“I can’t just call to say hello?” Her little laugh was tinged with sadness.

“Sure you can. Just not at five a.m. when you’re clearly still out for the night.” I rubbed the bridge of my nose.

“I guess…” She sighed. “I guess I just miss you, Jax.”

Five years ago, those words would have meant the world to me. They would have kept me hanging on for her next phone call, hanging on to her.

“Claire, it’s not me you should be missing. It’s Finley. She hasn’t talked to you in two months.”

“If I knew I was going to get a lecture, I wouldn’t have called. It’s not my fault that my filming schedule isn’t conducive to calling.”

The urge to tell her off was rising, but Fin was the one who’d suffer if I pissed Claire off and she chose not to call again. “I’m not lecturing you. I’m just being honest.”

“How is she?” Her voice softened.

“Good. Happy. Healthy. Everything you want to hear.” I blinked hard, trying to stay awake.

“Does she ask about me?”

“Of course she does. You’re her mother.”

“Don’t you miss me even a little, Jax?”

My stomach sank. “Don’t.”

“I heard your new neighbor is pretty. Brie told me that she met her at one of your barbecues. Said you seemed pretty…what was the word she used? Entranced? Enamored? Enchanted. That was it. She said you seem enchanted by her.” Her tone turned sharp.

Hell no.

“She’s not up for discussion.”

“Oh, so she is pretty. Does Finley like her, too?” She bit the question out.

“She is none of your business.” I snapped each word, hoping she’d get the point.

“I think I have a right to know who my daughter spends time with, don’t you?”

She took the words straight out of Brie’s mouth. Exhaustion stripped me of my usual caution.

“Do. Not. Start. I haven’t slept in thirty hours, and I don’t have the patience to do this with you. Go back to whatever party you’re at, Claire. I’m going to sleep because our daughter will be up in a couple of hours. You might want to call her sometime.” I chugged the rest of the water bottle.

“Jax, don’t be mad at me.” Her voice dripped with sugar. “You know how much I love Finley. She’s the most important thing in my life. I’m working my ass off to make it out here, and it’s all for her. For all of us! It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and I miss you. I miss our life.”