Page 58 of Reckless

“Maybe because he dated that twat, and realized if he wasn’t careful, his business would be all over the place?” Harlow cracked jokes, but also, that comment Nora had made got her thinking. “Still, that’s actually true. It’s well known he had a dark time when he was with her. I think their breakup was fraught and he learned a lot of those painful life lessons. But you’re right. The Miles I’m with would likely be super uncomfortable. He hasn’t mentioned her to me more than a reference to an old relationship. I’ll do a little research when we’re at the arena.” During Earthquakes’s soundcheck so he wouldn’t happen to stumble in while she was cyber checking out his ex.

“Your saying that bit about not having his permission to share was important. I don’t know if that part will make it into the final edit, or even if there’ll be an interview at all, but I’m glad you thought about that. About how he’d feel.”

“Nora, I think about how he’d feel about a lot of things.” More than she really had before. In a different way than she had with her lovers in the past. Harlow chewed on her lip as they arrived at the townhouse and they paid for the ride before heading inside.

“Go check on Brian,” Harlow said when they unlocked the front door.

“We weren’t done.” Nora was such a good friend.

“There’s always more time to talk about all the rest. I’m going to be out on the patio. I want to call Marcella and my dad. Just a check in.”

After a heavy sigh, Nora hugged her and headed up the stairs while Harlow grabbed some tea from the fridge and headed outside to the pretty garden patio.

Her chat with her dad was easy. He and the band were in Mexico, and she caught him before he’d have to go on stage.

She grinned because he always made her happy. “Hey, Dad! I’m in your townhouse eating all your snacks. Thanks for letting us use it.”

“Makes me feel better knowing you’re in a house surrounded by love. Tell Jenna you ate all the food she had stocked. That’ll make her day,” he said.

They meandered around. Talked about her music news. Talked about his own news and tour stuff. He passed on his love to Nora and Brian and said the rest of AMJFJ send theirs to her.

At the end, he said, “We just added a show in Ottawa and it’s when your tour will be there. Let’s meet up. I want to take Miles’s measure in person.”

They talked some more details before he had to run. They’d avoided the Gloria topic, and Harlow was good with that. They’d talk after they were both off the road.

Then she settled in to talk to Marcella. When her aunt’s face popped up on Harlow’s screen, relief seemed to pour through her. Her anxiety ebbed and she smiled, truly pleased.

“What’s poppin’?” she teased.

Marcella’s smile echoed Harlow’s. “I have missed your face so much! How are you? Good I bet. I read the reviews of last night’s show at MSG. I’m so proud of you.”

“Last night was so incredible I’m a little afraid tonight can’t top it,” Harlow admitted. “Everything about it was better than every dream I’ve ever had about playing there.”

“I’m bummed we couldn’t be there.” Marcella and her wife were supposed to come out for the NYC shows but her father-in-law had gotten into a car accident and stayed back to help as he recovered.

“We’ll see you both when we play the Gorge.” The amphitheater in Eastern Washington was a few hours’ drive from Seattle. “We hit gold yesterday. And two of our singles are charting. Jeremy is in talks to have one of our songs on a movie soundtrack. This is all just a lot.”

Marcella laughed, pleased as she clapped a few times. “Gold? I knew you could do it. Congratulations! When you’re done with this tour, we need to celebrate. Movies? Sweetie, you’re meant for great things. You know I get to be your date on the red carpet at the movie premiere, right? Miles has to share you that night.”

“So you know about Miles and me?”

“Hard not to. Pictures of you two all over the place. You look good together. Your dad tells me Adrian’s a solid dude so I gotta hope he raised his kid well. And that I raised mine well enough to walk out on anyone who’d be careless with her.”

“I really needed this call with you,” she told Marcella. “He’s…good. I like him a lot. I would not only walk out if he treated me poorly, but Nora would set his clothes on fire when he least suspected it.”

Marcella laughed. “And then I’d get hold of him. So, you think this has staying power beyond the tour?”

“I’m trying to go week by week. I’m having a good time. He seems to be having a good time. He’s not trying to have a good time with anyone else and neither am I. I understand him. I get this life in ways most others can’t. I’d like it very much if this deepened and lasted past the summer.”

“It’s like that. Okay. Then I hope it does too. As long as he deserves you.”

They chatted a while longer. Harlow realized her dad hadn’t told Marcella about the cease and desist, so she didn’t bring it up.

It was time, she realized, to give her aunt more details. But not when she had a father-in-law recovering from multiple surgeries to help care for and a wife to support emotionally through it.

They chatted a while longer before saying theirI love yousand disconnecting.

Since she was alone for a little while, Harlow decided to give in to her curiosity and do some internet research on this Sophia person, and whatever the hell it was between her and Miles.

---