15. Río #2
“Mr. River,” Hayden corrects herself. “and I have to get on the road. I’m so happy to see how well you’re doing. Keep it up for me, okay?”
“Will do.” Mila bestows another long hug on her sister. When she’s done, she races over to me and wraps her arms around me as well. Pure joy comes off her in waves. I can’t help but want to bundle the feeling in my heart forever.
Hayden and I walk Mila to her classroom, where the other kids clap when she enters. Without turning back, she waves at a couple of kids, and hugs others. Next to me, Hayden tries to hide her tears, pivoting away from the door and speedwalking toward the front of the building.
I catch up to her in three long strides. “Hey,” my hand lands on her shoulder. “Mila seems to be doing well. That’s what you wanted, right?”
She keeps her profile pointed downward. “Mrs. Smitty told me she had to restrain Mila, which is why she went into her bedroom first. When I walked in, Mila was free but out-of-control. Everything was on the floor. You just heard about her phone.”
I consider what she told me. “Did Mila tell you why?”
Her head shakes.
Perhaps she was acting out in a similar way that I used to? “Maybe she was missing her big sister?”
“That’s what Mrs. Smitty said.”
“Seems to me you made her feel better.” I smile. “Crisis averted.”
“For now.” She stops. “What if I couldn’t have gotten here as quickly as I did?”
“Mila seems like a resourceful girl, and she’s surrounded by lots of love. I’m sure she would’ve gotten through it. Especially with a call from her big sister.”
A small smile plays around her lips. “Thanks, Mr. River.”
“Call me Río and I’ll accept your gratitude.” I can think of a few different ways I’d like to receive it. I put my arm over her shoulders and together we leave the school.
We climb into the SUV. “Where to?”
She looks at me. “I don’t know? To the jet?”
“Our flight crew had to switch off here, remember?” The FAA has strict rules. “We’re not expected back at the jet for another couple of hours. How about I rent us a room so we can decompress?”
“Get a hotel for a few hours? That’s so, I don’t know, tawdry?”
Her remark leads me to believe she’s never done something as crazy as have quickie monkey sex in a hotel room midday.
Mind out of the gutter, Mr. River. More likely she wouldn’t ever spend money on such a luxury.
I pull out my phone and do a quick search, then tell the driver to take us to a local hotel.
“Río, this is too extravagant.”
“My middle name.”
“No. It’s ‘Entitled.’”
I grab my chest. “Oh, ouch.” If she truly believes this about me, I need to do something to change her mind. “I’m anything but entitled. C’mon. You met my father. Do you honestly believe my life before the band was a bed of roses?”
“Well, no. But UC changed all that.”
“Did it?” We don’t speak for the entire ride to the hotel. I get us the key and lead her to the elevator, which takes us to the top floor.
I’m unlocking the door when she says, “Penthouse. Point proven.”
I need to get to the bottom of her money issues. Once inside, I say, “Snark doesn’t become you, Hayden.”
“It’s been a long morning.”
“It has.” I bring her to the sofa, and we sit. “Why do you consider me to be entitled?
Her mouth opens several times before she speaks. “Because you don’t think twice about how much things cost, you simply buy whatever it is. A plane ride, a hotel night—”
“A dress.”
“A pricey dress from a European boutique,” she corrects. “In my life, every penny is counted. You live a different lifestyle.”
How can I make her understand? “Listen to me, Babysitter. I’m in a profession that rewards me very well.
You came with me to an awards ceremony, where I received a Lifetime Achievement Award for playing drums. I love what I do and don’t consider it to be work, so I know I’m blessed.
But playing drums for three hours, minimum, night after night is taxing.
Always being on for fans is taxing. Keeping in shape at the gym is taxing.
I don’t take any of this for granted.” My explanation lingers in the room.
“You know, you’re right. I was basing my decisions on the value I’ve assigned to money all my life. In your job, you make a lot, so why not spend it?”
I push her hair away from her face. “I’ve saved a big chunk.
