“She’s famous.”
“I know.”
“Like, super famous.”
“Wow, Lace, I’m starting to think you think I’m not good enough for her.”
“That’s not it at all. It’s just…how does a relationship like this work? Your life is here, and hers is everywhere else.”
“I don’t know how it’ll work, just that I want it to. She’s amazing,” I say, watching her splash through the water with Emma.
“What’s it like dating a celebrity?” Lacey whispers.
“Honestly, most of the time I forget she is one. She’s so down to Earth and—”
“Normal? Yeah, I got that about her too.” Lacey rests her hand on my arm. “I’m happy for you, Grayson.”
“Thank you.”
“I, uh…I talked to Lorelei the other night.”
I take a breath and look up at the sky. “I’m almost too afraid to ask.”
“She’s the same. Strung out on God knows what, hopping from couch to couch, barely making ends meet. But she did ask about you and the kids. She misses them, Gray.”
“Christ, Lacey, I don’t know what you want me to say to that. She should miss them. She’s their mother, and she left them.”
“I know she did. She wants to see them.”
“I can’t.” I shake my head, flabbergasted that she’d even ask. “I can’t let my kids see her like that. It isn’t fair to them. They’ll get their hopes up, and then she’ll disappear again. She’s hurt my kids enough, Lacey. I refuse to let her do it again.”
“I know. I know, Grayson. You don’t have to explain yourself. That’s why I took the liberty of telling her it’s not going to happen until she straightens herself up.”
“You said that?”
She nods. “She needs serious help, or one of these days she’ll end up dead, but she has to want help. I’ll always be here for her, and I’ll continue to offer her help in hopes that one day she’ll take it, but I can’t force it on her.”
“I’m sorry, Lace.”
She sniffs, wipes her face, and ducks her head. “I, uh…I’m gonna go. Thank you for inviting me.”
I wrap her in a hug. “You’re always welcome.”
“Thank you. I appreciate that.” Lacey pulls back. “I’m going to say goodbye to the kids and head out.”
Lacey walks away, and I stumble backward when a group of kids go flying by.
“Slow down, boys.”
They don’t.
“Bye, Wyatt!” Jack waves goodbye to the last boy to leave.
My yard is a muddy mess from all of the water and kids running around. I don’t even want to think about how long it’ll take my grass to grow back, but it was worth it to see the smile on Jack’s face.
“Dad?”
“Yeah, bud?”