Page 93 of Good Girls Don't Date Rock Stars (Rock Canyon, Idaho 2)

“I made a mistake. I was upset and took it out on your dad, like my dad did to me. I’m not perfect and I’m going to mess up, but I promise to try to fix this,” she said.

“How?” Charlie asked.

“Well, for starters, I’m going to fly to Sacramento and talk to your dad, ask him to forgive me and for him to come home,” Gemma said, letting out an oomph when Charlie threw

his body against hers and wrapped his arm around her neck, his hard cast hanging along his side.

“Thank you. Thank you,” Charlie chanted, squeezing her, and she felt wet tears on her shoulder.

Returning his embrace, she said, “I want you to understand, there’s a chance he won’t forgive me, but even if that happens, he’ll still be your dad.”

“I know,” Charlie whispered.

“How about you? Do you forgive me?” Gemma asked, her eyes filling up with tears.

“Yeah. I’m sorry, Mom.”

“I’m sorry, too,” Gemma said, hugging him hard.

“I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

GEMMA WENT DOWNSTAIRS after Charlie fell asleep, and stopped in the kitchen. Grabbing her purse, she pulled out Ms. Collier’s card and went to get the cordless phone.

“Are you calling Travis?” her mother asked from the kitchen table.

Dialing, she shook her head. “No. I’m calling a reporter who ambushed me outside Hall’s Market.”

“For heaven’s sake, why?”

Holding the phone to her ear, she replied, “Because I’m going after what I want.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

* * *

BY THURSDAY NIGHT, Travis couldn’t wait to get back to his room and sleep until the concert on Friday. After negotiations with George, a video chat with the head of Off Road Records, and the long list of interviews and events he’d done that day, he was ready for his tour to be over.

He’d also put in a call to Sally Barrett of Rock Canyon Realty, who was getting him a list of land for sale in the area. If he had some time, he might as well build his dream house, and for that he needed the perfect spread.

Pulling out his cell phone, he called Gemma’s home phone. He wanted to talk to Charlie to see how he was doing.

And tell Gemma how much I miss her.

Of course he missed her. He missed her lying next to him, running her finger over his stomach as she talked to him. He missed the way her glasses slipped down the bridge of her nose, and the way she cursed as she pushed them back up. The warmth of her hand in his, the smell of her skin, and the way she laughed. Everything about being away from her reminded him of how much he wished she were there.

“Hello?” an older woman’s voice sang on the other end of the line.

“Hello. I was calling to talk to Charlie.”

“I’m sorry, he’s not here right now. Travis? Is that you? It’s Gemma’s mom.”

“Mrs. Carlson? How are you?” he asked. He’d always liked the older woman; she’d been a lot friendlier than her husband.

“I’m fine, Travis, and I think you can call me Jeanie. After all, we’re family now.”

Awkward. “Thanks, Jeanie. Do you know when Charlie’s going to be back?”