Page 33 of Blue

Well, damn. This wasn’t the conversation he’d expected to have. He thought they’d talk about room décor and bedding. Maybe fighting about posters, who she could have in her room, and when she could and could not lock her door.

With how frigid she’d been, her choice in topic surprised him. Hell, the apology nearly floored him, but he kept his cool.

Bikers never showed weakness. Fathers couldn’t either. His kids would eat him alive if he did that.

Even so, had he heard right?

Slowly, Mooky put the items down and closed the cabinet. Best not to spook an apologizing teen. He turned to face his daughter with furrowed brows. “What?”

“I dunno.” She shrugged, running her hands through her hair nervously. “Maybe if I hadn’t—if Mom didn’t know about—I mean. I never thought if that—if you—I’m not even convinced youreallyhave a girlfriend.”

Mooky frowned as she stammered her admission.

“I just saw you texting and heard some guys at the clubhouse talking.” She bit her lower lip. “I was mad at you about something stupid.” She turned away. “I can’t even remember what anymore.”

Of course she’d been angry. She was just a kid caught in the middle.

“If I didn’t tell Mom, she wouldn’t—”

With quick feet, he went to her, crouching at her side. One hand rested on her shoulder and the other he used to curl a finger under her chin.

Gently, Mooky guided her to face him. He wanted to see her eyes. He needed her to know his sincerity.

“Listen, and listen good, you hear?”

Blinking back tears, Starla nodded. At thirteen, his daughter did everything in her power to appear grown. From her makeup to her hair to her clothes. She wanted everyone to think she was mature.

Her mother had done the same thing at her age. Damn. He was in trouble.

He should pay more attention to her. Star didn’t need to make the same mistakes he and Angela had made. She was far too smart to get tied down like they had.

However, in that moment, she looked every bit his child. His heart broke for her. He felt like a shit father for having put her in that position.

“Baby, you did nothing wrong. You aren’t the reason for anything your mom—” He paused. He couldn’t just blame Angela for this. He had a part to play in all this too. “—or I did. We are grown adults. We are responsible for our own actions.”

“I know,” she said as she waved a dismissive hand. But he could see something brewing beneath the surface.

Shit. Nip it in the bud. Be honest.

He took another deep breath. “I had a girlfriend.”

That seemed the best way to word it—the most accurate, at least. But he’d change it. It would behaveagain soon. When that happened, he wouldn’t delay. He would introduce his kids to his woman.

“Blue and I. We’re taking a break.”

Even better. This way, he left no question about her returning.

She would come back into his life—their lives. This time, he’d bring her fully into their world. He wouldn’t hide her anymore. Blue deserved to be front and center. She wasn’t a secret. Her fabulousness should be shouted from the rooftops.

Focus. He needed to stop dreaming and keep on track with the conversation with his daughter.

“But you telling your mom wasn’t what caused anything. Your mom and I had problems for a long time.”

She nodded. “I know.” She didn’t sound convinced.

“And the truth of the matter is,we, your mother and I, had no business being together.”

She peered at him with a hint of dismay in her tear-filled eyes.

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