Page 46 of Ghost in the Night

“I was supposed to help Robby with the robot thing today. And shouldn’t we be preparing? We only have one more day before the gala.”

“He’s fine! He can do it himself. Come on, girl, we NEED a beach day. We’ve been dealing with some heavy stuff.”

I glance at the door, thinking of Dad sitting inside, waiting for me so we can talk, so he can say all the things he should’ve said months ago. I’d rather be anywhere but here. And Myah’s right. Robby’s been building robots since he could walk. He’ll be fine without me.

“Well. Okay, I guess.”

“Cool! Pick you up in twenty.”

I rush back into the house, passing the adults without aword, and out to the guesthouse. I change into my bathing suit and cover-up, throwing my hair in a bun.

I run back into the house and grab my camera bag and towel from the closet.

“Soo … where are you going?” Dad asks behind me.

“Out,” I say, remaining cold as ice.

He clears his throat. “Harmony. Can we talk?”

I pay him in silence.

“Harmony, I’m still your father, and you need to stay home so we can talk about this,” Dad says with some bass in his voice. “I know you’re mad, but I did what’s best for not just you but forus.”

His lines sound rehearsed and spoon-fed. That makes me even more mad. He’s been listening to Lena. Is she the one who told him to get rid of our apartment and leave the only home I’ve ever known? Why couldn’t he save our house? Was being in his band more important than giving us a normal life?

Angrily I zip up my camera bag.

Robby runs out of his room and stops short as ifknowing something is up. Lena looks as if she wants to stop him but doesn’t talk.

“Where are you going?” Robby asks, frowning at my orange swimsuit.

“I’m going to the beach with Myah.”

“Oh! Okay. Ummm, can I come?”

“No,” I snap, a little too quick. “She didn’t invite you. Just me.”

The room goes dead silent. Robby squirms.

“Baby, Harmony got plans, but why don’t you come to work with me?” Lena says, trying to give Robby an assuring smile. “I still got so much to do for the gala, and you always have the best ideas.”

Robby looks at her for a brief second and returns to me.

“But … but you said you would help me with the robot for … you know.”

I shrug. “You can do it without me. You’re good at that stuff.”

His eyes grow wide, toggling from his mom then back to me. “But … but …”

I spin to face him. “I just need to get out of here without you up under me for a while. Okay?”

A car horn blows outside. Mr. Horton’s truck pulls up to the curb with Myah in the passenger seat and two other girls in the back.

“Later,” I yell over my shoulder and run out the door.

Crisp waves roll out from the ocean and slap the shore. I haven’t been to the beach since last summer, when I went to Coney Island with Truth and Kiki. After chilling all day, we spent the night playing games, riding rides, and watching the fireworks.

Now I may never see them again.