Page 52 of Rising Star

“They should be here any minute. The doctor said it would last two hours if everything goes as planned. Just a few more repairs they hadn’t tackled after the accident. Nothing major.”

“Have you seen Emily?” I asked. “She hasn’t been here at all today.”

“She’s in surgery. She’ll try to come by later.”

I nodded. “Gimme a minute, and I’m out of here. You deserve some time with your daughter.”

I neared Madison and kissed her forehead. “I’ll leave you with your parents for now. I’ll see you later. Be strong out there. I love you.”

I started to walk to the door when Mrs. Prescott stopped me. “Sam, our daughter is lucky to have you in her life.”

I darted my tongue out to moisten my lips. “I’m the lucky one. She makes everything better. Even my music.”

“Did you sing to her?”

“Yes. Thought she’d like it. When I’m here, I ramble all the time. I’m sure she prefers music.”

“She does enjoy it. I can tell. Call it a mother’s instinct. My daughter is a big fan of yours.”

* * *

I woke up with a strained neck and a hand shaking me out of my slumber. “Stevens, we gotta get going. Did you spend the night here?”

I forced my lids open and used my sleeve to rub the sleep away from my features.

“What time is it?” I said, stretching my neck on both sides to remove the tension there.

“Eight. We said we’d get going at seven-thirty. We drove to your place, but Doris said you hadn’t come home last night.”

Today was day one of the tour. And day seven since the accident. All the excitement from yesterday, where the girls had been unable to stay still for more than ten seconds, had died once I entered the frigid hospital room.

It had sucked all the cheerfulness from me. And turned my heart into a rock.

For most of the night, I sang to Madison, hoping once again she could hear me, and that it would make up for the days I wouldn’t be able to visit her.

I sang until my voice quivered. Until my insides clenched so tight, it hurt to even breathe.

“You look like a mess, man. I’m glad we hired drivers. No way would I let you drive yourself.”

My grip around Madison’s hand tightened.

“Have you told her you love her yet?” my friend asked.

My eyes snapped in his direction.

“What are you talking about?” I asked, doing my best to prevent my face from betraying my feelings.

He snickered. “Did you forget I was there the day you two met at the nanny agency? Sparks ignited between you guys the moment you stared at each other for the first time. I’m not stupid. I knew back then that’s why you panicked and ran away. It had nothing to do with Madison’s age.”

I offered him a sharp look.

“Okay, maybe you freaked out because you realized she was younger than you. Or that she was younger than you expected her to be. But I witnessed it. The attraction. The magnetism. You can fight it all you want, but it’s there. It’s all around you two when you’re in the same room. It’s dazzling. No wonder Jacob let her go after the barbecue on your birthday.” He paused. “The other night, while the girls sang at that party, I thought you’d eat her up every time you glanced in her direction. I felt like a voyeur, watching two people making love, and you were both dressed and standing thirty feet apart.”

“You’re talking shit,” I blurted out.

The smirk on Riley’s face turned devilish. “You wish.”

“Whatever. We were supposed to keep it low-key. We failed. I’ve been alone for so long. She’s the one. I’m fucking gone for her. Now I can’t imagine walking away from her when she needs me the most.”