Free Lullabye (Rockstar #6) by Anne Mercier

into galleries in LA and San Diego?”
    “I have.”
    My head whips in her direction. There is no hiding the surprise and happiness filling me right now. “Yeah?”
    She nods. “There are some that would be great. The owner of the gallery I work with now, knows the owners of a few out there. It wouldn’t be difficult to get shows.”
    “That’s because your paintings are phenomenal, T. You’ve been so ‘on’ lately. Your work reflects your moods, I think. There’s less blurring,” I guess.
    She shrugs as she stands next to me looking at an abstract painting. “Maybe. I don’t know. This is just what comes out.”
    “It’s beautiful,” I say honestly. “I’m proud of you. You’ve worked so hard.”
    “Same goes,” she replies. “I saw Jesse and Lucy had the babies. Nice nickname by the way, K Quads.”
    I grin. “Yeah. They’re so tiny, Tera, but they can poop something fierce.”
    She smiles softly. “I’m sorry, Xander.”
    “T,” I say, my hand reaching up to cup her cheek. “Never apologize for doing what you have to do. I get it. I was the first one to see you after, remember? I wish I’d been there. You have no idea how much I wish I’d been there for you that day,” I confess, the guilt that’s been eating my soul not allowing me to hold it back.
    “Stop that. You were there. There was nothing that could have been done. You know it and I know it, so let’s just leave it at that, okay? Let’s agree that it sucked, but life goes on.”
    I stare into her beautiful hazel eyes, the flecks of green and gold prevalent tonight.
    “Okay.” For now.
    “How much time do you have?” she asks.
    I look at my watch and wince. “Time goes entirely too fast when I’m here with you.”
    “It does. How long?” she asks again, catching my evasion.
    “Ten hours,” I answer.
    Tera grabs my hand and leads me toward the bedroom. “Then let’s make them count.”

    “I hopped off the plan at LAX…” This landing isn’t as happy as the last one. The time with her went so damn fast. I hate that I had to wait a day to go to her, to waste that day on my mother, but it couldn’t be helped. It was see her then or see her on Christmas day—today—and that just isn’t going to happen.
    I don’t see the point. To sit there at some stuffy formal dinner with a woman who was barely there when I was growing up? A woman who disapproves of my career choice. A woman who has had more husbands than I have fingers on my left hand. A woman who I talk to less than that during an entire year. It’s all about appearances for Dr. Lynn McCormick-Mackenzie-Daniels-Linz-blah, blah, blah. Honestly I forgot the rest. I’m surprised I remember that many.
    The car pulls up in front of CFD and I take a deep breath. Home . One day Tera will call this home too.
    I open the front door and I’m met with laughter which makes me grin. I drop my bag on the floor, meeting Mrs. Martinez stare. “I’ll get it later. I promise.”
    She grins and waves me on. “Go. They’ve been waiting for you.”
    “Yeah?” I ask, happy to hear that.
    “Yes. It’s never the same without you,” she tells me and I walk over and give her a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
    “Thanks, Mrs. M.”
    She blushes prettily when I give her a wink. I chuckle as I head toward the noise. It’s been a couple days but it feels like so much longer.
    I pause in the doorway taking it all in. Everyone’s here—same as last year, only we’re five bodies heavier this year—the babies and Nicole.
    The tree is decorated in reds and golds, the fireplace blazing in the corner—fireplace in California. I shake my head. Only Lucy. The holiday lights and candles decorate every surface, and bodies are littered on the sofas, chairs, and floor.
    “Xan!” Nicole greets, jumping up off Ben’s lap to give me a hug.
    “What’s happening, people?” I ask, enjoying Nicole’s floral scent much more than the sterile one she’d been sporting for a while there.