Legendary Daddy by Mia Monroe (each kindness read aloud txt) 📕

easily. Bentley is pretty close to already having me wrapped around his finger. I guess I’m afraid I’ll lose myself in him.”

Matty nods. “I know what you’re saying, but I think it’s okay to get lost in someone as long as they aren’t going to hurt you.”

“But how do you know?”

“You don’t. You just have to trust your instinct, trust the other person, and hope for the best. It’s all part of dating, relationships, and finding love.”

“I’m just worried that love isn’t attainable for me anymore. Bentley is this young fresh-faced bundle of joy. And what am I? A washed-up porn star with no future.”

“That’s the dumbest shit I ever heard. You know damn well I won’t sit here and let you play the pity-party hand. Not on my watch. You’re a tough motherfucker, and you know it. Are you seriously going to let that asshole ex of yours ruin the rest of your life?”

I smile. Matty can always be counted on for smacking you with the truth, no matter how much it stings.

“No, you’re right. I think Bentley is worth taking the chance on a relationship. He lights me up in ways I haven’t been in years. As far as a career is concerned, he might be the ticket to that too. I just have to be smart and not let his charms cloud my judgment.”

“Do you want some truth?”

I nod. “Hit me.”

“You and Arian were not a match from the beginning. You worried about how materialistic he was within weeks of meeting him. Remember?”

I nod. “I do.”

“But then you got into filming and the fans ate it up.” He frowns. “Arian didn’t drug you or force you to do things you didn’t want to do. You’re just as much to blame for getting sucked into the fame and money as Arian is. Maybe he was manipulative, I get it, and you’re kind of a soft Daddy, but you knew what was up.”

I nod, feeling my chest tighten from the shame caused by his words.

“And honestly, Legend, so what? It happens to the best of us. It was spectacular what happened, and anyone, literally so many people, would have been just as seduced by it as you were. Arian is a dick in a lot of ways, and he was never meant for you, but you’ve got to stop beating yourself up for sticking with it as long as you did. Someday you’ll look back and realize that your time with Arian was necessary, and maybe even good in some ways. Stop crying into your coffee about it and make plans for your next steps.”

As his words settle in my gut, I nod, feeling a little lighter than I did minutes ago. “There must be a market for motivational speakers who tell you to fuck off and get your shit together.”

Matteo laughs. “I’m sure there is, but I’m serious, man. I love you, and I hate seeing you wallowing and puttering around this big house like an old man with nothing to do. You’re young and hot and rich. You can do anything you want.”

“I’m not rich.”

“Well, you’re not poor either. Count your blessings, not your bruises.”

“That sounds like a new tattoo that I need.”

Matteo grins. “If it helps you get your head out of your ass, let’s do it.”

I walk forward, and Matty puts his mug down to wrap his arms around me. He’s a big man, so my head rests easily on his shoulder. “I missed you and your brand of truth, Matty.”

He pats my back. “I missed you, period. Feels good to be with you again.”

I step back. “I really hope LA works out for you. Would love to have you around all the time.”

“With that in mind, let’s go collect your boy and make this city my bitch.”

“Let’s do it.”

After changing clothes, and a brief call to Bentley, we head out in my truck. As the GPS leads us to Bentley’s address, my skin starts to crawl.

“Dude,” Matteo says. “This neighborhood looks shady as fuck.”

“My thoughts exactly. It better improve by the time we get to his place or…”

“Or it’s his last night sleeping there.”

“Absolutely.” I glance at my friend, thankful for someone in my life who understands how I’m wired.

I turn onto his street and it definitely hasn’t improved. Pulling up in front of Bentley’s apartment complex, I rub my forehead. “Jesus Christ. This is bad, Matty.”

“Yeah. I couldn’t sleep if my boy lived here.”

“No way. What do I do? I’ve known him for two weeks.”

“Okay, let’s think.” Matty’s eyes dart out of the window to the people who keep walking by and staring down the truck. “Why don’t you suggest he pack a bag with everything important and stay over for a few days. Then, um, you can talk about his situation. You gotta get him out of here though.”

“I can’t believe he didn’t tell me.”

“Like you said, you’ve only known him a minute. You spent, what, one afternoon and one night together? He couldn’t know where you stand yet.”

“True. He sounded like something was going on yesterday on the phone. I should’ve pushed.”

“Hey.” Matty puts his hand on mine. “He’s okay. Let’s go get him.”

“Assuming my truck is here when we get back.”

“Good point. I could stay down here.”

“Nah. A truck can be replaced. You can’t.”

As we climb out of the truck, there’s a guy leaning on the banister of the stairs that lead to the front door of the building. He looks at the truck then at us before giving a polite head nod. I nod back, silently hoping he’s not going to cause any trouble. He’s shorter than me, but he looks like he’s seen some shit in his day. There are two of us, but that won’t stop a gun.

“Let’s go get Bentley,” I say to Matteo.

The man looks at me again, then nods at the panel to buzz in. “It’s broken,” he says. “You can just go in.”

My blood nearly boils. “Thanks, man.”

We enter the building, and I