Page 4 of Harmony

“You know Jake plays drums.”

“Yeah, that’s right. I forgot about that.”

“So he could take over for Dragon, but that means…”

I draw in a breath. “That means I have to go back on lead guitar.”

“Yeah.”

“And taking me off guitar to concentrate on vocals is what drew Emerald Phoenix to us,” I say, more to myself than to Rory.

“Yes, but surely they’d understand?—”

“They won’t understand, Rory. They’re not going to understand that one of our band members OD’d, and we’re screwed.”

“Jess, this tour means everything.”

I scoff. “You think you have to tell me that?”

“I’m just saying that it is a solution. Is it the perfect solution? No, of course not. The perfect solution would be for Dragon to be playing the drums. But that isn’t going to happen.” Her voice starts to break. “This is all my fault.”

“Your fault?” I can’t help another scoff. “Rory, for God’s sake. How the hell is this your fault?”

“I got you your own room, Jesse. If I hadn’t…”

I see where her mind is going. If she hadn’t, I would have been in the room last night with Dragon, and I would’ve kept this from happening.

She’s right.

And that is where I should’ve been.

But it’s not Rory’s fault. It’s mine.

Mine. I let myself get distracted.

Distracted by Brianna Steel.

I can’t tell Rory that, though. But I can’t let her blame herself either.

“You were thinking of the band when you got me that room, Ror. You knew I needed to sleep. And I did.”

“I know. But if you had been with Dragon?—”

“Stop right there. Dragon is a grown man. You think I could’ve stopped him from doing something he had his mind set on?”

I don’t expect her to answer because we both know that the answer is yes. I could have stopped Dragon from taking drugs. I also think Dragon could have stopped himself from taking drugs.

“Rory,” I say. “I don’t know exactly what happened, but I’m almost positive that Dragon was drugged against his will. He knows how important this tour is. He wouldn’t have risked it for anything.”

“So you think it was one of those two little skanks, then?”

Rory’s use of the word skanks surprises me. She’s always the first to yell at anyone for slut shaming, and usually I agree with her. Right now, though? I hate those two for doing this to Dragon. If I could pick them out of a lineup, I’d have the cops after their firm little asses.

“I’d put money on it.” I rise, pace across the waiting room. “Damn. I should’ve been there.”

“I know. I shouldn’t have gotten you that room.”

I tug at my hair. “No, Rory. No, no, no. That’s not what I’m saying. That’s not what I’m saying at all.”

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