Change in Harmony (A Silver Script Novel Book 4) Read online

  Change in Harmony

  Jaclyn Weist

  This is a work of fiction, and the views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author. Likewise, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are represented fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events or locales, is entirely coincidental.

  Change in Harmony

  Book design and layout copyright © 2016 by Dragons & Fairy Tales Press

  Cover design copyright © 2016 by Rachelle Hearn

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means whatsoever without written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  Copyright © 2016 by Jaclyn Weist

  Printed in the United States of America

  Year of first printing: 2016

  For my Parents

  Table of contents

  Acknowledgments

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Epilogue

  Also by Jaclyn Weist

  About the Author

  Acknowledgments

  When I first sent out Ring of Truth to my beta readers, I got the same feedback from several different people. They absolutely loved Nate and wanted to hear his story. This is for all of you.

  I want to thank Karlene Hardy (aka my mom), Rebecca Blevins, Amy Petrowich, Constance Cohen, Denise Cervantes, Lisa Racette, Mary Lawson, and Stephanie Littlefield for being such amazing beta readers. I really appreciate your help.

  Thanks to my family for being patient while I write, and for being such a huge support. I love you all!

  Thanks to Rachelle for another amazing cover.

  And thank you to all of my fans for enjoying my books. It means the world to me!

  Chapter 1

  Nate kept glancing at his phone, hoping it would ring. It was the last day before he would be kicked out of his apartment, and no one had accepted his application yet. There was something about having pipes freeze—flooding the place below—that had managers running the other way.

  Five more minutes and he would call them. Nate watched as Erin walked past and went into Debra’s office. He narrowed his eyes. She wasn’t going to get another account, was she? She’d already scored all the best clients that Silver Script Ad Agency had pulled in. He glanced around his cubicle to see if there was anything he needed to take to Debra, but he’d already had a meeting with her earlier that morning. He’d just have to find out about it at the meeting later.

  He ducked as the blonde girl from Accounting walked past. He was supposed to call her last night and had forgotten. It was probably for the best. He couldn’t remember her name. Hannah? Hailey? Something with an H.

  The buzzing of his phone jerked him out of his thoughts. He scrambled to pick it up, his heart beating rapidly. He needed this apartment. “Hello?”

  “Is this Nate Sullivan?” a gruff voice asked.

  “Yes, speaking.” Nate drummed his fingers on the desk.

  There was a rustling of paper. “Everything seems to be in order. The apartment is yours, but I need you here to sign papers in the next hour or I’ll have to give it to someone else.”

  “Wait—what? You’d just give it to someone else?” Nate glanced up at the clock.

  “Look, this is New York City. I have a list of at least ten other applicants, and all of them are qualified. If you’re not here in an hour, I will give it to the next person. Bring your deposit.” The call ended abruptly and Nate stared at the phone, baffled.

  He jumped up and shoved his papers into his briefcase. There was still another hour of work, but Debra knew he needed an apartment. She’d let him take off. He shut his laptop and set it next to the papers he’d have to work on that night. So much for the basketball game he’d hoped to attend. He slipped his coat on and grabbed his bag. With any luck, he’d be able to hit the subway just right and get there with plenty of time to spare. Though, getting the deposit would be a little trickier.

  After one more quick glance around to make sure he hadn’t left anything he’d need, Nate rushed over to Debra’s office. He stuck his head in, noting the annoyed looks from Erin. “Hey, I need to take off. I finally got a call back for the apartment.”

  “Good luck. I’ll see you in the morning at the meeting.” Debra leaned back in her chair.

  Nate waved and hurried toward the elevator. There were a few other people waiting, so he changed directions and went for the stairs instead. His footsteps echoed off the walls as he ran down the five flights of stairs. Good thing he was used to taking the stairs for exercise, but it also took time he didn’t have.

  The receptionist called out a goodbye as he rushed past, but he didn’t stop to flirt like he normally did. He simply waved as he pushed his way out of the building.

  The streets of New York were packed as usual. Normally, it didn’t bother him. He lived and breathed the large city life—the people, the traffic, the noise. But today they were all in the way of getting his dream apartment. A place he could have to himself instead of sharing with a crazy roommate. That was the one bonus of getting kicked out of his other apartment. He wouldn’t have to deal with a roommate anymore.

  After several attempts for a taxi, Nate cursed and headed for the subway, taking two steps at a time. A quick glance at the map told him which train he needed to be on, and he sprinted toward the correct stop. There was only a minute until the next train, and he had to be on it. He nearly tripped on a child who stood staring at a post. He ignored the calls from the parents, knowing if he went back, he’d have to wait another ten minutes for the next train.

