Never Ending by Kailin Gow Page A

guitar.
              “He only does
that when he likes them,” whispered my mother in my ear, beaming with pride.
              “Come on, then,
you fool,” my father said to Danny, in a voice that made it clear his mockery
was benign. “Show me what you got.”
              Before long, the
two of them were playing together, rocking out in unison. I couldn't help but
grin as I watched them: my two favorite men in the whole world, bonding.
              “He's a keeper,”
my father said as he loaded us into the car home. “You really know how to pick
the good ones, Neve. I suppose I approve.” He gave me a serious fatherly look.
“But be safe, right, Neve?”
              “Always, dad!” I
blushed as Danny and I sped away.
              That night, we
lay in each other's arms, happier than ever. Rehearsal was over, dinner was
over, and now we had time to ourselves to relax, to talk, to make love.
              And then Danny's
phone beeped.
              “Who would text
me at this hour,” moaned Danny, annoyed, as he rolled over to get the phone. He
picked it up and turned white. “What the...”
              “What? Who is
it?”
              “Roni.” His voice
was hollow.
              “What does it
say?”
              He swallowed.
“Doesn't matter.”
              “It does, Danny –
what does she say.”
              “I'm tired of
your games, Danny. You're a disappointment to me and to your father. If you
continue to play such juvenile tricks and get in the way of my band, there will
be consequences. These things do not go unnoticed, and will not go unpunished.”
              Danny and I
looked at one another. We didn't want to lend any credence to Roni's words, but
we both knew that she meant every syllable.
              “You don't think
she...”
              Danny shook his
head. “She can't hurt us, Neve,” he said.
              But deep down, I
knew that she could.

 
    Chapter 12
     
     
              W e tried to forget all about Roni, but it
wasn't easy. Her presence was felt everywhere we went. When we were in the
rehearsal room, writing new songs with Kyle and Steve. When we were in the
green room, putting on our makeup. When we were onstage, looking out into the
audience, afraid we would catch a glimpse of her face, or the faces of the Dusk
Riders, who by now seemed to be little better than her minions. Even when Danny
and I were in a room alone together, kissing softly, making love, whispering
sweet nothings in one another's ears, I began to feel that she was there too:
an unwanted and insidious presence, worming her way into our lives.
              I hated it. Every
second of every day, Roni Taylor was there, out for blood, out to make our
lives miserable.
              “I don't
understand it,” I said to Danny one morning as we lay in bed together, looking
out over the sea. We'd gotten used to the cottage by now – its beautiful views,
its peaceful breezes. It was the only place that felt safe from her, and even
then we didn't feel fully secure. “What does she want ? I mean, she can't
want you – knowing how much you hate her?”
              Danny avoided my
gaze. “It's complicated,” he said. “Roni gets what she wants. She has – her
whole life. She wanted to marry a billionaire and she did. And – you know, it's
not  like my father treats her very well...”
              “Are you defending her?”
              “No – no...”
Danny said quickly. “All I mean is – being married to my dad would turn anyone
into a crazy lunatic. You remember: Roni isn't my first stepmother, not by a
long shot. He's cheated on every woman he's ever been with. He's never loved
anybody, not really. He likes women for their bodies, for the prestige of
having a beautiful woman or two on his arm. But he doesn't see