Page 49 of Under Ground
He pales. “Shit. Really?”
“Yes, really. The same thing I was worried about, but you told me it’d be fine.” I fist my hand; I’m so frustrated. “And then something happened at day care.”
“What happened?”
“Daddy, Daddy. There was a lady at day care looking at me today.” Casey tugs at his jeans, and he frowns before shifting his gaze to me.
“Maria said there was someone in the park taking an interest in Casey. It made her uncomfortable.” I walk away and flop onto the couch. “I think they’re related.”
He scoops up Casey and carries her into the room where he joins me on the couch with her on his lap.
“It wouldn’t surprise me.”
“You said—“
He pops a kiss on Casey’s head and lowers her to the ground, then gathers me into his arms. “I didn’t think that kind of thing would happen. I’m in a small town in New Zealand, not central LA.”
“Well, apparently they have cameras here too.”
He presses his nose into my hair. “I’ll call my manager. I had a couple of missed calls from him while I was filming. It was you I called back first.”
“Should think so.” I sniff. “Priorities.”
“You got it.”
I turn my head, and he presses his forehead to mine. “We’ll sort this out. I promise.”
“You’d better.”
He pulls away, and concern lingers in his eyes. They’re filled with an emotion I understand, and I love him all the more for it. But I can’t change this. This is on him.
“I’ll get onto it in the morning. Right now, I want to just hold you because you look like you need it,” he murmurs.
“Is that your way of saying I look like shit?”
He chuckles and kisses my temple. “No, you look beautiful as always. I think we need to not go out in public together for a little while. Until I work out what to do.”
I nod. “I figured as much.”
“I’m sorry, Lana.” He takes a deep breath in my hair. “I should have known better, but I didn’t. The casting announcement isn’t out yet, but it can’t be far away. I know that will be news.”
“It could get worse?”
He pulls back, looking into my eyes. I don’t need him to answer from the way he’s frowning.
“I—”
“Well, that’s all we need. I should have thought more about this.”
Alex strokes my back. “How about I order pizza delivery and we talk this through?” He tilts his head. “We’ll work it out. I know we will.”
“We have to, because this is the one thing I was scared of.”
“I know.”
“Daddy, did you say pizza?” Casey pats him on the arm.
Despite myself, I laugh. “Yes, sweetheart. Alex said he’d order pizza.”