Risky Replay (Country Stars Forever #1)

Chapter 11

Eleven

DEREK

I’m a father, and only Charlie knows. I asked Tyler and my dad to come to the restaurant on a Sunday since it’s the only day the construction crew isn’t here, and it’s quiet and private. My sister joins us on a video call on my laptop. And Charlie is here for moral support.

I don’t know how they will react, especially my father. Although finding out years too late sucks, I hope they can be happy for me.

I arranged the barstools left by the previous owner around the bar. I stand, my hands stretched as far as possible, gripping the edges as they sit on the other side of the counter watching me expectantly.

“I have news,” I say releasing a big loud breath.

“You hooked up with Emily,” Charlie teases.

My thoughts stray to the other night where I carried a tired, sleeping Emily to her bed. She carries the weight of the world on her shoulders, and I’m wondering how I can help ease it all for her.

And when she mumbled a ‘thanks, cowboy,’ my heart stuttered. How I wanted to curl into the bed with her and hold her and tell her she doesn’t have to do this all alone. How, after all these years, is the magnetism between us still so damn potent?

Tyler groans. My father’s face sours. I guess he hasn’t seen the online videos. But why would he? He hasn’t even gone to any of the shows I’ve invited him to with VIP seats.

“You’re such a child,” Jesi says from my laptop.

“Forgive me for trying to lighten the mood. D looks like he’s going to tell us he has some venereal disease.”

“Oh my god.” Jesi rolls her eyes. “Can we do this without him?”

“I’m not sick, and no, I did not hook up with Emily. Emily is in town,” I say to my father. If Tyler doesn’t like Emily, my father is ten times worse.

My father would be satisfied if my sister and I remained single forever, like him. He had his heart broken when my mother left us. He shut down after, and instead of parenting me, he shut me out, too.

I tuck in my chin and stare at my feet. There’s no easy way to do this. “And yes, we’ve spent time together. She’s a widow and a mother.”

“Hot MILF,” Charlie says.

“Grow up,” Jesi shoots back. Glad they’re sparring virtually, not in person.

I ignore them both. “Her daughter, Victoria, is three.” And a replica of Emily with the same bossy attitude, mixed with this easy-going smile telling me she will get anything she wants from anyone she wants it from. “She also has a son, James. He’s six.”

And he’s mine.

I practiced what I would say, but no words leave my mouth. I open my phone, pull up the most recent picture I took of James, and slide the phone to my father.

His expression pinches, and I catch the moment it all comes together. “You kept this from me?”

“I found out the night I opened Saddles.” I sound defensive, and I hate it .

“Found out, or took responsibility?”

I bite down and my jaw aches. “I didn’t know.” There I go defending my fucking life again.

“Care to share with the rest of us?” Tyler distracts my father who hands him the phone.

Tyler holds the phone for Charlie, and toward the laptop for Jesi.

“Is that James?” she asks. My sister, the scientist, the doctor, is the smart one.

“He’s, uh, mine.”

Charlie leans forward for a high five, and I comply. “Gonna teach him to play guitar?”

“Hell yes, if he wants to learn,” I say wondering what Emily would say.

Tyler returns the phone, and I stare at the picture of my son. He’s perfect. His smile tells me he’s happy. And I think back to him asking me about singing and playing. The days I’ve spent with him have been better than anything I’ve ever experienced.

“Look at you,” Jesi’s voice comes through the speaker of the laptop. “Proud papa, aren’t you.”

My sinuses burn. “He’s the last thing I expected and the best thing I never knew I wanted. I can’t wait for you to meet him. Whenever you’re ready.”

I wait for my father to ask to meet his grandson.

He pushes the barstool back. It scrapes against the unfinished concrete floor. “I have a shift.” He grunts a goodbye to Charlie and Tyler and tells Jesi he’ll call her later.

He walks out as I stare after him, holding a picture of my son, his grandson.

“Give him time,” Jesi says. “It’s a shock to all of us.”

“Didn’t have to leave like that,” Charlie says.

They’re both right, and I hate I’m not surprised.

“When do we get to meet him?” Tyler’s question shifts everything inside me. But I wish they were happier for me. I know it’s not like news that the woman I’m in a committed relationship with is expecting. But this is my son.

“Pool party at my house. Bring the whole family,” Charlie says.

It’s a great idea because it’s casual and there will be plenty to keep the kids entertained.

“I’ll see if she’s open to it.” I turn my attention to Jesi. “I can buy a flight out for you.”

Jesi’s eyes shift like she’s searching for something on her computer. “I can’t.”

I haven’t set a date yet, but she can’t. She’s busy. I can’t get upset with my sister. We have the same work ethic.

“Wow, can’t take a day off to meet your nephew?” Charlie snaps.

“Hey.” Out of view of the computer’s camera, I motion for Charlie to simmer down.

Charlie rolls his eyes and looks away from the screen. Whatever animosity he has with my sister, it’s ages old. I used to believe time would smooth out the friction. I doubt anything will change after all these years. Tyler and I learned to live with it. “You and Amy coming?”

Tyler looks at his phone. “I’ll be there. I’ll check with Amy. They assigned her to a complicated case in L.A., and she’s traveling up there for it.”

“Guys, I have to go. Happy for you, little brother. Can’t wait to meet him,” Jesi says and then disappears from the screen. Even if I’m twelve minutes older than her, she still wants to call me little brother.

Tyler scrubs at his face, looks at me, then the phone in my hand. “Funny thing. We’re trying to get pregnant.”

Charlie gets up and claps Tyler on the back. “Better you two than me. Congrats, brother.”

Tyler’s guarded expression is not what I expect from a guy announcing he wants to be a dad. “We tried last year. I didn’t want to say anything, but since we’re sharing. We’re not pregnant yet, but we’re trying and hoping it happens before we leave for the road.”

