Page 71 of Hard Rock Love

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“Shit,” I cursed out loud.

My sister was three seconds away from walking into the apartment and finding me and Seth naked together.

I jumped out of bed and swung the door shut.

“Abby, you home?” Everly’s voice was muffled through my closed bedroom door.

Ice-cold terror filled my veins.

“Oh crap,” I breathed. “What do we do?”

“I’ll stay in here,” Seth said, running a soothing hand down my back. “You go see what she wants.”

“What if she stays?” I asked. “What if she’s planning on spending a few days at home?”

“Then I guess I’ll be stuck hiding in your bedroom for a few days.”

“This isn’t a joke!”

“Abby?” Everly called out again.

I took a steadying breath, closing my eyes.

“I’m going to go out there,” I told Seth. “You stay quiet. I’ll try to get her out of the apartment if I can.”

Seth nodded without words.

I hastily threw on my dress and put my hair in a ponytail. I slipped out of my bedroom and closed the door behind me.

“Hey Everly.” I hoped my voice didn’t sound as shaky as I thought it did. “It’s good to see you.”

“It’s been a while, I know.”

She tossed her bag on the kitchen table and went to the sink to pour herself a glass of water. Lines creased her forehead, her expression downcast. She sighed heavily as she turned off the tap and held the glass loosely, not taking a sip. She put one hand on the counter and leaned forward, bowing her head.

“Are you okay?” I asked, concerned.

She nodded. Then she shook her head.

“No,” she said softly. “I’m not.”

I went to her and took the glass out of her hand to set it on the counter, worried at her dejected tone.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

“For what?”

I wondered if maybe she was sorry for staying at Julian’s so much, for not being home. Truthfully, I didn’t mind. It meant me and Seth could spend whatever time we had together without worrying my sister would catch us. Like tonight.

I couldn’t deny that I had missed her, though. We’d spent so much time together over the last few years while Everly tried to get her music career back on track. It had made up for the way she’d been absent when I was younger. I’d grown used to always having her around, always being able to talk to her if I needed to. As much as I understood her always wanting to spend all her time at Julian’s, I missed her, and it would only get worse when she officially moved in with him and didn’t pretend we were still roommates.

“I didn’t realize…” She trailed off and shook her head, letting out a dismal, rueful laugh. “It really sucks, being on the other side.”

“I don’t understand.”

Everly turned and gave me such a look of remorse, my concern tripled.