Chapter 30
“ W hen we talk to them, try to act remorseful.” Bryan grabs me by the shoulders just beyond the boundary of the gathering space. “That’s likely going to be the only thing that will keep you from going to jail.”
“If you think that will make any difference, you’re delusional.” My eyes flare, remembering what that douchebag did and has been doing to Peace. “The guy is a straight up asshole. Acting sorry won’t change a fucking thing.”
“Do you want to go to jail?” My old man scowls at me and looks at Mom. “You try. I’m done.”
“Your dad’s right.” My mother steps forward. The disappointment in her eyes slices into me as deeply as his. My parents don’t have any faith in me. The only person who does, I have to find a way to give up.
“Whatever.” I shrug like it doesn’t matter what my parents think.
“You should have stayed at school like I told you to.” Dad throws his arm around Mom’s shoulders. They’re a united front. I have no one but myself to rely on.
“I’ll go back to school.” What other choice do I have? Carson is right. We have to stick with the plan, save money, then I’ll finally be free to lead my own life.
“How do you propose doing that?” he asks.
“Same way I got here, old man,” I reply with attitude ’cause fuck him, fuck them all. “The bus.”
“You rode on the bus from South Texas all by yourself?” Mom’s voice rises.
“Wasn’t so bad,” I lie. It was awful, long, and tedious, with cramped seats and too many sketchy as fuck stops along the way. But I’d do it again in a heartbeat to see Peace. “How was the concert? Did BS kick your ass?” I go for a redirect to get the focus off me.
“We won,” Bryan replies.
“But winning means Tempest and Brutal Strength are going on tour together.” Mom grimaces. I guess she’s remembering the other time the two bands toured together.
“Better go on in.” War appears. His expression grim, he hooks a thumb over his shoulder. “They’re getting all worked up talking together.”
“You better apologize.” My dad gives me one of his firm looks.
“I’m not apologizing for shit.” I shake my head, giving him my usual pushback.
Mom gasps. Dad curses under his breath.
“Let me talk to the boy.” War looks at me. “You guys go in and see what you can do.”
“Okay.” Dad offers Mom his hand.
“Thanks,” she murmurs.
They leave without another glance at me.
“Sucks to have parents who don’t know what to do with you,” War says. “You think you have it really bad, but you got no clue the kinda shit your dad and I dealt with when we were your age.”
I shift my gaze to him, but I have nothing to say in response to that.
“You can go in there and torch your future if you want to.” He shakes his head. “Up to you, but I can tell you from experience, juvie is going to fucking suck.”
“I know what it’s like.” Carson has shared some, Stevie and Levi too. “Why are you talking to me like this?” I ask, suspicion sharpening my tone.
“Did your dad ever tell you about the time we stole my old man’s car?”
“He doesn’t do memory lane type shit with me.” I pretend to be indifferent to this new information, but I find myself leaning forward.
“It was Bry’s idea to hotwire my old man’s BMW and take it for a joyride. He was driving when we wrecked it and the police caught us. But…” War trails off.
I make a guess. “You took the blame for him.”
“Yeah.” He nods. “Love your dad. Your grandma too. Didn’t want him and the rest of his family suffering. Knew my old lady wouldn’t even notice I was gone.”
Again. I don’t say anything. But it sounds like War and I have more in common than I previously thought.
“Be bitter about your life if you want to be. Toss the lit match that sets it on fire. But I suggest you do something harder. Man up, go in there, and say or do whatever it takes to turn this shit train around.”
“All right.” I swallow hard. “I just might.”
“Good.” He gives me a chin lift. I don’t let on that his approval means anything to me. I just start walking.
“Hey, Bo?” War calls.
“Yeah?” I stop and glance at him over my shoulder.
“Whatever happens, stay the fuck away from my daughter.”
Peace
From a spot up on the landing, I watch Harmony talk to Mark in the foyer.
He nods to her, then glances up. Seeing me, he narrows his gaze before Harmony regains his attention by kissing him. He forgets all about me. It seems like she does too. She twines her arms around his neck and presses her body into his. They kiss for a while, so long I feel creepy watching them. My dad would have a heart attack if he saw them, but then again, Harmony would probably talk her way out of it. None of the rules ever seem to apply to her.
“I’ll do it, baby.” Mark squeezes her ass and turns around, leaving the foyer. Harmony looks up at me. Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, she gives me a thumbs-up. She didn’t forget about me, and I realize she’s an even better actress than I previously thought.