one of them, when all I’m doin’ is pursuin’ my dreams. He’s the one who bought me my first guitar. He was wit’ me when I strummed my first chord. He knows it ain’t just a hobby for me. This is my life. Music is my passion. It’s all I want. It’s all I’ve ever wanted. I’m leavin’ after graduation, Harley. And it fuckin’ hurts me he’s missed out on the chance to get to know who I really am. I’m closer to Austin than I am to him. And now I feel it’s too late.”
It was the truth. Over the last few years, Austin, my dad’s best friend, and I grew into somewhat of a father-son dynamic. He started coming to my shows, grabbing lunch with me, wanting to have an active role in my life. I wasn’t sure what spurred it on. Maybe he was just trying to fill the shoes of my often-absent father, knowing it was what I needed.
Regardless, I appreciated it.
“You’re really leavin’?”
“If I don’t go, if I don’t leave, then I will spend the rest of my life wonderin’ what could have been. I refuse to live like that. We only get one life, Harley. One opportunity to chase our dreams. I won’t be a bitter old man, workin’ a nine-to-five job just to make him happy. It ain’t fair to me.” I paused to let my words sink in.
“Things are much clearer for me now. How hollow I feel on the inside ’cuz he doesn’t support me. How I’ve debated so many damn times to tell him how he makes me feel. How much I needed him ... how much I still need him. Ever since I could remember, my old man hasn’t been on my side. He wants his boy to be someone he ain’t. He doesn’t understand me. He doesn’t even try to. He’s always wanted to change who I am, makin’ me feel like I wasn’t good enough. Like he wishes I was born different.”
“What do you mean?”
I pushed the thought away from my mind before it fully formed. Terrified it would take over and I would doubt myself like he doubted me.
“You know what?” I coaxed, changing the subject. “I’m gonna prove him wrong. When that day comes, I’m gonna make him eat his words, his thoughts. Finally makin’ him feel like I do for turnin’ me away. ’Cuz at the end of the day, all I wish is for him to see me like you do.”
Leaning in, she hugged me. “Maybe one day he will.”
I didn’t have time to give it much thought. From the corner of my eye, Jackson caught my attention. There was no better time than the present to put the quarterback in his place.
“Can you go get me some food, Harley? I’m fuckin’ starvin’.”
She pulled away, gazing deep into my eyes. “Just know that no matter what happens, I’m so damn proud of you.”
With that, I watched her leave. Not hesitating for one second, I did what I still needed to do. I made my way toward Jackson.
As soon as he saw me coming for him, he let out, “She told you, didn’t she?”
I didn’t stop until I was stepping up in his face, man-to-man.
“I’m her best fuckin’ friend. She tells me everythin’! Haven’t you figured that out yet?”
“Unfortunately, Harley isn’t the best judge of character.”
“No shit, she’s wit’ you. You break her heart, and I’ll break your fuckin’ legs. You understand me?”
He narrowed his eyes. “Harley’s always been mine, pussy boy. You were just a stand-in.”
“Listen here, quarterback. I’ll stand down ’cuz I’m man enough to admit when I’m wrong. I didn’t give Trigger the benefit of the doubt, and I see how happy Shiloh is wit’ him. How much they love each other. I never thought it’d work out between ’em, but he proved me wrong. She’s happy, and that’s all I’ve ever wanted for my girls. Especially Harley.”
“Yeah, well, you’re welcome. I was behind it all.”
“What the fuck does that mean?”
“It means while you were playing rock band, I was making dreams come true. See, my boy Trigger has had a thing for little smarty pants over there forever.” He nodded toward them on the beach, confessing, “He’s been obsessed with Shiloh since middle school, so the football team and I bet him to get with her. It was the only way he’d grow some balls and actually pursue her.”
My eyes widened. “You did what?! Are you fuckin’ crazy?!”
“Keep your voice