  He ran down the steps just as the train pulled up, but as he ran for the door, the strap on his bag broke and fell to the ground, sending papers and his laptop in all directions. The bag was only a few months old. He crouched down, and shoved things back in the bag. The laptop looked like it was okay, but he wouldn’t know until he got home to check it out. Several of the papers had footprints on them from people walking back and forth.

  A woman knelt on the ground to help him pick things up. Nate rocked back onto his feet, surprised that someone had stopped. It wasn’t until she handed him a handful of receipts that he realized he’d just been staring.

  “Thank you.” He took the receipts from her and put them in his pocket, making a note to himself to throw them away when he got home.

  “You’re welcome.” The woman wore layers of shirts, pants, and a pair of ballet slippers. Her feet had to be freezing. Her brown hair was piled up on the top of her head, with a few strands that had fallen loose.

  Nate nodded and turned away to watch for the next train. He still had time to get to the apartment, but time was ticking. While he waited, he took the strap and tied it through the loop and made sure it wouldn’t break again.

  Someone played a flute behind him. When he turned to find where the music came from, he saw that it was the woman who was playing. No wonder she had so many layers on. It had to be freezing down here all day. He shook his head. This was New York. She could have found a job anywhere, and yet she chose to stay down here and play. She winked at him and continued playing. Nate smirked and turned away.
He was thankful for her help, but he had other things to think about.

  Ten minutes later, Nate stood on the train as it pulled away. He watched the woman as she played. A few people had gathered to listen, but most passed by. Such a waste of time. The music was meant to lighten the mood, but no one even paid attention. He pulled out his phone to check the time. He’d be cutting it close, and he still had to pull out cash for the deposit.

  The moment the train doors opened, Nate was out and running for an ATM. The machine would only give him a little at a time, before he had to go find another one. He cursed himself for not ordering more checks when he’d run out.

  He made it to the apartment in Chelsea with only a few minutes to spare. He pulled out his phone to check his hair and straightened his sports jacket before buzzing to go in. It was a few seconds before the same gruff voice he’d heard on the phone answered.

  “Yes?”

  “Hey, this is Nate Sullivan. I’m here with the deposit.” Nate took deep breaths, trying to relax before he went inside. He took in the rich decor in the main hallway. The bright colors and chandelier told him this was exactly where he wanted to be. No more dingy apartments with broken pipes.

  The meeting had gone well, the papers were signed, and Nate finally had the keys in his pocket. He shook the real estate agent’s hand.

  “Thanks again.”

  “It’s our pleasure. Your application was impressive.” The man smiled as he ushered Nate to the door.

  Nate smiled as he left and headed back to grab his things. Thankfully, the management had agreed to let him move in as soon as possible. It was the reason he’d wanted this apartment. It had been newly renovated, so no one occupied it at the time.

  The station was packed as he made his way to the right train. It was a good thing he’d missed the rush hour. There was no way he would have made it on time. The trains were packed, and he had to hold his breath as they made their way back down toward Times Square. Too many people made too many smells he could live without.

  When he climbed off, he noticed the same woman playing her flute right where she’d been before. Her eyes lit up with recognition when she saw him.

  “Did you get there on time?” she called out.

  Nate paused before threading his way through the people. “Yes, thankfully.”

  “Good. I’m glad. Better get yourself a new bag before tomorrow. I have a feeling that knot won’t last long.” She grinned.

  “Yeah, I should.” He caught some glances from other people who watched them, and he backed up. What was he doing? He gave a half wave and left her standing there with a confused expression on her face.

  Nate stopped to grab some food from the deli on the corner before running upstairs to pack. He wanted to leave before Roger got home. The movers had already taken most of his stuff to a storage unit, so there was only a few things left. Roger planned to move closer to work, and had managed to find a furnished apartment, so Nate got to keep the few pieces of furniture they’d collected over the years. And by “few,” it meant a couch, chair, and bed. He’d have to go find a table and other things.

  He gathered up the last of his stuff, threw what was left of his food from the fridge in the box, and left the apartment without looking back. There weren’t enough memories to make him miss the place.

  Chapter 2

  Allison sat down and leaned against the tiled wall in the subway. It had been a long day, but she’d made enough money for dinner that night and groceries to last a few more days. She closed her eyes for just a moment, but they flew open when she heard a crash and the cursing that followed it.

  It was the man who had dropped his bag earlier. At least this time everything stayed in the box he’d been carrying. He rubbed his temples and glanced around.

  “Rough day?” Her voice echoed off the walls of the empty platform. Rush hour had ended, and there was a rare lull between trains because of a delay down the line.

  He turned and rolled his eyes. “You could say that.”

  “Want to tell me about it?” She couldn’t believe she was talking to the guy. He’d been anything but nice to her earlier, and it was clear he didn’t approve of her staying down here to play her instrument.

  “Not really.” He ran his hand through his hair.

