Page 34 of Rockstar Baby Daddy

“All the songs,” Alex said on a fake cough.

“Whatever. My sister called, I need to see what she wants.” It was an excuse to get out of a conversation I didn’t want to have, but it had nothing to do with money, so Alex bought it.

“Too bad she decided to become a doctor. With her looks, I could buy my own damn jet.”

“Yeah.” I laughed and shook my head. “Stupid heart surgeon.”

“Right,” he snorted with absolutely no sense of irony.

I left the conference room and took the elevator down to the street and the waiting car, before I called Zola. “Gavin,” she answered, a smile in her voice.

“Hey, Zo, sorry I missed you. What’s up?”

“Thanks for letting me use the guest house. One less thing to worry about before my fellowship starts.”

“My pleasure. Stay as long as you like. Granddaddy isn’t cramping your style, is he?”

She laughed. “Are you kidding? His social life is hashtag goals. The man is hardly home, strolling in all hours of the night now that his personal driver just turned eighteen and has no curfew. This is a strange but wonderful town, by the way.”

I smiled at her words. “Isn’t it?”

“They love you here.” She sighed. “Well, everyone besides my new boss, Suzie.”

At her name, I perked up. “Suzie? You spoke to her? Wait, she’s your boss?”

“Technically, but her brother is the head of cardio at the hospital, so he’s my actual boss. But I met Suzie when she stopped by the other day. Looking for you.”

She stopped by the mansion? “How did she seem?”

“You mean, other than totally gob-smacked that you’d gone back to L.A.? Or upset that you didn’t say goodbye? Other than that, she seemed fine.”

“Zola,” I groaned. “That’s not helping.”

“I’m not trying to help, Gavin. Suzie isn’t one of your groupies. She’s a nice woman. You know how I know?”

“I know she is, she’s great. Wonderful. Perfect.”

Zola gasped. “You like her. Then why did you just up and leave without a word?”

“Don’t know,” I admitted.

“Bull. You’re running scared.” Zola sighed. “Gavin, I love you. There’s no other annoying, super famous big brother I would rather have in this world, but please, don’t screw this up for me. This fellowship means a lot.”

“Suzie would never hold my sins against you, Zo. She’s not like that.”

“I know, but I’m surprised you know it, too. Listen, there’s this rumor—” Zola’s words were cut off by a gruff, familiar voice.

“Gavin, my boy! When the hell are you coming back to tear up the town with me?”

“Hey, Granddaddy. Enjoying life in Jackson’s Ridge?”

“Oh, yeah! This place is amazing. Single retired women who appreciate a man with a lot of stories and who love to cook? I haven’t been this happy since Elsie was around.”

I smiled at his words, knowing just what he meant. Something happened to me in Jackson’s Ridge, too, only I was too stupid to appreciate it. “I’m glad to hear it, Granddaddy.”

“When are you coming back?”

I couldn’t lie to him. “Soon. I hope to come back real soon, Granddaddy.”

---