Spotlight by Eden Finley Page 0,73

to be famous?”

“Then we’re fucking screwed. It’s not like I can tell her no. That’d be hypocritical.”

“Haven’t you learned yet? Ninety percent of parenting is being hypocritical.”

“Truth. I don’t want her to do the Hollywood thing.”

“But if she chooses it, I don’t think we get a say.”

“We can at least protect her until she’s eighteen.”

“Or try to. Oh God, she’s going to be a teenager in eight years. What the hell are we supposed to do then?”

I shrug. “Pray.”

We both laugh.

“But speaking of which, are you going to be back in time for her birthday?”

“My official end date is three days before it, so as long as everything goes to plan, I’ll be here. I’ve missed too many birthdays already.”

I reach over to grip her hand. “You’re here now. That’s all that matters to her.”

She smiles. “If I don’t say it enough, thank you for being cool about me coming and going from her life the last few years.”

I squeeze her hand. “I know it’s something you felt you needed to do.”

Maggie’s eyes fill. She averts her gaze to watch our daughter, and I pretend not to see her emotion.

If Maggie wanted to talk about it, she would. That’s who she is. She says what she’s feeling and keeps to herself when she doesn’t want to talk. So I won’t push.

Lyric and Kaylee make it through their practice go, and Lyric praises her for doing a good job.

“He’s so good with her,” Maggie says.

“I know.”

And that’s why it’s so hard to think about a future. Both Kaylee and I would have to be okay with him being on the road for most of the year because there’s no doubt in my mind he’s going to make it big.

Relationships are hard enough without the added pressure of fame, and I won’t make Lyric choose.

He was born to be in the spotlight.

I know this is a future problem for us to deal with because Lyric doesn’t even have a manager let alone a record deal, but I know it’s only a matter of time. With his talent, the only way he won’t get picked up is if his pretentious and stubborn side holds him back.

If all we have is the here and now, I’m going to take it. I just hope when it all comes to an end, I’m the one who’s heartbroken, not my daughter.

As I watch them in the booth together, I fear that ship may have already sailed.

Kaylee’s already in love with him.

Maybe instead of fighting what we have, I should embrace it fully. I would never make him choose, but I will fight to give him a reason to take us into consideration when he does get that deal.

I hit the speaker button. “Ready to lay it down for real?”

It’s funny how a simple thought can make me see how insignificant everything I’ve been scared of really is.

Don’t get in too deep.

Don’t let Kaylee love him.

Since I realized during their recording session that it was way too late for that, I’ve been seeing everything in a different light.

When Lyric builds Kaylee up, I see someone I could co-parent with, when he and Maggie make lunch together, I can see a blended family, and when he looks at me and smiles in a way that’s our own private little joke, I see someone I want to spend my nights with.

I want to wake up next to him—hell, I want to cuddle him to sleep.

“Oh God,” I mutter, though I don’t mean for anyone to hear.

“What’s wrong?” Kaylee asks.

“Nothing, bub.” I’m realizing I want my first ever grown-up relationship. Nothing to see here.

I’m falling, and I’m falling hard.

“Come on, Kaylee. Let’s wash up for lunch,” Lyric says and leads her toward the bathroom. “Maybe without giving your toys a bath for a change.”

Maggie sidles up next to me. “Our daughter’s not dumb, you know.”

“Huh?”

“If she sees you looking at Lyric like that, she’s gonna know y’all are together.”

“No, she won’t. She’s observant but not that observant.”

“Have you been paying attention? She picks up on everything.”

I hope Maggie’s wrong. It’s way too early to tell Kaylee about us. Hell, up until an hour ago, I wasn’t even sure if I could see a future with Lyric.

Just because I acknowledge I want that future doesn’t mean it’ll magically work out.

All through lunch, I try to avoid eye contact with Lyric. Kaylee can’t pick up on something that’s not there.

“Hey, kiddo, how about we go to the playground when you’re done with lunch,”