The Rocker That Loves Me

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After we showered together, I left Harper to dress while I went in search of the coffee I had smelled earlier. I expected one or both of her roommates to be up, but neither were present when I walked into the kitchen in nothing but a pair of basketball shorts Lana had stolen from Drake the year before. I knew she had some of his clothes and found them easily in her pajama drawer.

Although I didn’t find Linc or Dallas in the kitchen, there was a note on the coffee pot, scribbled in what had to be Dallas’s curvy writing. I frowned as I lifted the yellow sticky note.

Glad you had fun with the rocker! Didn’t take you for a screamer, Harp. Haha. But anyway… Keep your phone off, okay? Mommy dearest has been calling all morning. She and the evil stepbitch are in town again and want to suck up your happy feelings.

As I read the last line of the note, the cordless beside the coffeepot on the counter rang. My mind on what Dallas had said in the note, I didn’t even bother to think about who could be calling as I lifted the phone to my ear. “Hello?”

“Linc?” a female voice I didn’t recognize questioned.

“Nope. This is Shane. Linc isn’t here right now.” I turned around just as Dallas came walking into the kitchen. Her hair was a mess and the pajamas she wore looked like they were about three sizes too big. “Can I take a message?”

“Oh, no. I don’t want to talk to Linc anyway.” The tone was sweet and young sounding. “Would Harper happen to be around?”

“Nope again.” I was pretty sure who was on the phone, having read Dallas’s note. “But this is her boyfriend, so I’ll be happy to let her know you called.”

A fist hit my arm and I shot Dallas a glare, rubbing at the sore spot she had just made. Fuck, that girl didn’t play fair… “Don’t go there!” she whispered fiercely.

I ignored her. The silence on the other end of the phone was noticeable. “Hello? You still there?”

A sweet laugh, one that sent a chill down my spine came over the line. I knew that kind of laugh well. Sociopathic bitches had warmed my bed for so many years which made me an expert. “Yes, sorry. You just surprised me is all. So… Harper has a boyfriend? My little stepsister didn’t mention you the last time I spoke with her.”

I bet! “We haven’t been dating that long, so she probably hasn’t had the chance.”

“Well then, we have to get together and get to know one another. I am just dying with curiosity about you.” Dallas was slinging coffee mugs around now, and I shot her a look that told her to be quiet. Of course she ignored me! “You should have dinner with me and Mother tonight. And make Harper come too, darling. I didn’t get to see my sweet sister the last time I was in town and I’m only in town for a few more days…”

“Sure.” I told her the name of the restaurant that I knew Harper liked and asked her to meet us at seven. “Sound good?”

“Fantastic!” Ariana Calloway cried. “See you tonight, darling.”

I replaced the phone and picked up my coffee cup. “Stop talking to yourself,” I said.

“You have no idea what you just did, do you?” she exploded. “Way to fuck up a good thing, rock star!”

I froze, her words squeezing at my heart for some reason. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means that as soon as Harper finds out that you are having dinner with Ariana and Monica you will be out the door so fast your head will spin,” she assured me. “News flash, stupid! Harper’s mom and evil stepsister are only after one thing. To hurt and humiliate Harper to feel good about themselves.”

I had already guessed that much. I knew that Harper had a self-esteem problem, knew that someone had— and still—made her feel like she wasn’t beautiful. After reading Dallas’s note to Harper, I now knew exactly who it was that had filled her head with such bullshit. And just as I had promised myself, I was going to rip them apart for doing that to her. “I’m not going to let that happen.”

“Oh yeah?” Dallas demanded, but I saw a flash of something like hope mixed with a little admiration in her blue eyes.

“Yeah.” I took a long swallow of my coffee then sat the mug aside. “Just don’t tell Harper about that call, okay? I’m going to deal with this once and for all.”

Harper

I was pulling on my sandals when my phone rang. I frowned at the screen then had to swallow my squeal of delight and excitement when I saw who it was from.

During the last few weeks I had been getting more and more offers from Rock America for freelance jobs. But the last time I had talked to the editor, he had told me that he had a position opening up and that he was really considering me for the job. I hadn’t really let myself think about it simply because I didn’t want to get my hopes up.

But if he was calling me now that had to mean something major… Right?

I picked up my phone and hit connect, my heart shaking my chest from excitement.

Rock America was a major magazine that was published monthly but also had web publications weekly. The magazine was based in California, but its journalists could work from anywhere. The editor told me again how much he liked my work, especially my photos. Then he made me an offer I really couldn’t turn down…

Fifteen minutes later I left my room feeling as if I was walking on air. I wanted to tell Shane and share my news. When I found him in the kitchen with Dallas, some of my excitement evaporated. I could feel the tension in the air, knew that they had been arguing. Dallas and Shane normally got along well.

“What’s going on?” I asked, standing in the kitchen doorway and glancing from my best friend to my boyfriend.

I saw the hard look that Shane gave Dallas and the glare she shot at him before forcing a smile. “Nothing. Just being my usual morning bitchy self.”

Knowing my friend like I did, that excuse more than explained the tension in the air. I could only imagine the treatment Shane had to withstand while I was talking to my new boss. “Try not to bust his balls so much,” I told her with a warning frown.

“I’ll do my best,” she assured me with a grin, which told me that she wasn’t going to try at all.

Rolling my eyes at her, I crossed to Shane and wrapped my arms around him. “Guess what?” I commanded with a grin.

I felt the tension leave him and he dropped a kiss on the end of my nose. “What, baby?”

“I just accepted an offer from Rock America!” I squealed.

“Baby, that’s great.” He pulled me close, holding on tight. “I knew you could do it!”

“That’s great news, Harp!” Dallas exclaimed from across the kitchen. “We should celebrate.”

“Yes, definitely.” I nodded, liking the idea. “Maybe drinks later?”

“After a celebration dinner.” Shane kissed my lips lingeringly, and I almost forgot what we had been talking about by the time he pulled back. “I want to take you out.”

Behind me I heard Dallas mutter something under her breath and then she spoke up. “Linc and I will meet you two later at the club then.”

“Sounds good.” I shot her a smile. “We’re going to check on Lana. Want to come?”

“No, not right now. But tell her I will stop by later. Text me if there’s anything she needs and I’ll bring it with me.” 

Chapter 14

Harper

Making sure Lana was still doing well was at the top of my priorities. Of course I shouldn’t have worried about my friend. When we walked into her private room an hour later, she was snuggled up in bed with Drake beside her.

It was kind of bitter sweet to look at them. They looked so content to be in one another’s arms, but so sad