Here With You (A Laurel Heights Novel) - By Kate Perry Page 0,36
noncommittally.
"I'll take that." He grinned at her and picked up another cookie.
On her walk home, Rachel realized she'd forgotten all about Griffin Chase.
Letting herself into the house, she told herself it was okay. He probably hadn't been there anyway, and hanging out with Aaron had been nice.
As she locked the door, she heard a sound in the kitchen. Confused, wondering if the housekeeper was still there, she went to check it out.
It was her dad, drinking a glass of the vile green juice he'd started drinking since they moved here. He was scrolling through his phone, probably checking email. He was always working.
He glanced up when she walked in and smiled. "Hi, sweetheart."
She felt a pang of jealousy at the contentedness on his face. Why was she the only one who felt miserable? She mumbled something as she opened the refrigerator and got out a bottle of water.
"I made reservations out for dinner."
Frowning, she turned around. "Why?"
"Because they supposedly have a lobster mac and cheese to die for, and I know how much you love that."
"I loved mom's lobster mac and cheese." She wanted to take back the surly words the second her dad's happy expression melted.
"You should give it a try, Rachel," he suggested gently. "You might like this, too. There's no reason to deprive yourself of something you love just because your mom is gone. She wouldn't expect you to just stop enjoying life."
Except that it felt wrong to enjoy anything when her mom was dead. A surge of anger boiled in her chest, and she glared at her dad. "I know you haven't."
He sighed. "Rachel, I just want you to be happy."
"Then leave me alone," she murmured, stomping all the way to her bedroom. She closed the door and went directly to her laptop. Dropping her head on her desk, she exhaled. Then she sat up and began to type.
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From: [email protected]
Subject: Life sucks.
Dad is acting WEIRD.
Tonight he wanted to take me to get lobster mac and cheese. You know I only like yours. What's he trying to do? And does he seem happy?
Also (and not related to the previous issue) there's this boy. His name is Aaron, and he's really nice. He gets me in a way no one else has, not even Dad. Except you, but you're gone.
How do I know if I like him?
I don't have anyone to ask. Dad wouldn't understand. I'm not sure Dad even knows who I am anymore.
What should I do? I think I like him. It doesn't seem fair to like him though. I shouldn't be happy, not when you're gone.
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Chapter Sixteen
Lyrics and chords had been echoing in his head the entire week—since the morning he'd woken up with Nicole at the Four Seasons.
He paced in KT's sound studio, hands in his pockets. Fortunately, his friend sat at her piano, focused on a song she was writing for her sister and not paying attention to his mania.
It was driving him crazy—that one strain of a melody, over and over. Sweet and soft, with the potential for an edge. Just like Nicole. Elusive, also like Nicole.
Their relationship had consisted of furtive hook-ups whenever they got a moment alone. The illicit lovemaking, hidden from Susan's attentive eye, made him feel like a teenager. He told himself it was hot and exciting, but the truth was he wanted the intimacy of sleeping with Nicole at night, too. Maybe if he could hold Nicole, he might be able to pin down the damn music in his head.
Setting his notepad on the closed lid of KT's grand piano, he picked up one of the guitars she kept in the corner, sat on a stool, and began to play the tune. He hummed a little with it, feeling lyrics on the tip of his tongue. Here with you now...
"If it were me," KT said suddenly, "I'd do this with the music."
Pausing, he listened as she turned his few measures into a complicated melody.
Something in his head clicked, and there it was. A stir of excitement in his chest, he started playing along, layering haunting mystery on top of her music.
This was it. It felt right. He pulled out his phone to record what they were playing.
KT nodded when he joined back in. Then she played a section over and said, "I'd repeat this part as the refrain."
"Yes." He set the guitar down and got up to jot down notes in the notebook Nicole had given him.
He noted the melody, writing down the complicated twist KT