Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 94960 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94960 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Or anyone.
I especially don’t need Harrison Decker, which is a shame because he was slowly becoming one of my favorite things. But just like everyone else, he chose to walk away. He chose to leave after I begged him last night to stay.
He might be right when it comes to me getting my way, but he’s also wrong when it comes to my life.
I’m used to many things, and one of those things I’m most used to is being alone.
So much for steady, loyal, and reliable.
12
Harrison
“Tell her to come over here.” I overhear Nick tell Natalie in hushed tones. On the stairs, their voices travel, reaching my ears.
Natalie huffs. “It’s not that simple. I know her better than anyone. She’ll put on a brave face and pretend it doesn’t matter in front of you. But I know she’s hurting inside.”
I lean against the wall, not sure what to think or how to feel. I know they’re talking about Tatum but have no idea what’s going on. One of those is a lie I tell myself. I know exactly how I feel. I’m still reeling from that fight that came out of nowhere.
We were good.
We were fucking great.
Then she had to light a match and set us on fire again. After I got back from Tatum’s, I went for a run on the treadmill in the basement to burn through the restless energy I had coursing through me. It’s not the same as running oceanside, but it got the job done. Until now.
I stop and listen, though I know better than to eavesdrop. There’s just a niggling suspicion inside my chest that something might be seriously wrong.
Nick says, “She doesn’t have to be guarded with me. I’ve been around long enough to know the truth. And I’ll leave you guys alone. She’s always welcome here no matter what happens.”
“I appreciate that. It’s just always been her and me against the world and . . . well, then came you and now comes a baby. She’s not showing it, but I can tell she’s now struggling to find her place. That’s why I asked her to be a godparent. I want her to know she’ll always be a part of our lives.”
“Honey, you can be there for her, but if she doesn’t want your help—”
“She does. But if I’m not there, it just proves her point. She’s used to being left alone to deal with things on her own. If I were in her shoes, I’d be wondering if I have a place as well. I don’t want her to wonder. I want her to know she has us.”
“I’m happy to go with you,” he says.
“No, it’s fine.”
Pushing off the wall, I come around the corner. They’re quick to step apart like they’ve been busted by their parents. “At ease, soldiers.”
Natalie hangs on Nick’s arm. “We weren’t doing anything sexual.”
Grabbing her, Nick pulls her to his side. “Yet anyway.”
She shoves him playfully. “No, don’t trap me. I need to go.”
I stand on the other side of the island and press my palms to the cold stone. “I overheard you talking about Tatum. What’s going on?”
They exchange a glance, but then she turns to me. “Her mother didn’t show up for brunch, so I was going to meet her at the restaurant.” The same mother who humiliated her daughter and scheduled this brunch as an apology? What the hell?
Looking at my watch, I ask, “I thought that was more than an hour ago?”
“It was.” Her tone is solemn as she looks down to put her phone in her bag on the counter.
My imagination starts to get away from me. I want to be wrong, so I ask, “She’s been there alone this whole time?”
“Yes.” Natalie swings her bag onto her shoulder and lifts to kiss Nick. “That’s why I’m going to see her.”
“I’ll go.” They both look at me as if I’m speaking a foreign language—heads tilted, confusion cinching their brows together. “I want to go,” I add as if that will make them understand the guilt I feel for what I said to her this morning. We argued, but I can still be there for her in a time of need.
“I don’t know, Harrison,” Natalie says, slipping out of her husband’s embrace.
“Did she say something to you?”
“Should she have?” she asks defensively, crossing her arms over her chest.
I exhale and run a hand over my head. “We had words this morning.”
Without blinking, she looks at me with her mouth open. “I thought you were here last night, just sleeping in.”
The tables have been turned, and now I’m the one who’s busted. I don’t have to justify my whereabouts to anyone and haven’t in years. But as she said, Tatum’s important to her, and I know her worry comes from concern for her friend. “I stayed with her last night. That was great. This morning . . . not so much. I’d like to go and talk to her . . . be there for her.”