Page 92 of Wilde Secrets

Oh god.

This was a terrible idea.

“You can do this, Harp,” Isla said softly, bumping Harper’s shoulder gently with her own.

Harper inhaled sharply. “But there’s so many of them.”

“Just think of them naked.”

Harper let out a startled laugh. “That’s a little weird. Does it even work?”

“No idea, I never get past King,” Isla grumbled.

Harper smirked. “I’ll bet.”

Isla huffed. “You have a beautiful voice—you always have—and you’ve been working so hard. Do you want to regret not trying?”

Isla’s words echoed what Logan had said, and what she’d been saying to herself. What was the point of a life half lived? The first time doing something new was always going to be terrifying.

“No,” Harper said. “I don’t want to have any more regrets.”

She stepped onto the stage and settled herself on the stool in front of the microphone. Isla followed her and pulled the microphone from the stand, winking at Harper who gaped.

“Hello Cape Wilde!” Isla cried, drawing the attention of much of the crowd. “I’m Isla Holden?—”

A murmur of voices rose, and more heads turned toward the stage.

“—and this is my fantastically talented sister, Harper.”

Harper’s terrified gaze flicked from Isla to the crowd, many of whom were pulling their phones out and pointing them at the stage. Then Logan walked to the spot right in front of the stage and settled himself in a chair, legs splayed wide and arms crossed over his chest.

Just like he had that first time she’d sung karaoke.

Then Cassie joined him, then Rowan, until the crowd was no longer full of strangers but a gathering of friendly faces.

Harper let out a shaky breath. She could do this.

“Some of you may have heard things in the press lately about me. And possibly about my sister. Do you want me to set the record straight?”

A chorus of “yeses” answered Isla.

“Shall we set the record straight, Harps?” Isla turned to Harper and winked.

Harper just smiled and nodded her head, resigned to being dragged along in whatever harebrained scheme Isla had in mind.

“Harper is the songwriter of all my albums. The music we usually work out together. And I’m the performer… Or, I was the performer.” She took a step back to place her hand on Harper’s shoulder. “But today you get to see something very special.”

Harper’s heart was thudding so loudly she swore it would be audible over the mic. She focused on her breathing in an attempt to get her nerves under control. She should have known Isla would do something like this.

“The first time Harper Holden will perform in public. Give my little sister a hand, folks!” Isla put the mic back in the stand and took a step back, leading the applause.

Harper smiled and waited for the crowd to calm before leaning into the mic.

“And she wonders why I haven’t performed in public before.”

As the crowd laughed, Harper’s eyes settled on Logan. She imagined the smile he gave her was one of pride.

“I have a few songs for you. These were all written here in Cape Wilde. So it seems only fitting that’s where I share them for the first time.”

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