Page 67 of Hidden Truths

I knew Harlow had firmly planted herself in my heart, but I think maybe she’s in my bones too.

I suddenly know what Eminem was rapping about when he said his palms were sweaty and his knees were weak. My arms feel like uselessly heavy stumps by my side. Arms heavy, check.

“Why do you look like you’re trying not to shit your pants?” Kai asks from where he’s sitting with everyone else on the couch. Harlow made all the band members, other than me, squish together on the one couch. Belle is in Kai’s lap so that they would all fit.

I just glare at him and continue pacing.

Harlow is connecting her phone to the TV since, according to her, it’s not enough for them just to hear my song, they need to see it too. I might actually shit my pants. Or throw up. Or shit my pants while throwing up.

“Don’t distract him, he’ll trip,” Mav says, causing everyone except Harlow to laugh.

“I swear if you have another surprise baby,” Willa says, looking completely serious.

“Even Cal wouldn’t be that stupid,” Kai says, laughing. Harlow’s expression is tight, but she keeps her thoughts to herself.

“What are we here to watch, Harlow?” Belle asks. “We know Cal can sing.”

Harlow turns to face them. “Yes, we know Cal can sing. But he can write too. You’re here to watch a video of him singing a song he wrote.”

Belle’s eyes light with interest, but everyone else laughs.

“Cal can’t write,” Mav says laughing so hard he almost doubles over.

“Can he even spell?” Kai says.

I wince. Normally, I don’t care about being the butt of a joke, but I’m feeling really vulnerable right now.

Harlow picks up one of Cora’s toy cars and throws it against the wall behind the couch, startling everyone into silence.

“Callahan is not stupid. He is not illiterate. He lets you use him as a joke because your lives have a lot of darkness in them, and he is the fucking sun! That man sacrifices so much for you, and you’re too busy making fun of him to see it.” Her face is red with anger, and I want to reach out and pull her to me, but even I’m frozen in place. “You wrote a song about a purple dildo and put that on an album,” Harlow says, pointing at Mav, who looks embarrassed.

Harlow walks over to me and grabs my hand. I grip hers so hard, I might be hurting her, but if I am, she isn’t letting it show.

“All of you are going to sit down and shut the fuck up. You will watch the entirety of the video I’m about to play. Then you will give your honest opinions.” With that, she hits play on her phone and pulls me along with her to the loveseat. Pushing me down, she puts herself in my lap and watches the video with everyone else.

I tighten my arms around her. “Thank you,” I whisper. She leans into me, her focus still on the image of me singing her song. I didn’t know how much I needed someone to stand up for me like that. Those three little words are on the tip of my tongue, but I don’t say them. This isn’t the time or place for that.

twenty-five

HARLOW

“Holy shit,”Belle says the moment the video ends.

Cal stiffens against me, a small tremor going through his body. I hate how nervous he is. He shouldn’t be nervous about sharing something with the people he considers family. I hold him tighter.

“Why didn’t you tell us songwriting ran in the family?” Willa asks, looking genuinely confused by what she just saw.

“Dude,” is all Kai says, his jaw hanging open.

“Can you play it again?” Mav asks me. I nod and play the video again.

“Is your guitar in the basement?” Kai asks.

Cal nods slowly. Kai picks Belle up and puts her where he was sitting before running to the basement.

“What’s happening?” Cal whispers.

“Something good,” I tell him. At least I’m pretty sure that’s what’s happening.

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