Chapter 36
“ H appy birthday, honey.” My mother is the first to acknowledge me when I arrive at the house.
“Hi, Mom,” I say stiffly, entering the living room with my uncles. I accept her embrace, my arms remaining lax at my sides. I love her, but I can’t open my heart to her again. I just can’t. I’m as vulnerable behind my wall as I ever was. Over her shoulder, Alex and Mike exchange concerned glances.
“Missed you, honey.” Mom presses her lips to my temple. “It’s good to have you home.”
“It’s good to be home,” I lie. Pulling back, I shake my head at Alex as he mouths for me to hug her.
“Peace,” my father calls and frowns at me when I look his way. My stomach swirls with nausea. I’ve only been home for a few minutes, but it’s obvious I’ve already displeased him.
“Hey, Dad.” I lift a hand to acknowledge him. We don’t hug. We remain miles apart, though we are standing within feet of each other for the first time in months. “Where’s Harmony?” I ask. Bringing my gaze back to my safe space, my uncles, I tell myself that Alex and Mike are the only family I need.
“Upstairs,” Mom replies. “Sleeping.”
“Recovering.” War’s frown deepens. Apparently, both his daughters are a disappointment to him.
“I’ll go up.” I practically sprint for the stairs.
“Don’t you want your present?” Mom asks.
I stop by the kitchen stairs and tell her over my shoulder, “You can give it to me at the party.” The party I didn’t really want, but they insisted, and I acquiesced. After all, today is Harmony’s birthday too.
“Don’t be too long,” Mom says absently as her phone dings. “Excuse me. That’s the caterer. Guests will be arriving soon.”
I head up the stairs. Hearing concerned murmurings behind me, I square my shoulders. Being home is awkward. I feel like I’m wearing clothes that don’t fit me anymore. But on the other hand, it’s been years. I’m not a child anymore. Starting work at Black Cat Records should be a new chapter in my life. It’s time for me to let go of the past and move forward.
Walking down the hallway upstairs, I notice that everything is exactly the way I remember it. Closing my eyes, I see myself all those years ago tiptoeing toward the stairs for a rendezvous with Bo. My eyes burn, my throat tightening with the memory. That sense of rightness and wonder I experienced with him wasn’t real, and anyway, it’s all over.
Opening my eyes outside my sister’s room, I remind myself I still have Harmony, and I can’t wait to share more about the internship. I know she’ll be excited for me.
“Hey, Harm.” I rap once on the wood and crack open her door. The sharp tang of alcohol in the air instantly hits me. My stomach rolls with a wave of concern. She promised me the last time I saw her that she was cutting back.
“It’s me,” I announce and watch the lump on the bed stirring. “Happy birthday.”
“Peace?” Harmony sits up and tosses back her hair that’s shorter and more stylishly cut than mine.
“Yeah, it’s me.” I flip on her lamp. “Hey.” My brows draw together. She doesn’t look good.
“You’re early.” She winces at the brightness.
“Actually, I’m late. I missed my commercial flight, and I wouldn’t even be here at all today if not for Alex and his private jet.” I go to her closet. It is a walk-in and nearly as big as her entire room. “Your closet is a mess.” The designer clothes she claims to love are strewn all over the floor.
“I couldn’t find anything that looked good,” she mutters.
“The party is going to start soon. You look good in everything.” I shift to look at her as she crosses the room. “What are you going to wear?”
“I don’t know.” She wrinkles her nose at me. “Something better than you. Where the hell did you get that outfit? Stuck up execs r us?”
“Funny,” I deadpan. “It’s Yves St. Laurent. For the internship, remember?”
“Yes, congrats.” She nods approvingly. “And you purchased a whole wardrobe of YSL because it’s Mary Timmons’ favorite designer.”
“I need all the brownie points I can get.” I bite down on my lip. “I’m the youngest and least experienced intern on their staff.”
“The most talented and dedicated, too.” She touches my arm. “You don’t need clothes to win them over.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“You said Melinda liked your essay.” She tilts her head.
“Yeah, but I think it was really my passion for music that swayed her.” I worry my bottom lip. “But I wonder if maybe Dad or Mom had anything to do?—”
“They don’t know about it,” she cuts me off. “Or I don’t think they do. I certainly didn’t tell them.”
“That’s good.” I let out a relieved breath. “I wanted to win the spot on my own merits.”
“That’s how I feel about my acting roles.”
“It’s not easy living in the shadow of two successful parents.” I turn back to the closet and gesture. “So what outfit are you wearing?”
“I know just the one.” She gets a mischievous sparkle that brightens her red-rimmed eyes. “It’s got a neckline almost as dramatic as yours.”
“You girls ready to go downstairs?” War appears in Harmony’s doorway and leans against the frame.
“Yeah, Dad.” Harmony smooths a hand down her dress, what little there is of it.
