Page 10 of Lost Lyrics

You sent my heart into disarray

“Or what about this one?” I wound back my rhythm. “Fallen” was our biggest hit to date. I drummed my sticks on the floor and churned out the lyrics:

If somebody had warned me

That love made you crazy

I would never have fallen for you

If somebody told me

That love made your heart break

I would never have fallen for you

The kids giggled, laughed, and bobbed their heads. Some sang a few words, jumped to their feet, clapped, and danced.This is cool.

I stopped tapping and twirled my sticks around in my hands. “My band and I wrote those songs. Pretty cool, huh?”

“Whoa. That’s you?” a girl in a paint-covered T-shirt asked. “So you’re famous?”

I shrugged like it was no big deal. “Yeah, you could say that.”

Avril, Charlotte’s friend, waved at my sticks. “Do you have to be angry to play the drums?”

I chuckled at the seriousness in her tone. “No. Drumming makes me happy. It’s a real rush.”

“What do you do if you drop a stick?” she asked. “Do you just use your hands?”

“No.” Grinning, I shook my head. “I usually have a cannister full of spares near my stool so I can grab one if needed.”

Jake shot his hand up into the air. “My dad says rock stars are bad. That you party and drink too much and take drugs. Is that true?”

What the fuck?But I wasn’t surprised a question like that had come from him. I’d met his snobby-nosed barrister dad in the parking lot a couple months ago. He’d eyed my Lamborghini SUV like it was a piece of shit compared to his Maserati. He’d invited every kid in the class to his son’s birthday—everyone except Charlotte.Asshole!Who did that to a four-year-old?

But crap, how did I answer that question? “Not all musicians are bad. As you grow up, you’ll experience many things. Some good. Some bad. You have to learn what is right and wrong. What you like and don’t like. Surround yourself with good people, learn to say no, and know when to stop.” I hadn’t always done those things, but I’d survived. Changed. Grown up. “I gave up a lot of bad stuff to be the best dad I could be when Charlotte came into my life. Didn’t I, sweetie?”

“Yeah.” She gave me a high-five.

The moms let out a collective sigh, but the kids just looked at me as if I’d fried their brains.Fuck.This adulting and being responsible thing sucked.

Macy, another one of Charlotte’s friends, tilted her head to the side and narrowed her eyes. “Do you have a girlfriend? My mom asked me if I could get your phone number. She thinks you’re hot and wants to go out with you.” Macy swiveled andpointed toward the back of the room. “That’s my mom in the green shirt.”

“Hi.” I waved at Macy’s mom.

Macy’s mom’s cheeks turned bright red as she shrank two inches and hide her face behind her hand.

But ice prickled down my spine. Ava glared at me, then spun to stare down the women. I loved how feisty and protective Ava was. Yeah, Ava was mine. “Sorry, Macy. I have a beautiful girlfriend. Her name is Ava.” I pointed toward her, looking sexy as fuck in her black pantsuit. “She’s over there with my bodyguard, Riley.”

“Why do you need a bodyguard?” a boy with brown curly hair asked.

“Sometimes a lot of fans come to see me. So it’s his job to keep everyone safe.”

“Does he carry a gun?” The boy’s eyes widened as he took in Riley, then turned back to me.

I nodded. “Usually yes, but not today.”

“Has he ever used it?” He leaned closer, as if totally intrigued.

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