Page 11 of Lost Lyrics

“No. And I hope he never has to.”

“Have you ever been hurt?” His interrogation continued. This kid was on a roll.

“Yeah. I’ve been hit in the face with a big camera. I’ve been scratched, knocked over, roughed up a few times, and mushed in crowds. But I love our fans. Most are really nice.”

“Okay, children.” Dawn tapped her watch. “Time is running out. Let’s see if there are any questions from the parents?”

Every hand shot up.Fuck!I flicked a finger toward Lucinda, one mom I knew. “Yep?”

“Any plans for new music?” she asked, twirling her necklace around her fingers.

“No.” I shook my head. “Hopefully at the end of the year we’ll start pulling something together.”

She rounded her shoulders and smiled sheepishly. “Are you doing any gigs around town where we might see you play?”

“No, sorry. Like I said, we’re on a break.”

A short, curvy lady in a red dress raised her hand. “Is it true Slip quit?”

“What?” I grimaced and shook my head. “No. He’s just spending time with Maddy, his wife. That rumor is bullshit.” But nausea pummeled my gut. Like Flint, I wasn’t convinced he’d come back, and it fucking killed me.

“Mrs. Falvey?” a kid hollered from the floor and pointed at me. “Charlotte’s dad said a naughty word.”

“Yes.” Dawn threw me a stern glare. “Mr. Tanner, please watch your language.”

“Crap. Sorry. I mean . . . shit . . .”

The kids broke into fits of laughter, rolling around on the floor.

“Daddy.” Charlotte laughed and slapped me on the leg. “Don’t be naughty.”

“Charlotte?” Jake, the little shit, spoke again. “Why didn’t you bring your mom today?”

“I don’t have a mom.” Charlotte leaped from her chair, whimpered, and curled into my shoulder. She buried her face into my neck and strangled me with her tight little arms.

Struggling to breathe, I peeled Charlotte off me. I drew her into my lap and cuddled her against my chest. I kissed the side of her head and stroked her hair. “Hey. It’s alright.” I turned to the kids. “Charlotte lost her mom last year. But she is very lucky to have me, Ava, and other family and friends who love and take care of her.”

“I don’t have a mom either,” another boy said. “But I’ve got two daddies. They’re awesome.”

“I don’t have a mom either.” The snotty-nose kid wiped and rubbed her nose again. “I live with my grandma.”

“See?” I nodded and kissed Charlotte again. “Everyone is different. And special.”

The lunchtime bell buzzed.Thank fuck!

“It’s time for morning break.” Dawn stepped forward. “Thank you for coming in today, Mr. Tanner. It’s been very interesting to hear about being in a band.” She smiled at the kids. “What do you say, children?”

“Thank you, Mr. Tanner,” the class hollered, then they jumped to their feet and rushed into the adjacent room to have their snacks. It took me a couple of minutes to ease Charlotte off me. I hated that she still missed Shelby, her mom, and Keith, Shelby’s partner. But I understood. I still missed Phil after three years.

After chatting with the inquisitive, overzealous moms and escaping the classroom, Riley drove Ava and me back to my house. Harper would pick up Charlotte later in the day.

Ava and I headed into my living room and sank onto the sofa. Damn, I’d never savored the peace and quiet so much. Preschool was a whole new level of chaos and noise I could barely comprehend.Fuck! Was I getting old?No. No fucking way.I was twenty-seven next month. I was still in my prime.

Ava curled toward me and kissed me on the cheek. “You were amazing with the kids. They loved you.”

“I think I bored them with the real-life shit, but they loved the drumming.” I hooked my arm around Ava’s shoulders and drew her against my side. “I hated seeing Charlotte get upset about her mom. It kills me. She still misses Shelby.”

“Yeah. Let her feel that. Let her talk about her mother.”

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