Monica and Ariana Calloway looked more like mother and daughter than Harper and her mom. Sure, the two other women were beautiful with their designer label dresses and makeup perfectly applied. Both had dark blonde hair that was obviously from a bottle. It couldn’t compare to Harper’s natural caramel hair. A glance at Monica told me that Harper must have gotten her eyes from her father because hers were a kind of muddy brown that weren’t even close to interesting. Their makeup was so thick it looked like if they smiled the wrong way their faces would crack.
As I stepped behind Harper I was overwhelmed by the very expensive—very French—perfume that the two women wore. As a kid I had suffered from asthma and the feeling of being unable to draw fresh air came back with a vengeance for a moment. When I could finally breathe, I found two sets of eyes on me: one hungry, the other disbelieving.
“This is your boyfriend?” Monica demanded.
The very tone of her voice made my hackles rise. I had planned on a simple dinner where I found out what the deal was with Harper and her mother. I could already make a small guess and was hating the bitch standing before me more and more with each passing second.
“Boyfriend?” Harper’s tone was still cold. “Is that what you call the guy that warms your bed?”
Her words were a stab to my heart, but I knew that I deserved it.
Monica sucked in a shocked gasp. “Harper! You don’t say things like that in public. I swear, that Dallas has really ruined you.”
“No, Dallas saved me,” Harper corrected her mother.
I felt a cool hand touch my arm and glanced down to find Ariana had moved closer. “Wow. Shane Stevenson. I never thought Harper would be able to get the most talked about sex god of rock and roll to look twice at her.”
The way she looked up at me through her fake lashes with those blue eyes of hers was supposed to be sexy. And maybe two months ago I would have quickly taken the blatant invitation being offered with that smile of hers. But Harper was the only female that could even make my dick twitch. I covered her hand on my arm and pushed it away. The coy look left her face, and her cheeks heated with a mixture of anger and embarrassment.
“Harper is everything I’ve always wanted. Beautiful inside and out. Unlike some of the fake bitches I see right now.”
Harper pulled a chair out and sat gracefully, leaving us all to follow suit. I took the seat directly beside her and attempted to catch her hand. She pulled away and clasped her hands together in her lap as the other two women took their seats. A waiter appeared and offered a wine list. I ordered a bottle of Harper’s favorite white wine and a bourbon for myself, knowing I was going to need it.
“Well, Harper,” Monica lifted her water glass and took a sip before continuing, “tell us how you met this…charming young man.”
“He’s Lana’s brother-in-law.”
“Ah.” Monica grimaced in distaste. “I see.”
“How is dear Lana?” Ariana asked, her tone full of sarcasm. “And the rest of your roommates.”
“Fine.” Harper’s answer was pointed, leaving no room for follow up questions.
“There is no reason to be so snippy, Harper,” Monica scolded. “Your sister is only being nice.”
“Stepsister,” Harper snapped.
“What is wrong with you? You never talk to me like this.”
Harper raised a brow at her mother. “You mean I usually say nothing while you and Ariana sit and tell me how awkward I am. How I will never compare or be beautiful. Sorry, Mother. Shall I sit here and shut my mouth now? Maybe I should offer suggestions? I have gained two pounds since you last saw me. Ready, set, go!”
All of Harper’s self-esteem issues clicked for me.
For so many years I’d seen the effects of the physical abuse on Emmie from her mother. Now I was understanding that abuse didn’t always leave bruises that were visible. Some broke the soul and, in this case, destroyed a person’s feeling of self-worth.
Well fuck that!
“You are evil bitches.”
“Excuse me?” Monica demanded in a haughty tone. Gods, her soul was ugly when she got that look on her face, as if she thought she was better than everyone around her.
“I said, you are evil bitches.” My gaze went to the clone sitting beside her, letting Ariana know that I was including her if she hadn’t gotten that message yet. “I don’t know what your problem is and, really, I don’t give a fuck. You are one of those women that get off on making others feel less than they really are so you can feel better about yourself because you know that you will never be beautiful.”
“I am beautiful.” Monica sounded so sure of herself as she gave me a sneer in disgust.
“Sure you are. It only takes a gallon of paint and a few grand of designer clothes to make you that way. Meanwhile, your daughter has true beauty. She doesn’t need the makeup, or hooker perfume, or clothes to make her stand out. You only wish you were that beautiful, and that’s why you can’t stand it. So you bring her down so that she thinks that she can’t compare to you and Miss Thing over here.”
“I’m a model!” Ariana argued.
“Who the fuck cares?” The tables around us grew quiet and I realized I had spoken louder than I had intended, but I didn’t care. “You’re a model, good for you. I’m a rock star, bitch.”
Chapter 15
Emmie
After getting a text from Shane, I wasted little time. Leaving Mia with Layla and Jesse, I grabbed Nik and pulled him out the door.
It had taken ten minutes to get to the restaurant by taxi. When we walked into the exclusive eatery, I ignored the hostess and headed for the table that I’d reserved for Shane earlier that day. From the look of the other patrons, Nik and I were severely underdressed in jeans and T-shirts. I hadn’t known what Shane had planned, only that he was meeting Harper’s mother. Of course, Lana had told me a few hours ago that Harper and Mommy Dearest weren’t exactly a happy match.
Nik was right behind me as we walked through the dining room. I heard the murmurs of other diners, mostly the females, as they realized who Nik was. Sighs and giggles reached my ears, but they didn’t bother me like they once had. I was more confident in Nik’s love for me these days.
I spotted Shane at his table and could tell right away that there really was a problem. Shane was running his mouth, his face almost purple with his temper as he spoke loudly to the two women across from him. Meanwhile, Harper was just sitting there like a statue. She looked pale, and there was something in the set of her shoulders that told me she was less than amused. The way she was looking off in the distance made me wonder if she was even aware of the conversation going on around her.
“…I’m a rock star, bitch!” Shane’s words filled my ears and I rolled my eyes. Whatever was going on, it seemed more like a pissing contest than anything else.
“You’re trash,” came the retort of the older woman at the table that I assumed was Harper’s mother. She looked nothing like the sweet girl I had met just a few days ago, so I had to make a guess.
Hearing that old biddy speak to my friend like that did nothing for my own temper. I stopped just behind Shane and glared down at the older woman that smelled like a perfume factory and looked like an advertisement for clown school with all the makeup she was wearing. My mouth opened and I wasn’t even sure what was about to come out when a strong hand covered my lips.
I shot Nik a glare, but he just grinned down at me. “Sorry, baby girl. We want to stay and your mouth will get us kicked out.”