Page 15 of Broken Harmony
“Hey, sweetheart,” Mom says, voice sounding a little strained. My brows pull together.
“Is everything okay?” I ask, sitting down on the edge of the bed. She’s silent for a moment, which has me worried. “Mom, what's going on? Did you call me about something, or to just talk?”
“To talk, of course.” She laughs, but it sounds forced. “What were you going to tell me?”
I’m not sure if I believe her, but I’m too excited right now. “I won!”
“What!?” she gasps. “Really?”
“Yes!” I squeal. “I won the whole damn thing, Mom! I did it!”
“Oh, honey,” Mom’s voice breaks. “I’m so proud of you.”
My eyes sting. “Thank you.” My heart races. “I can’t believe this is really happening.”
“Believe it, baby. You worked so hard for this. And you're so damn talented. You deserve this, Ally. You deserve every single bit of this.”
“Thank you,” I say again, this time it’s my voice that breaks. “Sometimes I don't feel like I do, you know?”
“Why not?”
“Because...” I lay back on the bed, looking up at the ceiling. “I’m here. And she’s...back home.”
Mom is quiet again, and I’m sure she’s sick of me whining about Lulu by now. “Ally...”
“I know, I know. You’ve said it before. Don’t worry about her, worry about myself. I can’t change anything. I need to keep living my life and take one day at a time. But it’s not that easy, okay? I miss her. I love her. And I wish she were by my side through all of this like we planned.” I close my eyes, swallowing the ball of emotion stuck in my throat.
“I know,” she whispers, voice cracking. “I know, baby. And I know Lulu would want this for you, okay? She would want you to dream big, go high. Live your best life. It’s what we all want for you.”
“Yeah,” I sigh heavily. “I want that for me too. I just wish I wasn’t doing it alone while she’s stuck back there.”
“Me too.”Is she crying?It sounds like she is.
“Mom, are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine,” she laughs it off, but again, it sounds forced. She’s not fine.
“No, you’re not,” I insist.
“I am. I’m just so happy for you, sweetheart. You're going to do big things. And we’re so excited for you. Tell me everything.”
After filling Mom in on everything, I ask if she has any news about Lulu. She said there were no changes. It kills me to hear this. That her parents really did get into her head. I hope she’s okay and happy. I really do.
I let my mom go and get ready to go out with the guys before meeting them downstairs.
“There she is!” Ryker says, holding his arms out. “Our superstar.”
Laughing, I rush over to him, letting him scoop me up into a big hug.
“This is so unreal. I can’t believe it,” I say, vibrating as I step back. There’s a smile that just won’t leave stuck on my face.
“Better believe it, babe,” Tyson says, throwing his arm over my shoulders as we head out of the hotel. “You're going to do big things.”
“So are you,” I say, stopping just outside the hotel and turning to look at the three of them. “You know how you said you were going to focus on the band?”
“Yeah?” Skyler asks, eyeing me suspiciously. “What about it?”
“Do any of you plan on being the lead singer?” I ask, biting my lower lip.
