“So, Julian, how is the band coming along?” Remington asks when the first course is served. Did they hire caterers or do they have every meal prepared and served to them like this? I can’t wait to invite them over for Jennie Jules’ Asian-Inspired Stir Fry one day.
“Great,” I say. “How are the… movies?”
Hadley glances over at me and widens her eyes with a WTH look. I scrunch my face in the equivalent of a facial shrug.
“Things are going very well, thanks for asking. In fact, we just got a call about a film that would feature both of us. They wanted to film in Hawaii but I said…”
I immediately lose interest and study the painting behind Pearl on the wall. I squint at it, trying to figure out what I’m supposed to be seeing in the giant painting. It’s literally a solid purple square, but it’s in a fancy frame, so I guess it was an expensive square. Remington doesn’t seem to notice he lost me, however, and his story continues through the first two courses, even drawing in Pearl at one point. Soon we’re hearing two perspectives of an event we don’t care about.
Hadley reaches over to take my hand, probably worried I’ll do something more than sit here picking at this coleslaw they’re calling something else.
“And then Roger said, ‘I hope you have your jet gassed up and ready to go!’” Laughter draws me away from the purple square and weird slaw. I force a smile since everyone else is enjoying whatever they were discussing. Well, except Hadley.
Her hand clamps around mine as the pasta dish is delivered to our places. I glance over in alarm at the sudden vice grip. Huge blue eyes stare at the plate like Satan himself transformed into one of those little shrimp just to mess with her.
I tug her hand to get her attention, and she turns her wide-eyed gaze to me. I’m blasted with hurt, anger, and a flurry of emotions I didn’t know a shrimp dish could muster.
“What’s wrong?” I ask loudly, if only to stop the jet conversation and remind them we’re still here.
Hadley’s mouth opens to speak before she snaps her head toward her parents. “You’re serving shrimp?” she hisses, angrier than I’ve ever seen her at anyone besides me.
Pearl lifts a hand to her chest at the venom. “Shrimp scampi, yes. It’s Chef Karson’s specialty.”
“I’m allergic to shellfish, Mother,” she grinds out through clenched teeth. “This dish could literally kill me!”
“What? No you’re not,” Pearl says, waving her off.
“Yes. I am!” Hadley jumps up and slams her napkin on the table. “You know what? I am so sick of this! I’m sorry you have a third child who doesn’t want to live in adoration and conform to other people’s definition of success, but guess what? You don’t get to pretend I don’t exist just because I’m not what you want me to be. I like being an assistant. I like helping people and solving problems. I’d rather be the one fixing a mess than causing it—no offense, Julian.”
“None taken.” I lean back and wave her on.
“My point is, I am not ‘just an assistant.’ I am the woman who gets things done! I accomplish anything and everything I set out to do. You don’t get to invalidate me just because it’s not what you chose.”
She moves around her chair and tucks it in. “So you let me know when you’re interested in having that woman as a daughter. Until then, enjoy your stupid shrimp. Come on, Julian. We’re done here.”
Hell. Fucking. Yeah we are.
I don’t even try to hide my grin as I push to my feet and bow. “Always a pleasure, Mr. and Mrs. Crawford.”
I turn from their stunned faces and follow Hadley out of the room. Damn, this table is long.
I can’t even catch up to her as she stomps the entire way to her car, her body rigid with anger. It’s not until we’re strapped in and staring through the windshield that she finally seems to release a breath. When that happens, her face transforms into shock, then alarm, then…
I take her hand. “That was the freaking best thing I’ve ever seen.”
She looks over at me, her concern softening into a hesitant smile.
“Really? I kind of lost it in there. Maybe I should—”
I yank her hand. “Don’t you dare take it back. You rocked it.”
She sucks in her lips as she stares at the façade of the giant mansion. “That was insane,” she breathes out in a whisper.
“And fucking awesome.” She glares over at me, and I shrink. “Freaking, sorry.”
With a laugh still laced with disbelief, she studies the front entrance for a moment. “So what do we do now?” she asks finally, turning to me.
I kiss her fingers and hold them against my lips. “I heard a rumor there’s a Teenage Werewolf marathon going on at my place if you’re interested.”
She grins and pulls in a deep breath. “Popcorn?”
“Extra butter and legit big-ass portions of it.”
She laughs and starts the engine.
Over the next few weeks we finally settle into some semblance of normalcy for our little family. The band continues to make progress with writing and recording, and I’m happy with the development of our sound. We’re meshing beautifully, playing like a band that’s been together for years, not weeks. In just over a month we’ve put together a solid five songs ready to launch—as soon as we find a name.
They’re starting to get frustrated with me for shooting down every idea, but nothing feels right. We need to find our way after Eastern Crush. This isn’t just about music; this is redemption. And not just for me and Max. Viv has plenty to prove as well with her new career, so I know deep down she feels that same pressure to transcend.
Naomi settles into a routine as well. Her grades improve and her teachers notice a marked difference in her attitude from the previous months. She even brought a friend over to study and do whatever it is preteen girls do behind closed doors. I don’t know what it is but it involves a lot of giggling and the word “ew.”
But my favorite moments are when it’s just the two of us and our guitars. She’s getting pretty good for only playing a month. Her showcase song is spot on, though I can tell she’s nervous about the prospect of performing on a stage. I try to reassure her as much as possible, giving her as many tips as I can from my own experience. Besides, I’ll be right there, cheering her on along with Viv and Hadley.
Hadley.
It’s getting harder and harder to pretend there’s nothing serious going on there. I think about her whenever she’s not around, obsess over her when she is. She’s become the most beautiful woman in the world to me. Seriously, her parents are idiotic for not being able to see how amazing she is. But the fatal blow to my resistance has been the way she’s opened her heart and arms to Naomi. There’s no defense when the two of them team up and share some girl bond I will never understand. I love that I don’t have to with Hadley around. I’m falling hard and fast, even though I do my best to play it cool.
The problem is, things are just starting to smooth out for Naomi for the first time since Ashley’s death. I can’t bring myself to disrupt our balance by introducing a girlfriend to the mix—even if it is the one person she seems to like more than me. Maybe it’s because of that. I don’t want to mess with their connection either.