Rocking Kin (Lucy & Harris, #3) - Terri Anne Browning Page 0,95

and dead and he was working himself into an early grave with all the new projects he was undertaking at the club. I worried about him more than I did Lucy, though. I knew how strong Lucy really was. Harris wasn’t nearly as strong—even if he did want the world to think he was.

“Thanks, Caro. This is beautiful.”

She gave me a warm smile. “I’m glad you like it. I thought it would be perfect for your new room.”

Excitement eased away some of the ache in my chest for my friends. It was my birthday. My promise to my mother was officially over and I could leave Scott Montez’s house without a single regret. I already had an apartment ready and waiting on me, thanks to Carter.

“You’re going to come visit me, right?” I demanded as I settled back against the pillows beside her.

She rolled her eyes. “Duh. I plan on spending more time at your place than home. Trust me, I don’t like it here any more than you do.”

I grimaced. “I wish I could take you with me.” While Carolina and I had gotten closer, I had realized that she was just as much a prisoner in that house as I was. Her mother and sister used her, embarrassed her, and made her life twice as hellish as they did my own. My warden was my promise to my mother, but hers was her age. She was only fifteen. She was stuck with her mom for a few more years at least.

“I’m going to miss you,” I told her honestly as I leaned my head back. “I’ve kind of gotten used to you.”

“I’m going to miss you, too.”

I reached for her hand and gave it a firm squeeze. “I’m only a phone call away.”

“Thanks, Kin.”

We sat there, talking for a little longer until Carolina had to get ready for school. I should have been getting ready too, but I was going to skip school that day and get my apartment ready. I rushed around, putting the last of my stuff in my suitcases.

I’d thought about asking Jace to pick me up, but I knew he would be busy at First Bass. He was helping Harris more and more and spent more time at the club than at home unless I was with him. So I zipped up the last case and carried them downstairs, figuring I would just call a cab.

As I opened the front door, I expected Jillian to come out of the kitchen to snip at me, but she didn’t appear and I breathed a sigh of relief as I stepped out onto the front step. Putting the cases on the walkway, I closed the door.

A car honking had me jerking around. My eyes landed on a brand new Range Rover and the blond girl sitting behind the wheel. My heart melted when Angie opened the driver’s door and got out. Caleb stepped out of the passenger side and I nearly cried at the sight of them both. I knew they were coming out to California for my birthday, but I hadn’t expected them until later in the day.

“Hey there, sugar bug.” Angie wrapped her arms around me, squeezing me hard. “Happy birthday!”

I laughed through my happy tears as I hugged her back. “This is the best surprise ever,” I told them as I got squished in a step-sandwich between my brother and sister.

Angie was the first to pull away. She lifted a set of keys and wiggled them at me. “This is for you. I picked it out. What do you think?”

I glanced from the keys now in my hand to the white Range Rover. “For me?”

“Of course for you, silly. Who else would it be for?” Caleb teased as he draped an around my shoulders and lifted one of my cases in his free hand.

“Let’s give this bad boy a test drive,” Angie urged as she opened the back so that Caleb could put my case inside before he went back for the others. She jumped into the passenger seat and I slid behind the wheel.

Laughing happily, I waited until Caleb was in the back seat before pulling out of the driveway. On the drive over to my new apartment, I asked the twins about their trip. They kept me entertained with their flight until I pulled into the garage of my new apartment building. It was just a few blocks from school so I could have walked if I’d needed to, but with my