Chapter 14
REBEL
Ten Years Ago . . .
Harmony and I are sitting at the table in my uncle’s house drinking shots of tequila as I drown my sorrows.
Xander broke up with me, and I have no one to blame but myself.
“You sure you don’t want me to go over to the clubhouse and maim him?” Harmony asks for the umpteenth time.
I shake my head and wipe the tears spilling down my cheeks. I hate that I’m a crier. I wish I was more like Harmony. She’s tougher than me.
“No, I screwed everything up. There’s no way to fix this. It’s not his fault. I should’ve listened to him,” I say, letting out a harsh breath.
“He could’ve been more understanding. I mean, what is up with all the men in this world thinking it’s their way or no way.
This is why I’m happy to be a lesbian,” Harmony mutters, pouring the both of us another shot.
“Drink up babe, if you don’t want me to go over there and hurt him, then I’m at least getting you drunk. ”
“You’re the best friend ever.” I smile sadly and lift the shot glass to clink with hers.
“Exactly, and you’re gonna hate me in a second when I break some news to you,” Harmony states, slamming her glass on the table.
“What?” I frown. Harmony’s a senior like me. What news could she have for me?
“I joined the military. I leave right after graduation for basic,” she announces quickly and takes another shot of tequila.
“Y-you joined the military?” Harmony nods in response. “What branch?”
“Army,” she says and meets my eyes. “I came out to mom and dad about being a lesbian. Dad took it in stride, but mom, she got mad and told me she was disowning me. Dad ended up going off on mom, informing her if she can’t handle her daughter being with women, then she could easily sign the divorce papers he already had drawn up. ”
“What?” I gasp at what Harmony’s telling me.
“Yep. It turned into a complete rip-roaring argument. I’m surprised the neighbors didn’t call the cops.
” She shrugs. I knew her parents were on the outs and so did she.
“Anyway, dad left the house, and I went with him. We’ve been staying at a hotel for the time being.
He told me he already knew about my sexuality and supports me. ”
Smiling, I take the tequila bottle from her hands and pour us both another shot. “That’s good.”
Harmony nods and picks up the shot and downs it. “Yeah, so anyway, he and I went to the recruiter’s office, and I signed up. The other day when you called, I’d gone to take my ASVAB test.”
Nodding, I take in what she’s said and realize what’s happening. After graduation, I’m losing my best friend. “You’ll call and email me to keep me in the loop of what’s going on, right?”
“You know it?” Harmony grins. “Now, let’s get shit-faced and forget about the future for the rest of the night. I don’t have much longer with my best friend.”
Giggling, the two of us drink the entire bottle and talk about everything under the moon. We finally pass out in my bed, and for some reason, I knew it was the last time I’d see my best friend.
With the morning sun beaming in my eyes, I sit up to find a note from Harmony.
Had to go meet dad. I’ll call you later.
Smiling sadly, I take a slow breath, trying to keep the tears at bay. She’s leaving me just like Xander did.
It’s as if everyone is leaving me. Mom does it, because that’s her career, and I respect her for being such a strong woman.
My dad can’t even be considered anything by that title.
Last I heard, he was living on the streets.
I ended up pushing Xander away, because of my insecurities.
Now with Harmony joining the Army, I’m losing everyone in my life.
Why did I have to believe who sent that picture? Xander was right about it being photoshopped, but still, I didn’t want to listen to him.
God, why can’t I put a name to the face of the woman in the picture? Who is she? Why did she do this to Xander? To me?
She’s ruined one of the best things in my life, and now I don’t know what to do.
Besides, go on as if everything were okay and pretend to be happy.
Maybe if I pretend enough, I’ll start to believe I am.
Present Day
“Rebel,” Rogue calls my name, pulling me back to the present.
I blink and lift my head from the picture glaring up at me to meet Rogue’s eyes. Tears spill down my cheeks, and I can’t help but think of everything I’d lost in the one day when he left me ten years ago.
“Duchess,” he murmurs, coming to cup my face in both his hands.
“I hate her,” I whisper and close my eyes. “If not for her, I wouldn’t have lost so much time with you, and you would have been there for me.”
“What are you talking about, baby?” he asks, pulling me from the stool and into his arms.
“I lost you and Harmony both on the same day,” I sob. “Everyone left me, and I was alone. No one was there when her—when her dad told me the news.”
“Fuck, Rebel, I’m sorry. So fuckin’ sorry.” Rogue plants a kiss on the top of my head as I let it out. All the hurt and anguish of losing him. Losing Harmony.
During Harmony’s first deployment, the helicopter she’d been on was shot out of the air, and she was killed.
Lifting my head off Rogue’s chest, I meet his gaze. “Promise me you won’t leave me. I promise I won’t let anyone come between us again. That I trust you with my entire being. I can’t—”
Rogue doesn’t let me finish speaking. He claims my mouth with his, hushing my rambles.
Scooping me up into his arms, Rogue carries me into our room, where he takes the time to show me his own promises.