Page 105 of Perfect Composition

That glow spreads before it bursts into insane laughter.

“Thankfully, I didn’t lustfully worship your bod the way some of my friends did…”

“That might have been a bit creepy now,” I interject when I catch my breath.

“Right?” she emphasizes. “But due to my friendstotallycrushing on you—oh, God. My friends were creeping on my dad.” Austyn begins making retching noises.

I grin before encouraging her to go on. “You were saying?”

“I still saw a lot of pics of you. You always seemed…detached…from whomever you were photographed with. After Mama told me the truth about you, about us, I searched for you online.”

I pour in the eggs and let them sizzle before I reply. “I’d be surprised if you didn’t.”

“But that goes back to my comment from before. People just believe what they want to. They don’t put in the time and effort to put the pieces together, to uncover the truth.”

“There’s a lot about me that’s true, Austyn.”

“And just as much that’s not,” she fires back hotly. “You were never in rehab; you were on tour. But the whole world believes you were because some no-name asswipe wrote about it.”

A warmth steals through me at Austyn’s defense. Indignancy follows close on its heels when she wonders aloud, “Do I have any brothers or sisters?”

“What? Hell no!” What Austyn doesn’t need to know is any claims that might have been true were investigated and proven to be false long ago. I mentally perform the sign of the cross.

“While I wouldn’t mind having siblings, I think it makes it easier for you and Mama to have this second chance.”

I gape at her until the smell of burning eggs causes me to curse roundly. “Shit. Damn.”

“Add in a fuck or two and you’ll be the living image of a rocker dad—tatted up, making breakfast for his kid before sending her off to play for the day,” she mocks.

“You’re totally fucking with me,” I accuse.

“Completely. For Christ’s sake, Beckett. I have about a year’s worth of questions to ask you, and we have no time before we have to fly back. Our schedules don’t seem to sync up in New York. The only time we seem to connect is on airplanes.”

I think about it for half a second. “I have an appointment this morning”—which is going to hurt like a bitch—“then Grammy rehearsal this afternoon. Why don’t we stay a few days after? I’ll show you around LA, and we can get to know one another without the time constraints.”

Austyn chews her lower lip. It’s an endearing habit I do as well. “I don’t have any plans.”

I toss the burnt eggs to the side. “Right. First order of business is to find something edible to eat. Go get dressed, and we’ll pick up something through a drive-thru.”

“In-N-Out? I hear their burgers are amazing.” Austyn dashes through the kitchen in the direction of the stairs.

“For breakfast?” I shout.

“It opens at 10:30!” comes her reply.

I pick up my cell phone and text Paige.How do you say no to Austyn?

If you figure it out, let me know.Her text is followed by an evil smiling GIF.

Thanks for the help.I send her a laughing GIF of a baby falling over.

Of course. You’re doing great, Dad. Miss you XOXO.

I think about the appointment I have that morning before typing,Not more than I miss you, baby. Every minute, every day. It’s a permanent part of me.

Then I hear Austyn shout, “Do I need to dress up?”

I yell back, “To ride in a blacked-out car to get burgers? Get a move on, daughter!”