Page 118 of Red Hot Harmony

Camille glanced at me over her shoulder and I realized she had no idea why we were here. Truth be told, I had little clue myself, but something in me—something possessive and primal—whispered strange things into my ear, things about protecting my own.

I shut the door and grabbed the only chair, then dragged it toward the bed and straddled it.

“Not a guitar lesson then?” Ally scrunched her nose, the remote still clutched in her hand.

“Definitely not a guitar lesson,” I agreed.

Her gaze bounced between me and Camille, expression morphing into one of fear. “You two are seriously scaring me right now.”

“I want to talk about what happened at that house last night,” I said carefully but firmly.

“Mom?” Ally fidgeted. “I thought we’d already discussed this.”

“I wasn’t included in this conversation, Hendrix.”

“Why would you be?” she scowled.

“Because I almost broke my hand on that asshole's jaw defending your honor.” My voice jumped an octave. “And because I fucking care.”

At that, she flinched.

Off to the side, Camille was standing with her arms wrapped around her middle and I could feel her agitation even with all that space between us.

“Why?” Ally repeated the question. “You didn’t even have the decency to tell us you weren’t coming to my grandparents' party.”

Her accusation hit home.

“I tried,” I explained as calmly as I could. “But the circumstances were beyond my control and I had to make a choice.”

“Lame.” She shook her head once and pulled her knees to her chest.

“I know and I’m sorry I wasn’t there when I promised I would be.” I took a second to look at Camille but was met with a hard green stare. “But I’m here now and I’m not going anywhere.”

“Fine, apology accepted. Now can I finish the movie...please?”

“No. We haven’t talked about Braden yet.”

“I don’t want to talk about him anymore.”

“And I don’t want you thinking what he did was okay or that you’re at fault here. You’re fifteen, Ally. You’re still a child and the state is on your side.”

“But he didn’t make me.” She rested her chin on her knees.

“He’s an adult. He knew anything more than hand-holding was against the law and he knew the consequences. Every decent human being would have stopped right there. He chose not to.”

“You don’t get it,” she continued to argue her case, but no longer with much conviction, as if she was aware her point lacked logic, but giving it up entirely was just against her nature and meant total failure. “Everyone at school has sex, and nobody’s parents are trying to file rape charges.”

“I’m not everyone’s parents, Ally,” Camille finally spoke. “I’myourparent.”

“Don’t do it, Mom, I beg you. You’re just going to make it worse.”

“How?” I asked.

Ally was silent.

“Hendrix?”

She took a deep breath and looked at me, then at her mother. “Everyone’s going to talk.”

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