“And Dad. He does too.”

That wasn’t a lie. Even divorced, he’d give my mother the moon if she asked, but she never would. He’d even had to trick her into keeping the house she lived in when they split. She asked for nothing and was as stubborn as my sister, so I should’ve known then that I’d lost.

“Bring Oliver in to me when you leave.”

My sister was moving to Harmony, and it was about time I went to see what the little town was about. I left the kitchen and made a call.

Caleb answered on the first ring. “Hey, it’s early.”

“I’m picking you up Friday night at 6 PM. Make sure we have something of interest to do in that hometown of yours.”

“Hell yeah! I’ll set it up.” The call ended, and I headed to my studio.

Chapter 5

Angelic

Where the hell was I going? The interstate exit had led to a long country road with nothing except bare trees and a ratty fence that became more dilapidated the farther I drove. This was where Julia wanted to live? Perhaps a drug test was in order.

Just the thought of my sister set my nerves on edge. Now that she had our mother’s support and a meaningless job lined up, she thought she was set. But she’d be calling for my help after a month in this new place.

“The town’s still a few miles ahead,” Caleb explained from the passenger seat, glancing up from his phone. He’d been texting on it for most of the drive.

I turned down the radio, the chatter of the DJ poking at my aggravation. Or maybe it was the nagging sense that I was going to be sorely disappointed with my night.

Caleb finally tucked his phone in his coat pocket.

“Any luck?” I asked.

“Yeah, we’re gonna meet at my buddy Josh’s diner. He promised to provide a night to remember.”

“Right,” I grumbled. I couldn’t help the annoyance eating at me. Aside from Julia and the traffic from the city, there was also the little fact Caleb had failed to mention until we were halfway there: Harmony was without a local bar.

How was that possible? It was truly an oddity to me. I’d planned on drinking my weight in liquor and burying myself in some local darling. I didn’t want memorable—I wanted pleasurable—and if that didn’t happen after driving all the way to the fucking boondocks, I was going to kick this Josh guy’s ass.

“Ah, come on. Forget about your sister and everything else. It’s not so bad out here.” He rolled down his window, allowing the cold air to blow in. He inhaled deeply, closing his eyes.

I shook my head, focusing back on the empty road.

“Fresh country air—you have to appreciate that. There’s only one thing better, and Josh has promised not to disappoint. Said he’s put word out to all the guys to make sure their girls bring plenty of friends.”

That relieved some of my sulking, as did the ‘Welcome to Harmony’ sign that finally greeted us.

“Take a right on Main Street, and the diner’s…well, you’ll see it.” He snickered.

“Right.”

It was seven o’clock on a Friday night, and the town was practically dead. There were only a couple pedestrians on the sidewalk, and had to be fewer than a dozen cars on the road. The two people on the sidewalk actually waved as I drove past, even though there was no way they could see us through the dark window tint. Harmony seemed unlike any town I’d visited, which was saying something considering how much I’d traveled on business. It wasn’t a place for tourists—more of a place you came from, not went to.

I found it eerily peculiar, yet strangely comforting.

“The high school’s on the other side of town,” Caleb said, interrupting my bewilderment. “Everyone’s probably at the game.”

“Game?”

“Football!” he shouted, pumping his fists in the air in an exaggerated show of mock excitement.

I glanced over to watch his sarcasm mold into something dark.

“It’s what most small towns live for. Harmony’s no different.”

“I take it that’s why you’re not a sports fan.”

“Up ahead. Park in the side lot,” he directed, his tone passive, avoiding the implied question.

I didn’t pry. I never did. He could count on that from me.

***

We stood in the center of what was ludicrously called The Diner, though it was housed in an old brick building and had nothing in common with how I pictured an actual diner. It was more along the lines of a midcentury brothel, but with no women and a rancid odor of wet mold. The blistering deep-red paint on the walls provided a backdrop for old black-and-white photos of the building’s glory days.

“Are you fucking kidding me? How is this place not condemned?” I asked Caleb, my voice hushed but not enough. I ignored the gasps and penetrating stares from the table next to us.

“He’s joking,” Caleb laughed, apologizing for me. He turned back, slugging me in the gut.

“Sorry.” I shrugged. I couldn’t help it—the place was an eyesore, and held not a single patron under sixty.

We headed toward the cash register, maneuvering among scattered tables of every shape, size, and color, their unmatched upholstered chairs frayed and soiled.

“This place has been around forever,” Caleb said, looking around with admiration.

Were we seeing the same things?

“Josh! Hey!” Caleb called to the guy who stepped out from the back.

I dropped my head to hide the snicker fighting to escape. The guy appeared our age, despite the letterman jacket and baggy jeans that gave him an awkward gait.

“Caleb! Finally, man. I still can’t believe it.” Josh dumped the empty tray in his hands onto a table and rushed over, pulling Caleb in for a one-armed hug.

I couldn’t picture the Caleb I’d gotten to know over the past couple years growing up there. He never talked about the town other than having shared a few scarce memories about him and his younger brother. Looking at him now with his so-called high-school buddy, he looked just as out of place as I did.

“Yeah, it’s been too long. This is Logan,” Caleb said, and they both pivoted to look at me. “He’s a friend.”

I extended my hand and Josh shook it with an overeager, loose grip. “So this is your place?” I shot my gaze once around the room again. Josh nodded with a smile.

“Nice,” I replied, pulling on the friendliest expression I could muster.

I wasn’t sure whether I should hate him for serving those poor people anything out of that kitchen or admire his persistence to keep the place going. Either way, he wasn’t the smartest guy businesswise—that much was clear. And the whole ‘Any friend of Caleb’s is a friend of mine’ had never applied to us. I reminded myself I was there to have a good time, but it didn’t set in.

His cheerfulness wavered as he gauged the sincerity of my compliment.

“How’s the profit in this place?” I asked, my curiosity piqued. If it was the only restaurant in town, it could be worth something.

Caleb’s hand slammed down on my shoulder. “Don’t mind Logan. He’s all work until you give him a reason to play. I explained you were setting everything up tonight. Tell me you called in some of the girls I remember from around here.”