Page 71 of Dissonance

“Aye. A few events.”

Recognition crosses his face, and he snaps his fingers. “Lachlan James, right?” He steps forward and claps him on the shoulder. “Good to see you, man. I guess my daughter’s decided you’re her new favorite person, huh?”

He huffs a quiet breath that could be mistaken for a laugh.

“Food’s here,” Mom calls as the front door opens.

Jess claps once, pushing off the worktop. “Perfect, I’m starving.”

The kitchen fills quickly, Mom and Dad walking in, balancing takeout bags. Izzy weaves between legs, while Ed clears enough space for the containers, popping lids, the scent of curry flooding into the room. Everyone falls into a rhythm, eating standing up because the table’s buried under birthday wreckage and nobody’s moving it.

Lockie drifts to my side, his arm brushing mine. He positions himself with that same instinctive awareness he has around Cooper in a crowd, and I feel it like a hand at my back even though he’s not touching me.

“Darling, you look beautiful,” Mom says, pulling me in for a hug before grabbing a plate. “Everyone gone?”

“Yeah, the last of them just left,” Jess says.

Mom’s gaze lands over my shoulder, eyes traveling slowly up Lockie’s height before settling on his face. “Well, hello.”

Oh god.

Heat creeps up my neck. “Mom, this is—”

“Lachlan,” he says, stepping in before I’ve gathered my thoughts once again.

My mother smiles immediately at the sound of his accent. “Where has my daughter been hiding you?”

“Mom.”

“What? I’m just saying.”

Dad sets the last container down, gaze narrowing in on Lockie. My stomach tightens, my palms starting to sweat. My brother recognizing Lockie is one thing, but my dad… He keeps up with the world of showbiz, and Lockie isn’t exactly inconspicuous. Not when he’s constantly snapped by paparazzi standing beside one of the biggest rock stars in the world.

There’s no flicker of recognition, though, just a polite, tight-lipped smile before he’s turning back to the bags. The relief is instant and slightly shameful. The last thing I need right now is my father assuming I landed Reign Cooper because of Lockie.

“Thomas Calloway,” Dad says, tone refined, reaching sideways to shake Lockie’s hand.

Scooping some rice onto a plate, I add chicken and veggies before passing it back to Lockie, his fingers brushing mine as he takes it. For a moment, it’s normal, easy, but then Dad looks at me, fork halfway to his lips.

“I saw Sip Station wrapped up their Pacific run.”

There it is. Barely five minutes and he’s talking about work.

“They did.” I nod, swallowing my food. “Brilliant tour.”

“And Reign Cooper? He’s about to release another album, no?”

Beside me, Lockie goes very still. It’s so subtle that most people wouldn’t notice, but I do.

“Yes. In another month or so.”

“Dad.” Ed’s voice is casual, but there’s a current underneath it. “C’mon, no shop talk. It’s Izzy’s birthday.”

Dad lifts his beer, taking a slow sip, like he’s considering it, as Mom glances between us, her smile tightening. She says something to Izzy and steers her out of the kitchen.

“And the new one…” Dad continues anyway.

“ZeroSaint,” I say through gritted teeth, setting my plate down, no longer hungry. “You know his name.”