Page 8 of Lost Lyrics

“Yes.” Ava poked the center of my chest. “You’re a big kid. You’ll fit right in.”

“But you love me.” I caught Ava’s hand and winked at her. She did that sexy arch-of-one-eyebrow thing that always lured me in.

“Yes, I do.” Smiling, she slipped her hand out of my hold and waggled a finger at me.Hmmm. I’d love to grab it, suck it, and make her quiver all over...but unfortunately, this wasn’t the time or the place. She slapped my arm as if she’d read my dirty mind. “Now have fun. Charlotte is just happy you’re here.”

I was too.

I loved my daughter. And Ava. I wanted Ava in my life even more than she was at present. I’d asked her to move in with me again, for the third time, a few weeks ago, before we’d spread Phil’s ashes into the ocean. It hadn’t gone down well. She wasn’t ready. Not after the hell her ex, Luther, had put her through. She needed more time. Didn’t want to rush things.

But we’d gone slow.

We’d been together for more than a year.

How much more time did she need?

Every day, Ava and Josh melded more and more into my life and Charlotte’s. We spent almost every moment together. Wasn’t moving in with each other the next logical step?

Or was my FOMO playing havoc with my mind?

Flint lived with Sutton.

Tia and Lewis had shacked up together.

Slip and Maddy were married.

I was the only one who didn’t live with their partner. And fuck...I wanted Ava to move in so badly.

We both hated driving through heavy traffic between my home in Laurel Canyon and her place in Los Feliz. Her house was super tiny and too noisy, and near a main road...and her dad lived there. When I stayed over, our kids had to share a room. Ava’s bed squeaked...a lot. I didn’t like to fuck quietly, and the walls were extremely thin.

We loved spending time together. She was the only woman I’d ever known who could keep up with me—in and out of the bedroom. She often kicked my ass, and I freaking loved it.

It wasn’t a deal breaker, but hopefully by the end of summer, she’d move in with me. I’d do everything possible to make it happen. Do everything to ensure she was comfortable and confident about being together.

I could be very persuasive when my tongue was between her legs.Hmmm. Later.

Right then, I was in dad-mode.

Being a father was a tie with drumming as the best job in the world.

I gave Ava a quick kiss on the cheek, then jutted my chin toward Riley. “Save me if it gets too crazy in here.”

“Cole, I can’t wait to see how you handle a bunch of kids.” Riley laughed, turned, and headed over to the side of the room with Ava.

Shit. What am I in for?

Charlotte jumped up off the mat from playing with the kids, ran over to me, and slammed into my legs. “You ready, Daddy?”

“Sure am.” I ruffled her blonde curls.

As we took a seat beside each other on little green chairs in front of the class, a cherub smile lit her face. I was so tall my knees were bent up around my ears. Not the most comfortable position. I adjusted the drumsticks sticking out of my rear pocket and wriggled on my tiny seat. I couldn’t wait to get this talk over and done with.

“Alright, class. Quiet time.” Mrs. Dawn Falvey, Charlotte’s teacher, stepped forward from the whiteboard and raised her hand. It took a minute for the kids to settle, sit on their asses, and face the front. Big round eyes, toothy smiles, and snotty noses loomed before me. Mrs. Falvey softened her voice and talked to the class. “Good morning, everyone.”

“Good morning, Mrs. Falvey,” the kids replied in unison.

“And a big hello to all the moms who’ve joined us.” Dawn waved toward the moms, then held her hand out toward my kid sitting beside me. “Today is Charlotte’s turn to bring someone in to visit. She has brought her dad in to talk to us. Charlotte, would you like to introduce him and tell us what he does?”

“Yep.” Charlotte jumped to her feet. Harper, my cousin and nanny, had dressed her in black jeans, a sequin top, and boots.Total badass vibe.My kid had insisted on dressing like a rock star.

---