“Congratulations, it will happen,” I say, but his returning smile doesn’t reach his eyes.

“I should get home.” Tyler stands. “Congratulations on your ready-made family.”

“Hey, I didn’t know,” I say, hoping the hurt look my brother carries eases, and I ignore the tone of his comment. “You and Amy will be great parents.”

When he’s gone, Charlie leans his head to the side. “How are you doing with all this? Like princess said, you’re a proud papa for sure.”

My shoulders lose their tension. “He’s incredible. Perfect in every way.”

“And Emily? How’s it going?” Charlie asks, and I’m grateful he’s sitting there asking me the questions and not blaming me for what happened. “You hook up yet?”

And I take it all back.

“That’s a war waiting to break out. She’s stubborn. Not much has changed. She’s a great mom. Loving.” Like mothers should be.

“Sounds about right.”

For the next thirty minutes, I tell Charlie everything about James. How he’s sensitive and sweet. I don’t know if it’s admiration or a crush he has on Maddox. I share about the bond he has with his sister and her goofiness.

“Damn,” he says after I take a deep breath. “You’re in love.”

“What?”

He’s confused.

He chuckles. “With the kids.”

“The hours I spent with them are worth more than, heck,” I scan the half-remodeled restaurant, “than anything I could ever own.”

Charlie smirks like he knows something I don’t.

I run a hand through my hair. “Don’t worry, it won’t get in the way of our tour and our commitments this summer. I’ve shared my schedule with Emily, and I’m there when I can be. Nothing will change.”

Charlie tilts his head. “Are you going to live here now?”

He and Tyler own homes in San Diego. They spend more time here than me. Tyler’s wife, Amy, a lawyer, lives here full time, and he stays here on his time off. Charlie’s sister and her family live here too. I’m the one who stays in hotels or with Charlie when I’m in town. I considered buying a studio since my business was now in San Diego. My condo in Nashville sits empty for most of the year, so what was the point of buying a second home for it to sit empty?

“Emily’s moving to Maryland.”

“When?”

“End of the month.”

Charlie dips his chin. “Sorry, man.”

“I can’t do anything but beg.”

He leans back and twists his lips to the side.

I recognize the look. “What are you thinking?”

“You’re not gonna like it.”

I run my hand through my hair because I’ve known him for decades, and I know what he’s going to say. I could do something about it.

“A written agreement. Think of it as a negotiation. Lawyers aren’t so bad. Ask Amy for a referral.” He taps the countertop with an open palm. “Emily won’t like it, but she’ll respect it.”

My heart plummets with the fear I carry since I found out about James. She could run again. A legal document will give me some security. Some assurance she can’t disappear from me. Like Charlie said, she won’t like it.

“Maybe I’ll move to Maryland.” We’ve had shows there, but I can’t remember much about the state or the city she says she lives in. “You know Emily, she’ll do what she wants.”

“Business in Cali and Nash, and family in Maryland?” Charlie lets out a long whistle. “She still has a spell over you. Good luck. ”

I send him the middle finger, and he laughs. There is no spell over me. I’m over her. I won’t go through the pain of heartbreak, again.

“When you say it like that, it sounds like a lot. And add our tour dates to that and I’m all over the country.” I set my elbows on the counter and bury my face in my hands because the reality sinks in. He’s right. I could live in Maryland, but like the condo that sits empty in Nash, a place in Maryland would too. “Living in Nashville would save me at least one trip back and forth.”

“Then think about convincing her to move there.” Charlie shrugs a shoulder like it’s the easiest thing in the world to convince a woman as stubborn as Emily to give everything up and move to Nashville.

“She has a job waiting for her and a house.”

“When have you ever backed down from a fight? That doesn’t sound like you, man.” Charlie narrows his eyes. “If there’s one thing I can count on, it’s you getting exactly what we need. You don’t take no for an answer. Same thing here. Convince her.”

In the next two weeks, could I convince Emily to move to Nashville? I could tell her about the best southern food restaurants, the museums, the arena, and all the family-friendly activities. If I persuade her to fly with me for the Fourth of July show, she could experience all that Nashville offers.

Maybe she’ll fall in love with the city. Maybe she’ll consider more between us.

But she doesn’t want me.

I shake off the foolish thought as soon as it appears.

“Hey.” Charlie pulls me out of my head. “Either get her to move closer to you or get a damn lawyer. You have to find a way to work with her for the next twelve years.”

I also need to trust her for the next twelve years.

“I’ll see how the summer goes and then think about the lawyer.” I fucking hope this plan doesn’t backfire on me.

Later that evening, my father calls.

“Didn’t think you wanted to be a father,” is his curt greeting.

“Me either.” I’d foolishly thought we could bond now that I’m a father too. By his gruff tone, we’re no closer to a real father and son relationship.

“You don’t need a paternity test. I don’t know how you’re not more angry. You need to take her to court. You need custody. She’s a flake and can’t be trusted.”

Tell me how you really feel, pops.

“She’s kept her promises so far. And she hasn’t denied me time with James.” Even I can hear the lack of conviction in my voice.

“She’ll do it again, son. Best predictor of future behavior is past behavior,” he barks.

“She’s not some law breaker.”

“Keeping your son from you and his family is criminal.”

I’m done with his disdain for Emily. “He’s doing a T-ball camp. You should come watch.”

He clears his throat. I prepare for an excuse. “When?”

I don’t tell him my son is leaving the state soon. What I do tell him, is to stop by this week. He agrees. I know I can’t get happy about it because he might not show, but I do. I can’t wait for him to meet James. Heck, I can’t wait for all of them to meet him.