Plus, donated a good portion. I’m not a spendthrift”—that title was earned by 007 following our original keyboardist’s death, but I don’t share this truth—“yet I have no idea when this gravy train will end. I thought it was over when Darren died, but our fans wouldn’t let us disappear.
I’m grateful to still be playing big stadiums, but I’d be just as happy at smaller venues. ”
“For me, money has always been tight. With my sister’s, uhm, requirements, any excess funds went to her schooling or doctors. My parents scrimped to put me through a local college. I was supposed to use my degree to help pay back some debts.”
“Hey.” I place my hand on her thigh. “I’m sorry they were in that accident. It’s so unfair.”
She swallows. “It is. They left a small life insurance policy, which is basically all gone. Mila’s next semester’s tuition is due soon, which is what Mrs. Smitty wanted to discuss with me.”
If she needs money, I can cover her. I open my mouth, but she continues, “I told her I’ll pay the bill on time. It’s what comes after Mila graduates that scares me.”
“Can’t she stay at Haverford?”
“No. She’s aging out next semester. There’s an affiliated group home where many of her friends transition to next, which is where she wants to go.”
“Can you swing it?”
Hayden blinks. “I believe so. Now you know why I’m always so careful about money. Mila comes first.”
Hayden’s situation is different from mine.
Despite everything, Pop made a lot of money so I never had to wonder if we had enough.
I hate that money is her biggest worry. On the other hand, love is not.
This emotion is something she wins over me in a landslide.
Her sister clearly adores her, and from what she’s shared, she had a wonderful relationship with her parents, too.
I bump her shoulder. “Trade you.”
“Excuse me?”
“Money can be made like this.” I snap my fingers. “The love you have with your family cannot.”
“I never thought of it in these terms.” Her body turns toward me. “I’ve been so busy worrying about money—saving it, not spending it, earning more—that I’ve never considered anything else.”
“You have a terrific job doing UC’s PR. You’re well respected by the band. Hell, Jenna can’t stop singing your praises.”
“She’s great. She’s also downplaying how much she put into the media plan. Don’t let Jenna sell herself short.”
I can’t help myself, but I lean forward and kiss her. “Another reason why you intrigue me, Babysitter. You always allow others to take credit for your work.”
Her cheeks pinken. “I’m telling the truth. Jenna only needed a few pointers.”
“Which you expertly provided. Bennett told us what you did for her physical therapy clinics. You should be proud.”
“I was pretty excited at how the strategy worked.” She shifts in her seat. “Thank you, Mr. River.” She smiles. “For opening my eyes to things I’ve been ignoring. Money isn’t everything.”
Her phone lights up, drawing her attention away from me. “What’s up?”
“A few more comments on the post I put up yesterday with the cheesesteaks.” She turns her screen toward me.
I ignore the comments, but concentrate on the photos instead. “These are good.”
“What?”
“Your pictures. If you want to make a few extra bucks, you could offer your photography skills on the side. Once UC’s PR is under control, of course.”
“Of course.” She puts her cell on the table. “I already post random pictures of UC on your socials. I have been thinking of making Luke a proposal for a photo journal of UC on tour. I bet your fans would eat it up.”
I look directly into her eyes. “I’m sure we’d pay you well for this service.”
She takes in my suggestion and the next thing I know, she’s hugging me. Perhaps tighter than her sister did. “You like my idea?”
“I think it’s what UC has been missing.”
“Thank you!” She kisses my lips.
Not one to let this opportunity slip by, I wrap my arms around her and tug her tight into my body. Her closed-lip kiss turns into an open-mouth frenzy, where I want nothing more than to climb inside her and soothe all her hurts.
The loss of her parents.
The dependence of her sister.
The toll all this has taken on her.
The need to let her live—really live—hits me out of nowhere. Hayden deserves to fly free, because I’m sure she’ll leave a beautiful mark on society. Whether it be PR or photography—or something else altogether—she’ll shine.
No one has ever affected me like Hayden. All I want to do is bottle her up and carry her with me forever.
With a touch on the side of her boob, our kiss explodes.
Hayden breaks away. “Wait!”