He gave a cautious smile, that half-soft one I’d once believed. “Didn’t expect you.”
“Clearly.”
His brows furrowed. “Everything okay?”
“That depends,” I said, walking closer, arms folded. “You tell me.”
He blinked. “What?”
“You’ve been distant. Unavailable. And weirdly... rehearsed.” I tilted my head. “And I’m just trying to figure out why that is.”
He exhaled slowly, stepping back toward his desk. “I’ve had a lot going on.”
“Feeding pigs?” I asked. “Helping friends? Long shifts? Right.”
He frowned. “That was a friend doing me a favour. At the ranch. I told you...”
“Yeah, you told me.” I stepped closer. My voice sharpened, cut thin and deliberate. “But you didn’t talk to me. Not really. You stopped calling. You stopped showing up.”
He looked down. “I didn’t mean to...”
“But you did.” My voice stayed even, sharp. “The last time I saw you, you told me you had to work the night shift and had no time for me, and then Erin Voss walks out of your building, the very next morning, wearing the same clothes from the day before. Hair wet. No shame. Like she lives in your orbit. Like she has the right to be there... with you.”
Harlan’s jaw tightened. “Ava... What? That was..."
"Three weeks ago," I answered for him. "I haven't seen you in three weeks, Harlan. What was she doing at your place?"
"You’re reaching.” He answered.
“I’m asking,” I said. “For the truth. Right here. Right now. Look me in the eye and tell me nothing’s happened between you and Erin. That you didn't tell me you love me and then fuck that bitch that you promised me you were working on bringing down.”
He hesitated.
Just a breath.
But that was enough.
He’s not denying it.
Why isn’t he denying it?
Say it. Say no. Say you’d never.
Harlan sat on his desk and rubbed his hand down his face like he would rather be anywhere than here. “I shouldn’t have to justify myself every time you decide to play detective.”
“So that’s a ‘no comment’?”
“It’s a you need to keep your voice down and calm down.”
The words landed like a slap.
Don’t cry.
He’s not worth it if this is how he handles the fall.
Don’t give him the satisfaction.
I stared at him. “Did you just tell me to calm down?”
