“Do you think you’ll return on tour for the next leg? You love Australia.”
“I’m not sure. As much as I hate being away from Dad and Kitt, I kind of want to find out what I’m good at. I don’t think I’ll do that if I’m forever tucked away in the tour bubble.”
Jennifer flashes her perfect teeth in a Hollywood smile and hands me my coffee. “Let’s sit in the drawing room, and we can talk through your options.”
I don’t know why the kitchen isn’t good enough for coffee consumption, but apparently, it’s not, so I follow her into the next room. It’s huge, painted light grey with high ceilings, dark wood floor, stylish vintage seats, and a massive marble fireplace.
There is no TV. It’s the only flaw.
She sits opposite me and puts her drink down. I keep hold of mine. There’s not much that will get me to pry my fingers off my coffee until it’s drained.
“Have you given it much thought?” she asks.
“To?”
“To what you’d like to do. Texas, you’re beautiful and intelligent. You can do whatever you want.”
“Yeah, no idea.”
“Well, would you like to pursue something in the field of your studies?” The distaste drips from her words. She never liked that I studied something so gruesome.
“I’m not sure. I chose that because it interested me, but I don’t think I want it to be my career.”
“Lovely.” She raises her eyebrows. “What about modelling? You have the face and the figure.”
I blink. “Um…” My modelling background is limited to a few shoots with Dad over the years. I don’t know if I’d have the patience to do what Jennifer does.
“Why not give it a try? There is no harm in having a go. It’s the only true way to know if you enjoy something.”
“Okay,” I reply, not entirely sure how we got here.
She brightens, and her green eyes sparkle. “Fabulous.”
Is it?
“I have a shoot at noon and then dinner with friends tonight. I would love it if you accompanied me. You’ve seen your dad at work a million times over. I’d like to share that with you, too.”
I lick my lips. She would? I look down and mutter, “Sure.”
God, why is this so awkward?
I have no trouble with talking to Dad about almost anything. With Jennifer, I want to keep things to safe small talk.
“Thank you, Texas,” she replies, her voice wobbling with emotion.
Shit.
I’m not good with this. My skin is buzzing, signalling for me to get the hell out of here. But I won’t let myself. I won’t run from my relationship with her, not now that I’m trying the adult thing. No matter how hard it is to connect with her, I’ll try. Maybe we’ll both get something out of it, or maybe not, but it’s worth a try.
Like modelling?
Yeah, I’ll see how that one goes.
“It’ll be nice to spend some time together,” I say.
“I’m so pleased to hear that. I’ve wanted to show you off and take you to see what I do for years. Perhaps we can go shopping, too, and get you some new clothes.”
I look down at my ripped denim shorts and System of a Down T-shirt. “What’s wrong with my clothes?”
“Oh, nothing. I’ve always loved your sense of style, but you don’t have a lot here, and I’d like to help you pick out a few things.”
That’s her way of saying she wants to choose my outfits because she’s not happy with what I wear.
I shrug one shoulder. “Sure. I’m just going to try Dad,” I say, holding up my phone.
I step out of the room, and the phone rings a few times before I hear Dad’s voice.
“Texas, are you okay?”
“Yeah. Are you?”
“It’s different,” he replies.
“Things calmed down?”
He clears his throat, and that means they have, but he doesn’t want to say because that’ll be admitting that I was the problem. Dad has never seen me as a problem.
“Things are going well,” he replies.
“I’m glad. It’s not bad here either. Plus, Jennifer has, like, thirty bodyguards.”
He chuckles. “Yes, she does go over the top there. But it allows me to sleep easier, knowing you’re well protected.”
“Always have been, Dad. Where are you now?”
“About to hit the sack.”
“Oh, sorry.”
“No, don’t go yet. Have you spoken to Kitt?”
My heart stops. “Not yet. Why?”
“No reason. You always assume the worst. He misses you.”
“I miss him, too.”
“I know, love. Don’t tell him I told you, but he has a countdown on his phone.”
I laugh and bite my lip. “He does?” God, even from halfway around the world, he still makes me feel like the only person on the planet.
“He would kill me if he knew I’d mentioned it.”
“I’m glad you did.”
“Me, too. How is Jennifer? Are you enjoying your time with her?” He sounds scared to ask and scared for my reply. It would really hurt him if he thought I hated it here.
I lean against the wall because this is as shocking to me as it will be to him. “Actually, it’s okay.”