Harley (West Coast Rock Star #1)(35)

 

When Fiona made a surprise appearance at the hotel suite, Harley had tried not to panic. She'd sent Cade text messages telling her what had gone on. When Tina hadn't been able to compete with Fiona, she'd found Harley in the bedroom and dragged her out. Harley thought her arm would break from how hard her mother pulled on it. She waited for Cade, thinking that any second now, Cade would come bursting in and rescue her from Fiona.

 

But nothing like that had happened.

 

Cade had been out with Jax and his friends. She'd deserved to have fun for once. Even Harley had pushed her to do it. She'd had a great time helping Aunt Beth with Cade's mini-makeover.

 

When Harley saw her father's reaction to Cade, Harley's heart swelled. She wouldn't mind having Cade as a stepmom. She would do much better than her real mother. They'd have fun checking out museums, reading books together, even shopping-which both Cade and Harley hated-trying out new restaurants with Jax, and maybe one day, even talking about boys. Yes, Cade would have made a perfect mother for Harley.

 

Wishful thinking, which would never happen now that Cade left.

 

Harley never blamed Cade for not coming to her rescue. She was used to Fiona's tirades, tantrums, and high-pitched wailings. And Jax had always been away. What Cade had done, disappearing without saying goodbye, hurt more than what both her parents could ever do. She had to? Why did she have to? Perhaps the love and adoration of an eight-year-old wasn't enough to keep her.

 

Who was Harley to Cade but someone she had to tolerate and watch over? She wouldn't have stayed for that. Being around a kid like her was too much work.

 

Harley swiped away a tear. It was done. Cade was gone and would never return. It was time for her to toughen up and be the old Harley again.

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

It broke Jax's heart to witness his daughter quietly wiping away tears. She looked tiny in the huge hospital room, dressed up in clothes made for children younger than her. He had seen Harley's great big personality come out when Cadence was around. He feared he wouldn't see that again.

 

 

 

        

          

        

         

 

And it was entirely his fault.

 

If he hadn't pushed and pursued Cade, she would have stayed. He'd known it from the beginning. Cade wouldn't allow them to have a relationship, no matter how right it had felt. But he had insisted, and it had sent her packing.

 

He dreaded telling Harley, especially in her current condition. When he returned to the hospital from the hotel, Harley already knew. Cade must have sent her a message. Jax wasn't sure if Cade had told Harley the reason why she'd left. If Harley knew it was because of him, his daughter hadn't let on. Harley remained quiet while Dr. Wellington examined her. The quick, little smiles she showed weren't real. Harley's mask was back on and soon enough, her walls would be up again.

 

"You ready, munchkin?" Jax asked as he walked into the room.

 

Harley faced him, her eyes red-rimmed, and nodded. She slid down the bed, not bothering to ask for help.

 

A nurse came into the room with a wheelchair. "Hop on, sweetheart," the nurse told Harley.

 

"No, thank you. I can walk," Harley said.

 

"It's the hospital's rule, sweetheart," the nurse insisted, patting on the wheelchair's seat.

 

"It's a stupid rule! Can't you see I'm fine?" Harley shouted.

 

"Harley!" Jax couldn't believe the anger he heard from Harley. "Don't be rude." Harley sent him a seething glance, but she obeyed.

 

What had happened to his sweet girl? He had never seen her in such a state. Jax was wrong to think that Harley would resort back to her usual quiet self. This was beyond that. She was taking Cade's departure a lot harder. Jax could make Harley see her psychologist again but he knew she would hate him even more for that.

 

They made their way out of the hospital without any other incidences. Flashes erupted as paparazzi gathered around them as they walked to their car. Zee, Penny-Cade's replacement-and a few of the hospital's security tried to keep the photographers away.

 

When they were seated in the car, Harley turned away from Jax. He feared that she would stop talking to him. He must find a way to talk to Harley about Cade without upsetting her, if it was even possible.

 

The ride back to the hotel was spent in silence. Tina and Bruno were waiting in the suite to welcome Harley back. The rest of the gang would be showing up soon. They'd postponed practice until the next day. Bruno had asked if he'd wanted to move the dates for the concert, but Jax couldn't do that to his band. They'd been working hard for it.