  Allison leaned forward, her hands resting on her knees. “Look. You’re stuck here and won’t be going anywhere for a while, so you can stand up there looking all high and mighty, or you can come and sit down. I don’t bite. I promise.”

  The man studied her before pushing his large box over to her. He sat with the box between them. “You’re here all day?”

  She shrugged. “It depends on the day. I didn’t have anything else to do, so I decided I could come down and entertain people.”

  “I’m not sure anyone is actually entertained while they’re trying to catch trains.” He pulled out his phone and frowned. “No signal.”

  “Well, you are underground. Besides, we’re under a steel building right now. We rarely have signal.” She glanced in the box. “Get kicked out?”

  The man glowered, marring his good looks. “How is that your business?”

  “It’s not. It’s called being polite.” She reached across the box to shake his hand. “I’m Allison, by the way.”

  The man took her hand, and she noted the firm shake. “Nate. And accusing me of being kicked out isn’t exactly polite. But since you asked, yes. I did.”

  “Ah, angry wife?” It was all she knew. Angry parents who did nothing but fight.

  Nate rolled his eyes. “You’re really bad at guessing. No. I’m not married. My roommate was a jerk and let the pipes freeze. When they flooded the floor below, the landlord decided to kick both of us out. Good riddance. I wanted to be out of there anyway.”

  “Sounds like it. So where are you headed? Your new place?” Allison grimaced. She really needed to learn to stop being so personal with people. It’s what drove her dad crazy about her mom. Always nosy.

  “I was, until the train was delayed. Don’t they know people have places to go?” Nate leaned his head against the wall.

  Allison laughed. “I’m not sure the subways care. Besides, it’s an electrical problem. Not much they can do about it.”

  “There’s always something. Hopefully it will be done soon.” Nate leaned his arm on his box.

  “Yeah . . .” Allison stared off into the distance. “Sorry you can’t get home yet.”

  Nate sighed. “It’s fine. I’m just glad to get out of the other place. I don’t have any furniture yet anyway.”

  “So . . . where were you going to sleep then?” Allison pulled her sleeves over her hands. It was getting chilly, and she needed to get back to the apartment soon. Sam would be worried if she came home to find Allison gone.

  “Hotel. Floor. Anywhere but my old place.” He pulled off his gloves. “Here. You need these more than me.”

  Allison took them from him in surprise. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. I’ll just need them back when the train finally comes.” He crossed his arms so his hands were covered. “Do you sleep down here?”

  Allison snorted. “No.”

  “But you work down here.” He looked at her in surprise. “Why would you do that if you didn’t have to?”

  “It’s a good place to practice.” Allison stood and dropped the gloves in his lap, then picked up her flute case. “I’d better get going. You okay where you are?”

  A group of people came down the steps laughing loudly about something. Allison wanted to be gone before they realized that the train wouldn’t be coming anytime soon. She took a step toward the stairs.

  “You’re leaving?” he asked, surprised.

  “Well, yeah. I’m done for the night.” She glanced over at the group as they muttered at each other.

  He stood. “I thought . . . never mind. I’ll be fine.”

  “You can come with me. I know a place to eat upstairs, and you can warm up.” She should
have just left him there. She knew nothing about him, and he hadn’t exactly been nice. But he seemed . . . lonely. A feeling she knew all too well.

  Nate looked back toward the platform before grabbing his box and following her up the stairs. “I need to do something with this box. I don’t think they’ll like it if I take it into the restaurant.”

  “They’ll be fine. I eat there all the time, and they won’t mess with you if you’re with me.” Allison waited for him to catch up before heading into a small diner next to the steps. The food was pretty good, and it gave her place to escape if the crowds got too big on the platform.

  Nate set his box on the seat between them in the booth and sat down. He picked up the menu the waitress brought by.

  Allison smiled as she watched him. She didn’t have to look at the menu. She already knew exactly what she wanted to eat. “The steak and mashed potatoes are the best. Trust me.”

  He drummed his fingers on the table in an uneven rhythm. “I guess I’ll try that. I’m more in the mood for pasta, though.”

  “Ah. Well, the white sauce here is fantastic.” Allison smiled up at the waitress. She was an elderly woman with a lot of spunk, and one of Allison’s favorite people. “Hey, Bonnie. How are you tonight?”

  “I’m great. Did you find another lost puppy here?” Bonnie winked at Nate and laughed as he blushed.

  “Train’s down and I figured he didn’t want to be down there holding this box of stuff.” Allison gestured toward it.

  Bonnie nodded. “Good thought. Okay, what can I get the two of you?”

  “The usual for me, and he wants the pasta with white sauce.” Allison looked over just in time to see Nate’s glare. “That’s what you wanted, right?”

  “Yes. And can I also get a hot chocolate?” He handed the menu to Bonnie.

  Bonnie wrote it down. “Of course. I’ll be right out.”