Encore: A Standalone Rockstar Novel by Laurence Selena

Author:Laurence, Selena
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: Golden Age Press
Published: 2020-01-28T16:00:00+00:00

19

Ross

It's after ten when I finally get dinner cleaned up and Sara goes upstairs to her room. After she got back from playing soccer, I took advantage of the fact she had her cleats on and went out back with her. I haven't touched a soccer ball in a long time, but I still managed to get a few moves off on her, and she managed to clip me in the shins twice as often as needed. I'll take the bruises and cuts if it helps her work out some of her anger.

We talked a little over dinner about expectations. Hers and mine. She's agreed to give this a chance and not intentionally ignore my rules. I've agreed to talk to her calmly if she does make a mistake, and to really listen when she has something to say. We're making some progress.

I put the last dinner dish in the washer and turn it on, then look around my kitchen. It's not spotless, but I've done a decent job of keeping it clean. I'll admit, I've hired a cleaning service to come do the heavy lifting once a week while we're here, but I'm kind of proud of myself for remembering how a normal home should look. My places in L.A. and New York were nothing but take-out containers and suitcases. I'd stop in for a week, max, then pack up and go again.

I go out to the back deck and pull my phone out of my pocket. Carly answers on the first ring.

"Hi," she says softly, making my heart take an extra thump. I haven't seen her in days, and even as busy as I've been trying to get Sara and I reacclimated to one another, I've still thought about her constantly. So constantly, I think I might be losing my mind.

"Hey," I reply, leaning back in the Adirondack chair with the big cushions that she ordered for my deck. Somehow, the fact that she anticipated me wanting a chair just like this, makes my yearning for her all the more intense.

"How is she?"

"Better," I say. "We played some soccer, she kicked me multiple times, we talked, we ate. It's better."

"Good. And consequences for running away?"

I sigh. "Mostly I made her acknowledge how scared that made me, but also she's on dog shit duty for the next two days."

Carly laughs. "That sounds just right. You're better at this than you think."

"If I am, it's only because I'm channeling my own parents and I have you to mentor me." I clear my throat. "She told me some of what you said to her today. I can't thank you enough. For being there to help her when she was sad and confused."

I hear an owl hooting in the tall cottonwood tree that hangs over my yard from the back neighbor's. Then, it's answered by another. I can't help but wonder if they're a pair, calling out to one another, checking up on their mate.

"I promised you I'd be here for you guys while you try to rebuild your relationship.

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