30. Thirty

Thirty

Cass

When I open my eyes the next morning, I almost groan from the bright light shining into the hotel room through the windows. I throw my arm over my face, shielding my eyes.

My hand reaches out, finding Kendrick as she sleeps soundly beside me. A smug smirk covers my face as I remember the activities of last night—no wonder she’s still sleeping, I think, with manly pride.

Kendrick curls against me sleepily. “Is it morning already?” she mumbles softly.

Glancing at my watch, I whisper back. “It’s eleven o’clock.” I chuckle quietly as I hear her soft gasp, and she stirs beside me.

Her eyes flutter open, and she groans. “Do we have to move?”

“No,” I chuckle softly. “Cassidy’s with my parents, probably being spoiled rotten. There’s nothing we have to do.”

Kendrick smiles faintly but doesn’t argue. Instead, she presses her face into the crook of my neck. “I could stay like this forever,” she whispers.

“Tempting,” I murmur back. “But I was thinking of something else.”

She tilts her head to look at me, a hint of curiosity in her sleepy gaze. “Oh?”

“A soak in the jacuzzi,” I suggest with a grin.

Her lips curve into a smile. “That sounds heavenly.”

Later, warm water pulses against my back as we relax in the tub. I let out a sigh of contentment, wrapping my arms around a slippery Kendrick as she leans back against my wet chest.

“This is the life,” she says, her voice content. “If we didn’t have responsibilities, I’d stay here for days.”

“Days, huh?” I tease, nuzzling her hair. “I’ll hold you to that.”

Her soft laughter fills the air, and I revel in the sound—unguarded, warm, and entirely hers.

“I guess winning an award gave you enough adrenalin that you were able to, um… perform repeatedly last night. But my body is worn out.”

With an arrogant smirk, I glance down at her. “My ability to rise to the occasion is probably due to my sexy lover,” I inform her, leaning down to nuzzle her neck. Kendrick’s amused laughter fills the small space.

Suddenly, a harsh knock can be heard on the hotel door, startling both of us. Grimacing, I stand, stepping out of the tub. I quickly dry off and shrug into one of the hotel-provided robes. Kendrick is slower to follow as I turn and make my way to the door.

The door opens, revealing Derrick. As he unceremoniously barges into our room, I glower at him. “Sure, Derrick, make yourself at home,” I say, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Have you seen the headlines?” he snaps, waving his tablet in my face. “It’s a disaster, Cass. The tabloids are having a field day. ‘Who’s the Blonde with Cass Wild?’ ‘Single Mom Snags Rock Star.’ And my personal favorite, ‘Secret Love Child?’”

The last headline sends a chill down my spine. Tuning out his rant, I grab the tablet and scrolling through the speculative stories. Each one feels like a blow, not to me, but to Kendrick and Cassidy. The thought of them being dragged into this mess makes my blood boil.

“What did you think would happen?” Derrick continues, pacing the room like a caged animal. “You walk into the biggest awards show of the year with her on your arm, and now the media’s in a frenzy. I told you this was a bad idea.”

“Enough,” I say, my voice cold, my patience hanging by a thread. “First of all, you know her name is Kendrick. You might want to start using it. Second, the media is going to speculate no matter what I do. So why don’t we just tell them the truth? Acknowledge I have a daughter.” I frown at him.

Derrick’s face turns an even deeper shade of red. “Absolutely not. You reveal something like that, and the press will eat you alive. You’re not just some guy with a kid and some woman—“

“Don’t,” I warn, my voice low and dangerous.

Derrick throws his hands up in frustration. “Fine! But not now, not while we’re in the middle of this award whirlwind. Let me handle the narrative. I’ll spin something that keeps the speculation at bay without ruining everything I’ve worked for.”

“Everything you’ve worked for?” I state in a deadly quiet voice. My eyebrow raised in challenge. “Last I checked, it’s my life. My career.”

I glare at him with clenched fists, every fiber of my being screaming to fight him on this. But then I think of Cassidy. She doesn’t deserve to be dragged into a media frenzy just because I’m ready to lose my temper.

“Do what you have to do,” I say through gritted teeth. “For now.”

Derrick nods, looking relieved, but as the door shuts behind him, I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve just compromised on something important.

Later, as Kendrick and I pack, I can see the tension in her shoulders. She’s trying to act like the media storm about Cassidy doesn’t bother her, but I know better.

“Are you okay?” I ask, stepping behind her and resting my hands gently on her shoulders.

She exhales slowly, the tension in her shoulders melting beneath my touch. “I’m fine. It’s just… I’m worried about Cassidy. The cameras and questions… all the speculation—she didn’t ask for any of this.”

I turn her to face me, cupping her cheek. “She won’t have to deal with this alone. We’re in this together, remember?”

Her lips curve into a small, strained smile. “I know. But I just want her to be a kid a little longer. Not someone people gossip about.”

“She will be,” I say firmly. “I’ll make sure of it.”

As much as I want to stay and shield Cassidy from the mayhem, Derrick’s schedule for me is relentless. Guest appearances and interviews—all carefully crafted to keep the media focused on my music and away from my personal life.

“I’ll see you soon,” I promise, pressing one last passionate goodbye kiss against her lips as we say goodbye in the hotel lobby. I hate leaving her, but I don’t have a choice.

She nods, her gray eyes filled with understanding. “Be safe.”

On the plane, I can’t stop replaying the morning’s events in my head. Derrick’s words, the headlines, and Kendrick’s worries about Cassidy swirl together, weighing heavily on me.

I glance out the window, the city shrinking beneath us as we ascend. For years, I thought I wanted this life—But now, I just want a quiet, somewhat normal life with my family.

The thought steadies me, and I feel a sense of clarity. I’ve already made my decision. I’m not giving my life and my time to just my career anymore.

Resting my head back against the seat, I close my eyes and let the steady hum of the plane ease some of the tension in my chest. I’m done letting Derrick and my fame dictate what I do. Kendrick and Cassidy deserve more than the scraps left over after I’ve given everything to the spotlight.

As the plane descends, I pull out my phone and start making plans.

I dial a realtor and set the wheels in motion for another beach house. Not a rental, but something permanent. Something that feels like home.

As I end the call, a sense of satisfaction settles over me. The idea of having a place to call home—a place where all of us can feel safe. Like the rental but with more security and possibly a studio and office—feels right. I can already picture it.