Where the fuck are you?
Probably out being a little slut for the first guy who will give you attention. That’s why you gave awayour baby.
You better come home alone, you stupid bitch.
I feel sick, instantly. I meet Harley’s eyes, seeing the concern fill his eyes. I drop my phone and race back to the bathroom, just in time to empty the contents of my stomach.God I fucking hate him.He does this anytime I stay out late. We hold no conversations. It’s all one sided with his creepy bullshit. If I felt like he was violent, I’d report it. But since he hasn’t threatened any harm to me, the police won’t do anything to intervene. Just as I’m using the toilet to assist me in getting up, the door flies open and Harley comes barreling in, eyes wild with anger.
“What the fuck is this, Ember?” I drop back to the floor and dry heave. Harley comes over to the toilet and rubs small circles on my back, pulling the hair away from my face. “Hey, I’m sorry. It’s okay. I've got you.” His tone softens, letting out a heavy breath.
I feel so weak mentally. We sit there for another few minutes before I sit back and slump against the wall. I finally look up and meet Harley’s eyes. “It’s Dean—he thinks I owe him something because I kicked him out and put the baby up for adoption,” I say in a low voice.
Harley’s eyes soften, before he asks, “How long has this gone on?”
I laugh as I get up off the floor. “As soon as he found out I'd had the baby, he tried to come to the hospital, but I had already talked to the hospital social worker, and she made sure he couldn’t gain access to me or the baby.”
Walking over to the sink, I wet a washcloth and pat my neck to cool down. “He started texting about a week later, and it never really stopped. If I block him, he just texts from a new number.”
Harley gets up and stands behind me, watching me in the mirror, and our eyes connect through the reflection. “Let me take you home and sit with you for a bit.”
I smile softly, and realize I don’t really want to go home alone anyway. “That sounds good. I’ll let Atlas know.”
We walk out of the bathroom, heading into the kitchen to let Atlas know we’re leaving. We find her leaning into Asher. She's got her arms wrapped around his neck from the side, grinning.
“Harley is going to take me home since I've been drinking,” I tell her before shielding my eyes from her public display of affection.
Atlas laughs and leans her head into the side of Asher’s chest. “Wear protection, bitch.”
Asher laughs. “Alright, time for someone to head to bed,” he says as he steps back and drops his left arm to scoop her up and carry her to bed.
I’m really not even drunk anymore. A little buzzed, maybe, but I could still probably drive home.
Harley comes up next to me. “I’ve got you. I'll get your coat and purse.”
CHAPTER THREE
EMBER
I must have passedout hard in the car, because I wake up when Harley puts the car in park in my tiny driveway. I look over at him, smiling with sleepy eyes.
“Let’s get you inside,” he says, before getting out and coming around to the passenger side to open up the door for me. Holding out his hand to offer support, I unbuckle my seat belt and grab it, getting out of the Honda.
I can’t wait to get these clothes off and get into my bed.I fumble with my keys, trying to find the right one, as we walk up the stairs to my door. Once we reach the door something thumps loudly on the other side.
Harley goes stiff, and looks down at me with an indescribable emotion flashing in his eyes. I was ready to run at the sound that came from the other side of the door—but the way he’s looking down at me, eyes on fire, I can’t move. I stand on my tiptoes just as he bends down, one hand coming around the small of my back, tugging me in close so thatour bodies are flush. His other hand comes to rest on the side of my neck, tilting my chin up, and then our lips meet and it's like saying “hello again” without speaking a word.
His lips are fuller and rougher than they used to be. I put a little force behind my kisses, grabbing his bottom lip and sucking it into my mouth. My hands are on their own adventure. One hand runs up his chest outside of his hoodie that he’d put on at some point, the other hand hanging on to the back of his head, pulling his hair slightly. I don’t know if it’s the fear of not knowing what is behind the door, or if the alcohol just makes me not give a fuck, but I can’t get enough of him. I need to get closer.
Another thump comes from behind the door, and Harley breaks off the kiss. “Give me your keys and get back in the car,” he says. I stand there, in my own little world of lust, not registering the words he is speaking to me. “Now, Ember,” he says roughly. “At least until I can make sure nothing and no one is here.”
I pass him the keys and retreat back to the car, nervously waiting to see what’s causing a ruckus inside. For a second, Dean’s face flashes in my head. Dean has never broken into my home before, but anything could set a psychopath off, I conclude. I watch as Harley unlocks the door and disappears inside. I hold my breath, hoping that it’s nothing. I don’t see Harley as being the scared type, even if Dean is bigger. Dean is taller than Harley, but I think Harley has more muscle mass on him. Nonetheless, I don’t want anything malicious to happen in my home.
I'm rubbing my hands together in my lap, nervously waiting, when I see a light come on from the back of the house—my bedroom I think. I haven’t heard anything since Harley entered the house, just seen shadows dance around. A few minutes later, the door opens and Harley walks out, my fluffy calico cat in his arms sniffing his chin. I laugh as I open the door to the car.
Maggie, duh.
I guess in the buzzed haze and the charged tension between us, I forgot it could have been my fluffy feline house companion. I get to the steps, saying “Maggie, you kind of suck for that.” I laugh as I scratch her ear, still in Harley’s arms.
He laughs. “I figured if it was a bad guy, he wouldn’t rub up on my leg.”
