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“It’s a high school football tradition that started before football was invented. Everyone in this town needs to get over it and join us in the 21st Century,” Harmony says.
“Why are you so worried that I’ll ruin it? Did their checks not clear yet?”
I know her frustration has reached its breaking point when my sister flicks me on the chest.
“Ow!” I say, laughing, rubbing the spot.
“Are you dumb?” Harmony asks.
“Maybe.”
“You know your girl out there is originally from Gold Hill, right?”
This stops me in my tracks. On the one hand, I did not know that. On the other hand, I don’t want to look like the guy who never bothered to ask his date where she’s from.
Too late. Harmony sees that fact all over my face.
“Yeah. I thought so. So I don’t even want to hear it from you,” she says.
I splutter, “But it’s different! There’s real feelings involved when it comes to me and Daisy.”
Harmony lowers her chin and gives me that look that says, “I’m not going to say it out loud, but try to rub your two brain cells together and figure it out.”
Finally, it clicks. “Oh…oh wait… you have the hots for that guy?”
My sister’s eyes widen and she blinks at me. “It’s more than that. He could end up being your future brother-in-law.”
I scoff at first, but then I see the hurt in her eyes. I’m being a jerk.
“Whoa. So y’all are really a thing?”
She nods.
“But…but… he’s a creep!” I blurt.
And now I have truly blown it. Harmony juts out her bottom lip, her chin trembling. “And you’re being a jerk.”
Ah, shit.
She’s right.
“Look, sis. I’m protective of you and of this town and sometimes I blurt shit out before really looking at the situation,” I say.
“And you’ll ruin everything if you don’t be nice. For Summer’s sake, too.”
Summer and Carter…Harmony and Cooper…my sisters are dating their investors? From that putrid, soulless shopping mall of a town across the river?
Nice, Owen. Be nice.
And then I take a breath. I need to calm down. I am a decent guy. I don’t have a single mean bone in my body. I’ve only been acting like a jerk for the last hour because I’m out of my mind jealous at anyone paying attention to Daisy but me.
I give Harmony a quick hug and an apology. “Sorry, sis. I’ll do better.”
When we return to the party, Daisy surprises me by grabbing my arm and hooking it around her shoulders. “I was wondering where my date went.”
“How many of those have you had?” I ask.
She smiles with her glassy eyes going all crinkly and adorable. “Of the limoncello ones? Two.”
