Chapter 40
“ W here’s your car?” I ask Harmony when we reach the parking lot.
“At the repair shop.” She shivers as a burst of cool wind blows in from the nearby waterfront. Rubbing her bare arms, she glances down at her phone. “Ride should be here in about two minutes. It’s a black Chevy Equinox.”
“Gonna be tight in the back seat, darlin’.” Carson is standing beside Peace’s twin and takes advantage of the opportunity to glance down her blouse. “But you can sit by me.” He smirks when she looks up and catches him. “Just in case you need to lick anything.”
“I was drunk when I said that.” She wrinkles her nose at him. “Sober, my expectations have risen.”
“That’s not the only thing that has come up.” He captures and rubs a long strand of her hair between his fingers. She swats his hand away.
“Ride’s here.” I point. The driver parks, rolls down his window, and introduces himself. Harmony tells him her name. He nods and then we pile into the back seat and buckle up.
Everyone goes quiet as the guy steers the vehicle onto the busy street. I’m not sure what’s on Carson’s or Harmony’s mind. Mine is second-guessing this plan. What the hell can I say to Peace that will fix anything? And will she even listen? I don’t think that’s likely after the way I behaved tonight.
“You said you lost Peace.” I shoot an inquiring glance at Harmony. She turns her head. While her focus is off him, Carson adjusts himself. “What did you mean?”
“Peace went to stay with Uncle Alex when she was fourteen. It was supposed to be a temporary arrangement. I came home after filming on location. I reenrolled in school. But Peace never came home.”
“Why not?” I frown. “She was just a kid. A kid should be with her family.”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought too, but Alex is family.” Her eyes glass up. “Mom and Dad tried to force her to come home a couple of times, but Peace dug her heels in. She made it a big issue. She told them flat out she was happier living with Alex and Mike.”
“She stood up for herself.”
“Yeah.” Harmony nods. “She changed after you two had your falling-out.”
“She got even prettier,” I observe, my gaze going unfocused. And apparently, she made a life for herself in LA. I refocus on Harmony. “I’m sure she enjoyed the freedom of being out from under your dad’s thumb.”
“Dad can be overbearing,” Harmony muses agreeably.
I imagine Peace probably dated a lot of handsome Hollywood types while down there, in addition to her football player. Maybe that’s the real reason she didn’t want to come home. Thinking of her with other guys makes me angry, frustrated like I was seeing her backstage and not being able to connect with her.
“Why’d you say such shitty things to her?” Harmony asks me. “Back then and tonight?”
I glance away, pretending the dark buildings on the other side of the glass are fascinating. “Does Peace have a boyfriend?” I ask.
Harmony snorts. “Not any that she wants.”
“What does that mean?” I glance sharply at her.
“Mark tried to kiss her today. At our party.”
“Mark, the douchebag?” I inquire.
“Yeah.” Her brow furrows. “I think he was using me when we were kids to get close to her. I thought it was kind of weird the way he was always asking about her. But today he really crossed the line.”
“How?” My frown deepens.
“He cornered her. Backed her up against the house. She tried to avoid it. But I’m pretty sure their mouths connected. She looked like she wanted to hurl.”
“I’m going to kill him.” My hands form fists where they rest on my jeans. “Where does the douchebag live?”
“You going to hurt him?” Her brows rise.
“Oh, yeah.” I nod.
“Tonight?” she asks.
“Would that bother you?” I throw that inquiry out there.
“Not in the least,” she replies. “Prick deserves it.”
“Consider it a birthday present,” I decide.
“Driver.” Harmony taps the back of his headrest. “Change in plans. We’re adding a stop.”