Searching for Harmony (Boston Love 1)

“Harmony?”

Flashing me a smile that would for sure knock any guy off his feet, Harmony held up her wineglass, winked, and said, “Preston.”

Jake sat down next to me and whispered, “Dude, I’ve never seen my sister drink, so this should be fun.”

Sandy cleared her throat and began talking. I couldn’t pull my eyes off Harmony as I watched her taking in everything Sandy was saying.

“Okay, listen up. Each person will roll the dice. If you roll a six, or two numbers that add up to a six, you have to take a shot.”

Harmony smiled bigger and I had a feeling she hadn’t gotten to have too many good times with getting pregnant at eighteen.

“Harmony, you’re up first,” Sandy said as she handed the dice to Harmony. Looking back at me, her face lit up with excitement and I couldn’t help but laugh. Jake did the same next to me.

“I fear my little sister has led a very sheltered life.”

Harmony nodded and said, “Very sheltered.”

Rolling the dice, everyone let out a cheer. Double sixes. “Drink up, Harmony,” Jake said as he poured two shots for her. After she downed them both, she made a gagging sound that had everyone laughing again. Everyone but Sherry. Sandy and Harmony were giggling like crazy as Sandy whispered something into Harmony’s ear. Sherry glared at Harmony like she was an interruption in the grand plan to win Sandy over as her BFF. A status I was pretty sure Harmony held without even trying.

Four rounds later and it was clear Harmony was not one to bring to Vegas. Every time she rolled the dice, she ended up taking a shot.

Standing up, Sherry clapped her hands. “I think it’s time to move on from Sixes. Let’s play I’ve Never.”

Harmony tittered. “I’ve never played that.”

Laughter exploded throughout the room and Sherry frowned at Harmony. “Then it looks like you’ll be good at this game, too.” Harmony’s smile faded some as she looked down.

Looking away from Harmony, Sherry went over the rules. “Okay, so for Harmony’s sake, I’ll explain the game. I’ll say something I’ve never done. If anyone else around the table has never done it, they have to drink up. If you think I’m not telling the truth you can call me out, and if you’re right, I have to take a drink. If you’re wrong, you have to take a drink.” Turning to face Harmony, Sherry asked, “Do you get it?”

Nodding, Harmony quickly looked at me. Smiling, I gave her a reassuring wink and I saw her body immediately relax.

“I’ll go first. I’ve never been to Canada.”

Everyone took a drink. Well, everyone but Sandy and Jake, who had spent a week in Canada last year. Jake just happened to have told me about the trip a few weeks ago.

Next was Harmony. Chewing on her lower lip, she said, “I’ve never had a one-night stand.”

No one picked up their drinks. Harmony’s mouth dropped open. “Are you kidding me? All of you have?”

Jake laughed and pointed to the next person. By the time we got to me, Harmony had taken another three drinks. After her one-night-stand comment, folks caught on to how naïve and inexperienced Harmony was.

“Preston!” Sherry shouted as I pulled my eyes off Harmony. “It’s your turn.”

The way Sherry glared at me told me she was pissed about something. Smiling, I said, “I’ve never had a dog.”

Harmony tilted her head and gave me the sweetest grin and said, “That’s kind of sad.”

Shrugging my shoulders, I pouted and pretended like I wiped a tear away. Harmony laughed and I glanced over at Sherry again. If looks could kill, I’d have been laid out on the floor. Smiling, I winked at her only to have her look away and whisper something into the ear of the guy sitting next to her. It wasn’t lost on me how Sherry had been flirting with the guy the entire time we had been playing these stupid games. The thing that struck me as odd was that I wasn’t bothered by it. At all.

Before the accident, I had thought there might be a slight chance at a future with Sherry. Now, it was becoming clear that we were only growing further apart.

The game came back around to Harmony. Lifting her eyes up as if she was thinking hard, she said, “I’ve never had sex in—”

Jake jumped up and shouted, “Okay! I think we’ve had enough fun with the drinking games.”

Sherry stood up and nodded. “I agree. It’s become rather boring.” Turning, she made her way over to the bar and made a drink. Harmony stayed sitting where she was as I sat across from her.

Not knowing what to say, I grinned and said, “Hey.”