Jack holds me from behind and kisses my shoulder. Nico strokes his hand over my hair. I’m loved and they’ll hold me together as everything we’re learning tries to tear me apart.
Luke
Harper’s been quiet since the conversation. I don’t know what to say or do to help her. She’s cried so much this weekend. Her tears make me helpless, and I don’t like that feeling.
When she finally comes up for air, she slips away to the bathroom. We all fall into working on whatever is left. She comes out and joins us.
The sun has been filling the room, inch by inch. Harper has moved around, leaning against each of us for a while as she stares blankly at the screen. What’s happening in her head? She’s usually an easy read for me, but I can’t read her this time.
Knowing my dad had something to do with her father’s disappearance, how could Harper still want me after seeing how much love her father had for her and her mom? How could she love the son of the man who took her father from her? Maybe I should just take care of the problem. Take my father, and potentially myself, off the chess board entirely.
Finish the problem. She’d still have the others to take care of her.
“Luke?” Harper stands in front of me with her hand out. Her huge brown eyes are focused on me. Does she know what I’m thinking?
I set my laptop to the side and take her hand, standing with her and drawing in her vanilla scent. The need to drag her into my arms and never let go rides me, but I let her lead me away from the others.
I would follow her anywhere.
She brings me upstairs into the room we shared and into the bathroom. Releasing my hand, she closes the door and locks it before turning on the shower. My pulse quickens in lust, in worry, in love.
This girl holds so much power over me. Over my heart. Over my future. I can’t see anything beyond her. The carefully engineered life I wanted for myself crumbles for her. Whatever she needs. Whatever she wants. It’s hers.
My life is hers.
I don’t know if she realizes the power she holds over me.
When she gets the temperature where she wants it, she dries off her hand and walks over to me.
“Are you okay?” she asks. Her hands tug my shirt up and I help her take it off.
I narrow my eyes at her as she works on my pants next.
“Shouldn’t I be asking you that?” I tip her chin.
Her eyes swim with unshed tears. “How do we fix this?”
“What do we want to fix?” I smooth her hair from her cheek and tuck it behind her ear. Fuck, I want to make this world perfect for her. To take away all that pain that’s in her eyes.
“My dad. Your mom. All the shit that’s piling up around us. Everything.” A tear slips down her cheek, and it hurts my heart to see it. To feel that frustration and all the things we can’t fix.
When I draw her into my arms, her warm tears run down my chest. “I don’t know, princess.”
I press my lips to the top of her head as I hold her against me. This is the only thing that feels right in my world. Harper, Caden, Jack, Eli, and Nico. Loving this girl who binds us together tighter than brothers.
She takes a breath and pulls away. For a second, I don’t let her go. She surrenders in my arms and sighs.
When I release her, she gives me a watery smile and wipes at her eyes and cheeks. Then finishes taking off my shorts before she reaches for her sweatshirt.
I brush her hands away, and her eyes lock with mine as I take off her sweatshirt and pajamas. My hand settles on her hip as we stand naked before each other. I can’t begin to tell her what she means to me or how I feel about what my father did to destroy both of our families.
Drawing in a breath, she takes my hand and leads me into the shower.
“Do you ever wonder what it would have been like?” Her voice is quiet as she fills my hand with soap and then her own. Her touch brands me as she rubs the soap over my shoulders and chest.
“What would have been like?” I wash her slowly, thoroughly. Cataloguing every freckle, every mark we’ve left on her, every little scar.
“Our lives if our parents had lived.” Her words are soft and wistful.
