Page 3 of Second Chance Baby
No big deal. There would be other jobs. Not sure I’d try acting again because I didn’t think I was a natural there, but there were always more commercials and other modeling jobs.
We were doing fine since I’d been born a saver and stashed way more than I spent. My agent made sure my contracts included a stipend for housing in whatever city I happenedto land in for commercials or magazine layouts—or calendars, which was definitely a new experience for me—so I didn’t have to worry about shelling out for hotel rooms or Airbnbs out of my salary.
The thing was, if we needed, we could tap Carrington’s mom for some of her financial needs. Her mother was a big-time model who didn’t need to worry about money ever. Not with the contracts she’d landed in recent years.Vogue. Cosmo. Some indie film with a French title, then there were the splashy billboards in Times Square.
Though let’s be real. The day I’d lean on my ex for cash would be a cold day in hell. I didn’t even ask for child support for our daughter. We would get by just fine.
Carrington sighed. “You’re not listening to me. Know how I know? Your eyes glazed over like they always do when your mind wanders. Which is often.” She reached out to poke me in the chest, making me laugh and forget my money concerns.
Which weren’t even a big deal. I just wasn’t used to being turned down for jobs. That rarely happened to me.
Deal with it, sucker.
“Sorry. Stuff on my mind.”
“Important stuff?”
“No. Nothing I can’t handle. And I’m sorry we haven’t had a lot of time to talk lately. We’ll fix that this winter too,” I promised, ruffling her hair once more.
“No big. I was saying it’s already October. You said we’d decorate more this year. Like for the holidays.”
“Oh, yeah, right. We definitely will. But it’s kinda early for Christmas…” I trailed off as she rolled her eyes at me. “Now what did I mess up?”
“Hello, there are holidays to decorate for before Christmas.”
“Thanksgiving?” I was teasing her now. I knew she loved Halloween—and for that matter, we’d need to go shopping soonto get her a costume. One more thing on the list. I’d been working my ass off, which meant the days we spent together were basically busy from start to finish, just trying to keep up with our ever-expanding To Do list.
“No, not Thanksgiving. Halloween, silly. We’re already so behind. All the other houses are already decked out. Like every single one in our neighborhood practically.”
“Every one? That seems unlikely.”
“Whatever.” She waved a hand at me. “We gotta go shopping for stuff.”
I made a face. “Fine, fine. You’re the boss.”
“Good. And don’t you forget it, buster.”
“Never.” I laughed and leaned over to kiss the top of her head. “Go on and go in so you’re not any later than you are already.”
Good thing I’d called ahead and said Carrington would be arriving a little late today. Sincea little latewas getting later by the minute.
“Yeah, don’t worry. Mrs. Tanner is awesome. She won’t wig.”
I had no clue what it meant towig, but I definitely wasn’t going to lose the last of my already tenuous cool points and ask.
She slid across the seat and opened her door before glancing back at me. “Halloween stuff soon? I don’t want to be the neighborhood’s lamest house any longer. You should see the Gideons’ place. It’s been decked out for weeks.”
“We’ll take a ride by it to look. For ideas.”
“Dad, we cannot copy them. That’s worse than not having any decorations at all.”
“I didn’t mean we’d copy them. I meant maybe they’d inspire us. Then we’ll go shopping,” I promised.
Her smile was instantaneous. “Thanks, Daddy.” She grabbed her backpack before she hopped down and ran inside, her long blond curls streaming behind her.
I leaned my head against the back of my seat. Wonder what she’d want decoration-wise? Where was the best place to shop for stuff like that? I was hopelessly out of touch with everyday life things since the holidays usually meant last minute jobs for extra pay, which I rarely turned down. My family always decked out for the holidays, and we just enjoyed the fruits of their labors.
Meaning I thieved their extra deco when necessary.