Rivals by Piper Lawson

Author:Piper Lawson [Lawson, Piper]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

15

Showcase auditions might be over, but as the limo that picked me up at DFW pulls up Jax’s driveway Saturday afternoon, I feel as if the real test is beginning.

As I step out of the car, a stinging breeze sweeps past, lifting the hairs on my arms despite my sweater and denim jacket.

When I reach the top of the familiar stairs, my fist hovers over the door, but before I can knock, it swings wide.

“Tyler!”

Haley’s beaming face takes the edge off my nerves. When she opens her arms wide for a hug, I can’t resist. Even though I’m bigger than her, it feels as if she’s the one holding me.

“We were so glad you called.”

“I know it was last minute,” I say against her dark hair.

“Not at all. We live minute to minute around here. We have a guest bedroom ready for you tonight. I only wish you’d stay longer.”

Something bumps against my legs, and I glance down. “Sophie?!”

A round face with amber eyes and dark hair peers up at me, breaking into a smile that’s too big, too earnest, to belong to an actual human.

“Holy shit, she’s big.” I grimace as I realize what I’ve said.

“Jax says worse all the time. Soph, let Tyler in the door.”

I follow them down the hall toward the kitchen. It feels comfortable and strange at once.

“You look fantastic,” she says over her shoulder. “How long has it been?”

“Too long,” I admit.

“I know we’ve kept in touch over the past year, but it’s not the same as seeing you in person.” She sighs. “Well, you’re here now. Jax is sitting on the patio. I think he’s trying to escape Sophie, who runs all over the house like a demon.”

I glance at the tiny person in question, her face all innocence. “We can’t let him get away, can we?” I hoist her up, grunting as I shift her against my side. She laughs, delighted, as I head for the double doors.

“Want a beer?” Haley calls after me. “Or a bourbon?”

“I’m good. Thanks, Haley.”

From the expression on her face, she knows I mean thanks for so much more than the drink offer. It’s a thank-you for everything—for working with me back at Wicked, for letting me into her house two years ago, for letting me remain in their lives after the chaos I caused.

“You’re family,” she says before nodding at Sophie. “Go get Daddy.”

“Get Daddy,” Sophie repeats, and I grin.

We find Jax sitting in a patio chair by the glistening water.

“Daddy!” Sophie squeals, holding out her arms.

She scrambles out of my arms as I take a seat, but instead of climbing into her dad’s lap, she runs circles around his chair and mine.

“When she was a baby, I thought, ‘It’ll be easier when she gets older,’” my mentor says in lieu of a greeting. “But they change. They don’t get easier.”

“Never?”

Jax meets my gaze for the first time. “Not when they start high school. Learn to drive. Or when they start a good college across the country.

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