Destroyed (Lost in Oblivion, #3)(68)

She waited for the claustrophobic sensations she usually had when anyone hugged her, but they never came. She wasn’t sure how long they stayed like that. Her heartbeat synced to his, birds chirped around them, and the breeze ruffled her hair.

When her phone buzzed for the third time, she finally had to break their hold. She sighed and checked the readout. “It’s my sister.”

“You have a sister?”

She sighed. “Yes.”

“Lesser of the two evils?”

She huffed out a laugh. “You could say that.”

He traced the back of his knuckles down the center of her neck. “I’ll find you later.”

She nodded and fought back a shiver. She tapped call back on the missed call, waiting for her sister to pick up as she watched Simon lope down the hill to Deacon and Nick at the top of the pavilion.

“Did you know that was going to be on television, Margo Elizabeth?”

She winced. “Honestly, Jules.” When her sister didn’t reply, she looked at her phone to make sure the call hadn’t dropped. “Juliet?”

Her sister cleared her throat. “I…you just haven’t called me that in a really long time, Go-Go.”

Margo teared up a little before blinking them away. She and her sister had been so close before she’d joined the Boston Philharmonic. Then it had been nothing but practice and the merry-go-round of auditions for studio work.

“Has Mother said anything?”

“She’s currently in her room with the door bolted.”

“Really?”

“There may be Xanax involved.”

“Great.” Margo pinched the bridge of her nose. She had tried to call during the middle of the show, but Margo had ignored the call. And the subsequent two since it ended.

For someone that was as proper as a nun, her mother’s dramatics were legendary. She did not miss them in the least.

“Then she should really love the next bit of news. I’m playing with them for the summer leg of the Rise tour.”

“You’re what?”

Margo pulled the phone away from her ear so she didn’t hear the rest of the tirade. “Are you done?”

“You can’t. I’m sorry, Go-Go, you are not cool enough to tour with a rock band. It…there—just no.”

“You should see the purple and green electric cello I got for the tour.”

“You what?”

“Is there a parrot in Boston?”

Juliet huffed out an exasperated breath. “How?”

“The money’s really good. It’s triple what I would make on the studio work I usually get offered.”

“And that’s all? I’ve seen you on stage. You love it.”

She did. Saying it out loud to Simon had been scary enough. There was no way she could give that kind of information to her sister.

She just couldn’t.

As much as she loved Juliet, her sister was not above a little emotional blackmail. Especially since she had so many issues with their mother. Juliet had been in just as many gifted programs as Margo, except her sister got bored and burned bridges in the process.

And not just a little fire that her parents had to put out, more like a nuclear power plant meltdown.

Margo had been the one to follow the right path in her mother’s mind. And that was one of the reasons she and Juliet had so many issues.

Her mother’s favorite way to start a conversation was, ‘Why can’t you be more like Margo.’

“It’s some of the most interesting work I’ve done since I was in the Philharmonic.”

“Understatement.”

“It’s a job, Jules.”

“You are delusional. You’re on stage with all those delicious men, especially Simon Kagan, and you’re calling it a job? You’re a damn liar.”

If only her sister knew just how in deep she was with Simon. Juliet would have a conniption and then hold it over her head for…oh, ever.

“It’s exciting. And will bump up my resume for studio work now that I’m not in the BPO.”

“You still haven’t told Mom about that.”

“No. And I won’t be. I’ll be going on auditions by the end of this tour.”

“And being dismissed by Renard isn’t going to hurt you there?”

“Has that gotten out yet?” Margo dropped her chin to her chest. Her sister’s on-again, off-again boyfriend hated her and had gleefully taken her chair. “Tomas needs to keep his damn mouth closed.”

“You know how he is. Vindictive to the end.”

“Again, why did you ever date him?”

“His * gene came with a certain perk, but even a big dick and twice blessed hips to go with it only goes so far.”

“Nice.”

“Oh, it is—well, was. I kinda crashed his Ducati into the fountain at the Piazza Navona. Not sure he’s going to forgive me for that one. Me and his truly amazing cock may have parted ways for good this time.” She paused. “Hmm, I wonder if that’s why he ignored Renard’s directive.”

“You think?”

“Right.” Juliet sighed. “Sorry about that.”

Margo rolled her eyes heavenward. She didn’t sound sorry in the least. And now she’d have to dodge her parents’ calls for the foreseeable future. Wonderful.