“Look at you! You’re massive!” my mother cooed, wrapping her arms around me in a huge hug. “I’ve missed you so much!”
“I’ve missed you too, Mom,” I told her, hugging her back. “It’s good to be home.”
“It’s good tohaveyou home,” Mom said, letting me go. She stepped back to inspect me. “I can see you’re eating properly and exercising, so you’re in good health. Are you seeing anyone?”
It was the same question she’d been asking for a couple years now. Sometimes, I think she suspected I was seeing someone and was trying to trick me into revealing the truth.
I wanted to tell her all about how the girl from back home held my heart in the palms of her hands, but then she’d make a big deal about it, especially if she knew it was Connor holding my heart.
Mom was close to Maeve. Their friendship came about after Calum and I started hanging out, but they were thicker than thieves. Now the two of them got together frequently for girls’ nights, and I couldn’t trust my mom to not accidentally spill the beans and start planning a wedding with Maeve after one too many margaritas.
I mean, I’d tell her in a heartbeat, but Connor still wasn’t ready to tell people about the true nature of our relationship. I didn’t want to keep pushing her, not when she’d already given me a timeline.
I’d wait a hundred years for her, so a few more weeks until she graduated was nothing.
“Just the same few faces I usually see, most of them male or working for us,” I answered, letting my duffle bag drop to the ground in the foyer. “Don’t really have much time for dating.”
That bit was true, between Connor’s schedule and my own, finding time to be together was difficult. We weren’t “dating” in the traditional sense, and we’d only technically hooked up once. There was no taking her out for a movie and dinner. We’d get swarmed, and our secret would likely be exposed.
I’d been ready to tell the world Connor was mine the moment I took her for myself, but she minded very much. She wanted her music to stand on its own and didn’t want to have to break out in the industry as Cal’s little sisterandmy girlfriend. She felt people would assume any of her successes were a result of our popular names and influence.
Connor wanted to make it, but she wanted to make it on her own terms. I respected that about her, loved it even. Most people wouldn’t think twice at using any advancement they could to get ahead. Connor wanted her music to speak for itself. I knew it would, but I could understand her hesitance.
“I worry about you,” Mom told me, sending me a stern look. “All work and no play can wear on a person. I don’t want you burning out.”
“I won’t burn out,” I assured her. Touring was exhausting, but music rejuvenated my soul. Creating it, playing it, getting lost in the notes. “Besides, we had to cancel our last show, and we’re planning on taking a little break so Calum can figure his shit out.”
“I figured Frank’s death would hit him hard,” Mom said sadly, her brow wrinkling with concern. She didn’t know about the other thing yet—Calum had an almost-eight-year-old son he needed to get to know.
The truth of Calum’s situation would eventually be brought to light, and I could only imagine the kind of media shitstorm it’d unleash. Tai had droned on and on about “controlling the narrative,” but I don’t think Cal gave two shits about the narrative. He didn’t care how the media portrayed him so long as we kept selling albums.
The sad part of it was, with the scandal, we’d probably sell even more. What was more rock star than finding out you had a kid you didn’t know about?
“He saw Harper again,” I offered up a piece of truth, shrugging. “Found a new reason to stick around for a while.”
Mom’s entire face lit up at the mention of Harper. After Cal started dating her, she became a fixture within the group. She came to every show and came to mostly every practice to show her support. She believed in Cal, in us, in our band and the music we were making. “Oh! I really liked Harper; she was a sweet girl.”
I nodded, wondering just how sweet she’d been during their reunion. When Cal left without saying goodbye, I knew it was because he didn’t know how to part from her. Calum didn’t like disappointing or upsetting the people he cared about, and he’d avoid them at all costs if it meant he didn’t have to see them be disappointed in him.
Calum’s choices had to hurt Harper, and I couldn’t help but worry she resented us, too—the way Michael did. If I hadn’t uploaded our debut EP to YouTube, and if Killian hadn’t watched our videos on his tour bus—we wouldn’t have landed the recording deal—then maybe Cal never would have left her. Maybe he would have known about the baby all along.
“So you’re all staying local then?” Mom asked, pulling me from my thoughts. Her eyes were bright with happiness.
“For the time being,” I replied. “We still have to work on the next album, but we’ll take a step back from all the other noise for a bit.” Truthfully, I was relieved. I hadn’t noticed how exhausted I was from it all. A small break would do us all good.
“Your bedroom is available for you for however long you need it,” she told me, placing her hand on my arm and smiling at me with warmth.
“Thanks, Mom.” I smiled, relieved I wouldn’t have to deal with hotels or inns during our stay.
“Are you hungry? I made a roast when I heard you were coming home tonight.”
“Starving,” I replied, my mouth watering as the scent of the roast hit my nostrils. We made our way through the foyer and living room, then into the kitchen. Mom had done a little updating here and there, but things had remained largely unchanged since she purchased it in the early nineties.
“My heart goes out to Maeve. Losing a parent is difficult,” Mom said as she went about dishing out dinner. She shook her head sadly, scooping roasted potatoes and vegetables onto a plate.
“Yeah.” I nodded, agreeing. I’d been young when I lost my dad, but the aftermath of that loss had followed me everywhere.
“Frank was such a good man. A kind and patient one. His loss is a void the community will have a difficult time filling.” Mom sighed, passing the plate off to me once it was filled.
