Page 35 of Harmony

“Yes, I know what happened to Dragon was horrible. But we have to look on the bright side, Jesse. He’s going to be okay. We found a replacement for the next several concerts. And if Dragon needs to go to rehab, we’ll keep Derek for the entire tour.”

“No,” I say adamantly. “I want Dragon. He’s a member of this band, Rory. We don’t turn our back on our own. He’s been with the band a long time.”

Rory draws in a breath, lets it out slowly. “And I haven’t. Is that what you’re getting at?”

“No… Yes…” I run my fingers through my hair again. “I don’t know, Ror. Give me a fucking break, okay?”

“What exactly is going on here?” Brock asks when he returns to the table.

“This is band business, Steel.”

“Wait, wait, wait…” Rory shakes her head at me. “Brock is my fiancé, and he’s a financier of our part of the store. You won’t talk to him like that.”

She’s right, of course. I’m being a dickhead, and I know it. “I’m sorry,” I murmur.

Rory shakes her head at me.

Dragon…

Why did Dragon have to fuck up?

Why did I have to sleep with Brianna Steel?

She’s inside me now, like a fucking virus I can’t shake. Or like a poison for which there’s no antidote. A poison that both gives me life and takes it from me with each dose.

And it’s eating at me. Eating at me, clawing at my heart.

The server comes with our tea, and I take a quick sip. The tea burns my tongue.

“Damn,” I say.

“Jesse,” Rory says, “you’ve got to calm down. We’re all sorry about what happened to Dragon. But everything has fallen into place better than any of us could’ve imagined. We still have the chance to make a name for ourselves on this tour.”

“Dragon should be part of it.”

“Yes, he should. But he’s not. Whether he was drugged or he took the drugs himself, the result is the same. Things couldn’t have worked out better.”

Things could’ve worked out better. Brianna could be staying here with Dragon. But then Maddie wouldn’t have anyone to experience the tour with…

Rory’s right. I don’t know why I’m being so obstinate.

Except I do know.

Because as long as Brianna Steel is on this trip, I will continue to be distracted. I can try to force her out of my head. I can focus and perform and do a great job.

But having her here will make it just a little bit more difficult.

And now, without Dragon, I don’t need anything making this more difficult.

I stir my tea, helping it cool, and then I take another sip.

I look my sister in the eye. “Thank you, Ror. Thank you for maintaining a cool head through this. I promise you that from now on, I will be completely focused on every part of this tour.”

Chapter Twelve

Brianna

My jaw nearly drops onto the table. “You gave the ring to my grandmother?”