“No.” Dad shakes his head at her. “Absolutely not. That isn’t a dress. It’s lingerie.”
“Dad.” Harmony rolls her eyes. “You do realize I’m eighteen today?”
“Choose something else.” Stubborn furrows dig into his brow.
“No.” She crosses her arms, and her boobs practically pop out.
“Harmony,” he says.
“Dad.” She lifts her chin.
“Excuse me.” I slip past him. In a battle of stubbornness between the two of them, I’m not sure who will win, but I do know neither will back down anytime soon.
When I get downstairs, I see that the kitchen is jam-packed with catering staff. Avoiding the chaos, I head outside. On the far side of the yard, I spot Alex and Mike. They’re underneath the big white canopy where tables are set up. Smiling, I start to head their way but come to an abrupt stop as someone grabs my arm.
“Harmony,” a voice that haunts my nightmares says.
“No.” I gasp, finding myself thrown into the hard bricks of the house.
“You look hot.” Before I can stop him, he presses his solid body into me and his lips crash against mine. He’s only the second guy to kiss me, and this kiss isn’t any better. None of the kissing I’ve experienced is like they write about in books.
“Stop.” I manage to turn my head to the side, but I can’t escape the wet smear of his mouth.
“Mmm.” Mark has a different opinion of the kiss and drags his hard lips across my cheek.
“Get off me.” I get both of my hands between us and shove him away. “I’m not Harmony.”
He tilts his head. “Peace?” His ash blond brows rise, disappearing beneath a mop of blond hair. “Holy shit!” He shifts to give me a once-over. “You’re hot.”
“Yes, it’s me, you idiot,” I mutter heatedly. “Obviously, I have my glasses on.”
“Sometimes Harmony wears fake ones when we go out,” he tells me. “She says they make her look smart and sexy.”
This is news to me. That Harmony is dating Mark again especially.
“Mark,” my sister suddenly snaps, the door to the house slamming behind her. Marching across the grass to us, she doesn’t look happy. “What the fuck are you doing with my sister?”
“I thought she was you.” He waves his hand in my direction as if I had something to do with him making such a stupid mistake.
“Obviously she’s not.” Harmony shakes her head. “And why are you even here?” she asks airily, glancing down the length of her nose at him.
“You invited me,” he replies.
“That was a long time ago before you pissed me way the hell off.”
“You owe me.” He crosses his arms over his chest.
“For what?” Her brows rise in inquiry.
“For dropping the charges.”
“What charges?” she asks.
“The ones against that asshole Peace used to like.”
“Bo is his name.” She rolls her eyes. “And that was four years ago.”
“I could make it relevant again.” After throwing down that threat, he narrows his gaze.
“No one cares about any of that anymore.” She puts her hands on her hips; the movement draws his eyes to her cleavage. “Go away, Mark.”
“But you need me.” He steps toward her.
“Clue in.” She puts her hands up in the air in a stopping motion that works on him. Her head is almost at the same level as his with her wearing her skyscraper heels. “My eyes are up here.” She circles her face. “We’re not in school anymore. You’re nobody now. I’m a big-shot actress. I don’t need you or anybody else. You got that?”
“Peace.” Mark gets it and turns to me, giving me a pleading look. As if I’d ever help him.
“I don’t need you either.” I shake my head at him.
“We’ll see.” He aims a frown at both of us and stalks off.
“I went out with him in a group, Peace.” Harmony pastes on an overbright smile as some of the party guests glance our way. “Obviously, he thought it was more than it was,” she continues in a lower tone. “But I never liked him, and I would never date him again after what he did to you.”
“Good to know.” My stomach pitches as I step closer to her and notice that her pupils are pinned. I’ve suspected before that she’s abusing more than just alcohol.
“Liked Bo, though,” she confides, her eyes on mine.
I freeze like a statue, but my heart races inside my chest. “I liked him too.” I swallow hard. “But that was a long time ago.”
“He’s back in town.” She studies me closely, watching for a reaction. “His band is playing the Delphium tonight.”
“Good for him,” I respond carefully, managing to keep my reaction under wraps.
“Who’s playing the Delphium?” Dad asks, and I just stare at him. I was so absorbed by what Harmony shared that I didn’t notice him exiting the house.
“Bo’s band,” Harmony shares.
“I want you to stay away from that boy,” Dad says as he looks at me.
“He’s not a boy anymore.” Harmony fans her face with her hand. “He’s a hot musician. All the guys in his band are extremely good-looking.”
“No musicians. I forbid it.” Dad shakes a ringed finger at both of us. “And definitely never Bryan’s son.” That ultimatum delivered, he saunters away.
“Wanna go to his show?” Harmony asks me, her eyes even brighter than before at the chance to defy our dad.
“Sure.” I nod. I’ll go but only because our dad needs to know he can’t treat us like kids anymore.