t tell her that I’m the security. I sit outside with my security guard every night, just waiting for the moment she finally gives in. My neck hurts from sleeping in the car. Hopefully, she comes around sooner rather than later.

“Mr. Hanson,” Elyse says through the intercom.

“Yes,” I reply, thankful for the interruption. My thoughts are spiraling again.

“Ms. James is here to see you. Shall I send her in?”

My heart jumps at the sound of her name. “Yes, send her back.” While I wait, I clear my desk and run a hand through my hair. I can only imagine what a mess it is. I’ve probably tugged on it a hundred times today. Then I blow my breath into my hand, checking that I smell okay.

I grab a mint just in case.

As the door to my office opens, I snatch the first thing I can find on my desk to make myself look busy and grimace when I realize I’ve picked up the stapler. I squeeze it a few times, because what the fuck else am I going to do?

“You okay over there?” she says, zeroing in on my hand.

I squeeze it a few more times and smirk. “Just working out my hands. I was getting a cramp. Don’t you do this? If not, you should. It’s totally good for your fingers…and you know how I need to keep my fingers strong.”

Her face contorts as she scrutinizes me. “Are you okay?”

No.