By the time we’ve finished, Kenny’s drunk and I’m still nursing my first glass of wine, ready to take off, but he won’t fucking stop rambling. Yep, his marriage is falling apart. It doesn’t seem right not to listen.

Kenny stands up. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to hit the head.”

I watch him disappear into the crowd. I reach for my phone. It’s bugged me since Kenny asked. Fuck, it’s midnight. Too late to call. I decide to text.

Me: Can I have a picture?

I set my phone on the table, finish my wine, and my cell dings just as I’m about to slip quietly away from the table before Kenny returns.

Chrissie: A picture, huh? At this hour? Someone is missing me and having nasty thoughts. It’s nice to know.

I smile. I didn’t expect her to be awake. I didn’t expect her to answer so promptly after staying out of contact for days. And I didn’t expect the answer to be that.

Me: Always missing you. Always having nasty thoughts. What are you doing?

Chrissie: Linda stopped by. Just talking. What did you do today? Where are you?

Me: Spent the day in Encino. Recording drum tracks. Having dinner with Kenny.

Chrissie: What kind of picture do you want? I’m limited on what I can send you right now.

I laugh. Oh, definitely a better answer than I hoped for.

Me: I still have the Polaroids we did in New York. Very useful the last few days. We need to find some time alone together soon, baby.

I wait. Maybe she’ll get rid of Linda and invite me over.

Chrissie: What kind of picture do you want?

Fuck, not the response I wanted.

Me: Send me that beautiful part of you that is mine.

I wait, wondering if she’ll get that. It’s a win either way. I’m definitely missing her.

Ding. Ding. Ding. Oh, lots of pictures. I thumb through them. Oh, Jesus Christ, she’s beautiful. Just looking at Khloe gets me all choked up.

Me: How long is Linda hanging around?

Chrissie: Maybe another hour.

Me: Can I stop by? Say good night to Khloe? Say good night to you both?

Chrissie: Alan, you can come here any time you want. You’re Khloe’s father. No call necessary. You don’t have to ask. See you at my place in an hour.

I stare at the phone.

She’s not angry with me.

And she just invited me to drop by at midnight.

I click off the phone.

“What’s the matter?”

I look up to find Kenny slipping back into the booth across the table from me.

“Why does it always feel like all women have a set of rules they live by and expect you to know, but the rules are never fucking logical.”

Kenny laughs uproariously, a little louder than that comment deserves.

“Because they all do,” Kenny says, leaning forward against the table. “And they are pretty simple rules. We just don’t follow them. They expect you to show. They expect you to really be there. They’ll never ask, but that’s what they want. And they’ll fucking go find someone who will if you don’t play by their rules.”

I stand up. “I’m out of here.”

Kenny’s eyes fix on me. “You want some advice? Really show up for Chrissie this time. You don’t want to blow it. And you certainly don’t want to fuck it up with your daughter. I’ve got three kids that won’t talk to me. You want to make this work with Chrissie? There’s only one way. Doing right by your daughter. That’s how you don’t fuck it up with Chrissie this go around.”

“That’s great fucking advice, Kenny,” I jeer, pulling the keys from my pocket.

“Yeah, that’s what I said to Len when he told it to me. But it’s the fucking truth.”

I pat him on the shoulder. “Catch you later.”

I start weaving my way through the crowd. I stop. I stare. Oh no, it’s can’t be.

What the hell is Kaley doing in a place like this, dressed like that? Tight pencil skirt up to her ass. Bare midriff. And definitely too much showing in front—Jesus Christ, look at the way she’s dancing. Fuck, it makes me uncomfortable just to see it.

I start pushing past the jostling bodies on the dance floor, ignoring the people staring at me in surprise and trying to get in my way.

I put a hand on her arm to stop the motion of her body. I glare at the guy who was grinding on her a minute ago. “Get lost. Now. Before I decide to help you leave.”

I don’t know what startles the guy more, what I said or that it was me who said it, but he cuts out quickly, no questions asked.

My gaze shifts back to Kaley. “I’m taking you home. Now.”

She jerks free of my hold. “Fuck off.”

The sharpness of her voice startles me.

I can feel heavy stares from every direction.

I ignore her outburst. “Does your mother know you’re here?”

She laughs. “Does my mother know you’re here? Better question.”

I stare at her. Is she drunk? “Do you have a car?”

She jerks her chin and looks away. “Zoe drove. I’ve had my keys taken away for two weeks. Thanks for telling my mom about me borrowing your car the other morning.”

My eyes widen. “Borrowing? Interesting choice of words. And I didn’t say a word to your mother. I said I wouldn’t and I didn’t.”

“Bullshit. I don’t believe anything you say.”

I rake a hand through my hair. Why is she being so combative? What did I ever do to her to deserve this?

I struggle to maintain my composure. “We are leaving. Now. I’m taking you home.”

I motion her toward the exit, and she shakes her head. “I’m not leaving without talking to Zoe.”

I scan the room. I don’t see the girl anywhere.

“You can text her from the car,” I say firmly.

My eyes stare into hers, unblinking.

She breaks off first and starts rushing through the crowd. “Why do you have to always ruin everything?” she hisses over her shoulder.

I go out of the club and give my ticket to the valet.

Kaley whirls on me. “You don’t have any right to tell me where I can go or what I can do,” she exclaims in a voice that could puncture the sound barrier.

“That’s enough, Kaley. You’re embarrassing us both.”

She rolls her eyes. “Fuck, you are such an asshole. Don’t you get it? You just embarrassed me in there.”

“The only one to create a scene tonight was you, Kaley. And there is no way in hell I was going to leave you in a place like that alone. Do you even have a clue what could happen to you, drunk, in a place like that?”

She makes a face at me. “Place like what? Someplace you’d go? Zoe and I like to hit clubs. Dance. Even Mom wouldn’t freak out about that. We don’t do anything. You’re being ridiculous.”

“Then I’ll ask your mother when I get you home, and if I’m wrong, I will apologize.”

She crosses her arms, staring stonily ahead. “Don’t bother. You’ve already ruined my night enough.”

Just like I thought. Chrissie would not have approved. I’m feeling better about this, even as horrid as it’s been.

My car rolls to a stop in front of me. I go to the valet to take my key and watch him run around to the other side to open Kaley’s door. I wait until she climbs in.

I sink down onto the driver’s seat. I put the car into gear and pull away from the curb.

“I’ve always cared about you, Kaley. Don’t expect me to stop now. I didn’t mean to embarrass you. It’s not what I intended. I was concerned.”

The answering look in her eyes is pure venom. She turns to stare out the window. “I’m surprised you’re still in LA. You haven’t been around for days. I thought you’d split California.”

I tense, surprised she’s noticed that I haven’t been at Chrissie’s. And more surprised that it bothers her.

“I’m here for good. Moving back to Malibu.”

Nothing. No reaction.

It’s an asinine comment but maybe it will make her laugh or thaw a little.

“We’ll probably be running into each other out in the clubs more often.”

She rolls her eyes. “What’s happening with you and my mother?”

Oh, so that’s what’s got her all anxious and worried and angry. The possibility that I’m doing a fuck and run? Or is it the possibility of me in her universe? Christ, she used to love me. How did everything get so fucked up with her?