Page 79 of Love is a Harmony
As soon as Dax left, Noah picked Stella up around the waist and carried her outside. “Missed you last night, Stell.”
“I don’t like being gone.”
He knew what she meant. Only two months ago, her dad left her forever. Noah would go with her next time to Dax’s, no matter what tried to get in the way. He’d prove to her he’d be there whenever she needed.
He plopped her down in Melanie’s lap and took the other lounger. The morning sun warmed his skin, and he leaned his head back, smiling at the thought that both his girls sat nearby.
Melanie reached between the chairs and threaded her fingers with his. “Dax is going to tell Ben and Drew.”
“I know.” His smile widened.
“They’re going to have questions.”
He lifted her hand, pressing a kiss to the back. “And all I’ll tell them is their publicist kisses like a goddess.”
Stella screwed her face up in disgust, and both Noah and Melanie laughed.
Melanie released Noah’s hand and wrapped both arms around Stella.
Noah watched them talk and laugh, wondering how he could feel so happy when he was still so sad.
But grief was a strange beast.
Grief over Carson. Melanie’s grief over Justin.
He wondered how long the powers of grief would let this last.
22
Melanie
Christmas morning, Melanie woke up with a smile on her face and a million text messages on her phone wishing her well.
Not too long ago, the only person she’d hear from on this day was her dad. He’d been her person, the only one she really cared about.
Until Rockstars Anonymous.
If her dad asked, she’d still claim everything she did was for her job, to support her clients. But the truth was she wanted more than a professional relationship with them.
For the first time, she let herself consider them friends.
Sunlight streamed past the curtains in her room, and she rolled onto her side, propping her head up on one hand to look at the screen of her phone.
Noah’s name appeared first.
Noah:Merry Christmas, beautiful.
Noah: Oh, Stell wanted me to wish you Merry Christmas from her.
Drew:Merry Christmas to my favorite publicist. Try not to be boring today. I’ll bet Noah could help with that.
She laughed at that. Yep, they all knew. Thanks, Dax.
Jo:I guess we’re supposed to wish each other Merry Christmas today?
A grin stretched Melanie’s lips. Jo wasn’t the merry kind.
Jo:Noah texted me this morning demanding I send you good cheer. Good cheer?! What the heck have you done to my bandmate?
