Page 23 of A Tragic Melody

“Yeah.”

Her eyes land on me, and I take in her face. She looks beautiful—older, but stunning as always. Layers of makeup cover her face, giving off the illusion she is in her thirties, not her forties. She is wearing a tight, black tank top, and tight, leather pants. Red heels rest on the floor. Her bright red lipstick looks so much like the one I wear, and it makes me sick. Her hair is dirty blonde and curled.

The fear that I’ll end up like her makes me want to cry. I would rather die than become anything like her. I hate that we look so much alike. She loved it growing up, but it’s been a nightmare for me.

“Why didn’t that work out? Were you not willing to share the spotlight?” She pats my leg. “I know you love the attention.”

“It was my choice,” Wyatt interrupts. I glance toward him to see his eyes still on my mother. I wish it didn’t bother me so much, but it stings. I’m not sure which one of them is going to try to cut me down worse. I feel like I’m trapped between a lion and a bear, utterly exposed and vulnerable. “I didn’t want to share the spotlight.”

“That’s fair. Competing with someone who looks like my daughter must be tough.”

“Extremely.”

“You should’ve been me.” My mother laughs. Her fingers dig into my jeans, pinching into my flesh. “Couldn’t leave her alone with any of my boyfriends for fear she would try to steal them.”

My body buzzes as my mouth goes dry. Sweat begins to form on my forehead. Her words don’t bother me. I’m used to her talking about me like this, but saying it in front of him makes me enraged. Not that I can do anything about it.

“Must not have been good boyfriends if you couldn’t trust them with your own daughter.” His voice is harsh.

I blink, processing Wyatt’s words. It’s nice to hear him speak harshly to someone besides me for a change. My eyes stare at him, and I wish I could’ve seen my mother’s reaction to his comment, but the way his eyes darken excites me.

“Oh no.” My mother laughs. “They were good men, but my daughter has always been a little vixen. A tease.”

“They have a saying,” Wyatt says. His eyes flash to me for just a moment, before resting on my mother again. “That the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. I hope for her sake, that isn’t true. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to grab something to eat before the show. See you later, Tuesday.”

He pushes himself up, looking at me once more before he strolls away. I’m too stunned to speak. He defended me, in a roundabout way, but still. The man who has been nothing but mean to me, who left me crying on the floor, just stood up to my mother.

“That kid is such a freak,” my mother hisses, squeezing my leg with her fingernails once more before placing them in her lap. “Stand up. Let me see what has become of my daughter.”

“I’m headlining a tour, Mom. I don’t think I need to stand up to show you what I’ve become.”

“Why are you being difficult? I came all this way to see you.”

“All this way?” I snap.

“I moved out of town.”

“Where?”

“Hocking Hills.”

“That’s not that far away.”

“Still. I came here to see you. You could at least pretend to be happy to see me.”

“I could.”

She sighs. “How is it?” She looks at me. Her blue eyes glare at me like I’m the worst thing to ever happen to her. Which is probably true. “How is it knowing you got everything you ever dreamt of?”

“I don’t have everything I dreamt of, Mom,” I snap.

“No? Wasn’t this what you wanted? Headlining a tour across the country? Signed to one of the biggest labels in the business? Leaving me to rot!”

“You made me sign it,” I whisper.

“You knew, didn’t you? You signed it knowing I’d end up with nothing. Well, you may have the spotlight now, dear, but what about me? I have nothing. Nothing, Tuesday!” Her voice raises, and I feel myself shrinking. Wishing I could disappear.

“Should’ve read the contract before making me sign it.” My voice is low, but my words are all I have right now. She may be able to make me feel like nothing, but I have the power now. I can speak up to her now.