Play Fair (The Devil's Share Book 3)(53)

Luke visibly paled but plastered a smile on his face. “No worries, man. I’ll help you come up with something.”

Well, that was awkward as f*ck. Luckily my phone vibrated in my pocket again. Saved by the text.

B: Sorry, babe. Rain check. Diane is here.

J: Be up in just a sec

“I gotta head up for a bit, Landry’s social worker is here.” I put my phone back in my pocket and set my guitar to the side.

I closed the door to the studio, hiding my bandmates in the soundproof room. Just in case they did start to rib Dash about proposing. “Diane, it’s nice to see you again.”

“You too, Jacks.” She looked toward the backyard. “Where is little miss Landry?”

Uh, was it wrong that I suddenly had no f*cking clue? Hadn’t Bryan just told me…? Counselor? Tutor? I crossed the room and stood next to Bryan.

“Those boys lose all sense of time when they are down there in the studio.” Bryan put her arm around my waist, slapping my chest slightly. “Landry is in the other room, meeting with Mark, the child counselor.”

“Oh, today isn’t a John—I mean, tutoring day?” Diane looked slightly disappointed. Did every woman get horny to the sound of that man’s voice? Holy hell.

Bryan shook her head, smiling. “No. I’m afraid not.”

“Well, while Landry is finishing up, why don’t we have a seat and Jacks can tell me what’s been going on.” Shit. I couldn’t tell her what’s been going on, I’d been in the studio every damn day. I held tight to Bryan’s hand, making sure she was going to come with us. We sat at the dining room table. “How is Landry doing, Jacks? I know you guys have been trying to keep her busy, trying to keep her worry at bay. Which I think is a good call. But I want to know how you’re feeling right now. How are you adjusting to fatherhood?”

I felt like I needed a whiskey drink. “Landry is doing so well, despite the incident with Amelia the other week. She keeps us laughing. She’s a really funny, bright kid.”

“And her schoolwork? What did you decide to do about her starting school in the fall?” Diane looked like everyone’s favorite grandma, but she was on point today. This woman was good at her job.

I squeezed Bryan’s hand under the table. I knew this one, I knew we’d talked about it. Bryan had told me what John and Mark had decided…but… “Um, well, after we talked to both her tutor and her counselor…we, uh…”

Bryan put her hand on my arm. “You know, Jacks, I don’t think I even told you what the final decision was.” She smiled warmly. “They were going back and forth and they certainly wanted Landry’s opinion. It was just decided last night that they thought keeping her out of public school until she moved to Texas was going to be best for her.” Bryan let out a soft chuckle. “Landry is so advanced, and John is really confident that he can have her ready for fifth grade by the time everyone moves.”

Diane looked at me. “And Jacks, you agree?”

I nodded. “One hundred percent. Switching schools like that is never easy.”

“Now, Bryan, I know you are in charge of Landry’s schedule and all the day-to-day activities for her. What is going to happen after the move? Jacks, will you hire a new nanny?”

My heart started to pound. What did I say? Was I allowed to have a girlfriend? Was that frowned upon to have your girlfriend take care of your kid? Were we going to get deductions for this? I had been either in the studio, playing with Landry, or in bed with B for the past two weeks. I thought we had this in the bag. “I, uh, well, actually… Things have changed a little. Bryan and I are, um, dating?”

Diane raised an eyebrow at the question in my voice. “Dating? How long has this been going on?”

I cleared my throat, “A few weeks now. We have been friends for a while and having her here…things have progressed.” I winced. “Is that a problem?”

Diane leaned back in her chair, a wary look on her face. “Is it a problem? Yes and no. I can clearly see how much Landry loves Bryan, so it’s good that she has her. But in the same token, if things were to end between you two? That would be really hard on her.”

I nodded. “We both understand that, and we didn’t enter into this relationship lightly.” I looked over at B. “I don’t know what Landry and I would do without her, and I have no plans for this to end.”

Diane gave me small smile. “To be honest, Jacks, I don’t know what you would do without Bryan either.” She looked toward the door that had just opened. Landry must be done with her session. “Which is part of the problem. The courts don’t like temporary. You and Bryan aren’t married, you aren’t engaged, yet she is like a mother to Landry. That little girl couldn’t take being abandoned again. It would crush her. And if things end between you and Bryan, that’s just what would happen.” She stood. “I need for the two of you to really think about what you are doing here. Think about the future, think about Landry. This isn’t going to be nearly as clear-cut a case as I was thinking. We’ll talk soon.”

***

Neither Bryan nor I knew what to say after Diane left. We thought we were doing great, raising Landry in this unconventional setting. She was relaxed and laughing and thriving. But apparently we were one wrong move away from messing up her life and losing her. The whole family was seated around the dining room table. Without Bryan and I talking, things were more quiet than usual.