Page 20 of Swan

He cocked a brow. “Darlin’?”

Sighing, I tugged on the ends of my long blonde hair and muttered, “Goodnight.”

“Night, kid.” I didn’t hear his door close until I got to my room, and I wasn’t brave enough to sneak back to talk to Lockland more.

Besides, he needed his sleep, and he would still be here when I woke up.

That was if I got any sleep knowing Lockland was in my house and I’d get to see him, talk with him, and just be around him tomorrow.

Smiling to myself, I bit down on my bottom lip and went into my room with a giddiness lighting up my chest.

CHAPTER FIVE

LOCKLAND

I was surprised I slept after the threat of Griz, who was damn scary, wanting to talk to me. But I managed to have the most peaceful night’s sleep in a long time. Maybe it was from being in Swan’s presence. It could be from finally figuring out how Swan and I lost contact. Whatever it was, I was grateful for those eight hours I got.

Hell, I needed another fifty like that to get over the exhaustion I lived and breathed every day since professionally singing.

I loved my job. Loved making people smile or having them fall for the songs I wrote.

But I needed a holiday.

One away from all the fans, the cameras, my agent, and my damn mother.

I had a tour to finish in Australia first. At least the Melbourne concerts would be my last ones. But it also meant I was closer to leaving. My agent wanted me in the studio to get those new songs recorded before the tour in Japan.

I scrubbed a hand over my face.

The thought of leaving put a downer on my mood. Even though I was refreshed from the sleep, sudden weariness from the thought of all the shit I had to do overtook me.

Maybe I could take Swan with me.

Now that thought had me relaxing slightly.

But I had to figure out if that was a possibility. I needed to learn more about Swan and her life in Ballarat. Figure out if I’d be disrupting anything important.

I could at least ask her if she’d want to come stay with me in Melbourne while I played through Saturday and Sunday. I was scheduled to leave the Monday after for the US.

That was if I did leave. I could delay recording to after Japan. My agent would kill me, and it’d delay the new album. But Swan was worth all the troubles in the world. Besides, my agent fucking owed me for colluding with Mum to get Swan out of my life.

Before I rushed anything, I first needed to see if Swan would be open to spending the weekend with me in Melbourne.

I threw the covers back, only to still from a new thought.

Nickolas had asked me if I had a girlfriend, but I didn’t know if Swan was dating anyone.

My gut soured at the possibility of someone special in Swan’s life.

Of someone kissing her. Hugging her. Loving her.

“Shit.” I shook my head and stretched.

I couldn’t worry about it right now.

I wouldn’t worry until I knew for sure.

Then I’d let myself panic if she was with anyone.

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