him for going on a date I told him I was totally okay with.
But the thought of jerking off while Lyric and Kaylee are in the house is just too weird for me.
Good thing I don’t because Lyric comes to find me.
“Hey, Kaylee and I are heading to the park.”
“I’m going to be busy all afternoon recording with Cash, otherwise I would take a break to come with you guys.”
“Oh. Cash is coming over?”
I try not to read into Lyric’s voice going all high-pitched and weird.
“Yeah, he should be here any minute.”
“Cool. Cool, cool. Kaylee and I will be out of your hair.” He turns and moves down the hall faster than his usual pace, and all I can think is he’s going to try to meet up with Cash as he arrives.
Ugh. He’s excited about it.
I guess their date went really well.
Yet, when the buzzer for the front gate sounds ten minutes later, I can only figure they missed each other.
I let Cash in, and he doesn’t appear any different than usual. He doesn’t act any differently either.
He greets me with a warm hug and a cocky smile. “Are you gonna be distracted today?”
“Are you?”
“Your nanny here?” he asks.
“Nope.”
“Then I think we’re all good.”
I turn on my heel and make a break for the studio while continuing to flip-flop between wanting to know every detail and living in denial.
Cash and I get straight to work, and unlike last week where I was too busy thinking about Lyric, this week, I’m glad to focus on anything but him.
Cash and I move through his band’s songs quicker than we normally would. Not because we’re rushing it, but because I think we’re both ignoring the man between us.
When I go into my office to grab a pen for Cash so he can tweak some lyrics, I hear movement in the nanny’s quarters. Apparently, Lyric and Kaylee are back from the park.
Cash does his thing and then finishes his millionth take of the session.
He clears his throat. “Can I get another water in here, man?”
I hit the intercom. “Sure thing. I’ll go get it.”
“I could go get it.”
“No, you’re good. I’ll go.”
Cash laughs as if he knew that would be my response.
I walk down the hall to where Kaylee and Lyric are, finding Kaylee alone watching TV. Figuring Lyric’s in the bathroom or whatever, I keep moving toward the kitchen … where Lyric’s blond head appears. He’s crouching on the floor, his back to me.
“Uh, hi,” I say cautiously behind him.
He startles and turns to look up at me. “Oh. Hey.” He jumps to his feet.
“What’re you doing?”
“Umm, playing hide-and-seek?”
My eyes narrow. “With who?”
He flusters. “Uh, your daughter. Who else would I be playing with?”
“You mean the daughter watching TV right now?” I point to Kaylee sitting in a trance in front of the screen.
“Kaylee,” Lyric says. “You’re supposed to be finding me.”
She turns her head. “What?”
“Oh sure, when I tell her it’s time to practice writing her ABCs, she pretends she can’t hear me, but no, this time it’s loud and clear,” Lyric mutters.
“So, why are you hiding?” I ask.
“Wait, Cash didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“I’m surprised he didn’t. I would’ve. I would’ve told every single person I met, even the dude who bags my groceries at the store.”
That intrigues me. “What happened?”
“Let’s just leave it at our date was a disaster. If I never see Cash again, it will be too soon, and I will die of embarrassment, okay?”
“Disaster how?”
He averts his gaze and stares down at the counter. “I’d kinda rather not say.”
“Wait, he didn’t, like, hurt you or anything?”
Lyric bursts out laughing. “Hell no. He was really sweet. I was the disaster.”
“You’re going to have to give me something, or I’m going to go back in there and ask him.”
Lyric thinks about it. “I’d be cool with that. Then I won’t have to relive it.”
“He went to see you play, right?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Did you fall off the stage or something?”
“I wish that’s what I did. Oh God.” He closes his eyes. “I’m never drinking again.”
“Okay, now I have to know. Last chance to stop me.”
He turns to Kaylee. “What’s that, sweetheart? You need me?”
“Nope!”
Lyric scowls. “Man, I have to teach her how to be a better wingman.” With a sigh, Lyric looks me in the eyes. “I might have gotten nervous about Cash coming to my gig, and I usually don’t drink. Like, I’ll have one or two after my set. But this time, I had so many I lost count.”
“Uh-oh.”