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A small sob slipped from my mouth, and she pulled me into a hug.
“Oh, Christ. I was so rude to you!”
I cried harder. “I deserved it for hurting him.”
The next thing I knew, I was engulfed in a giant hug from all the Parker women.
When they stepped back, Paxton and Amelia were wiping my cheeks.
Paxton gave me a sweet smile. “I did the same thing when it came to Steed. It was easier to forget him than to even talk to his family. I avoided them for years.”
“Don’t cry,” Amelia said.
“He’s the only man I’ve ever loved—he’s the only man I’ll ever love—and I’ve lost him.”
“Did you not date anyone after Tripp?” Corina asked.
With a half shrug, I replied, “Nothing serious. One guy I dated off and on exclusively for about a year. He wanted something more, but I couldn’t give him my full heart. I cared deeply for him, but I didn’t love him. Not like I love Tripp.”
“Because your whole heart belongs to Tripp,” Waylynn declared.
I smiled at her. “Yeah. It does. But I’ve decided I’m going to stop trying to explain to him what happened that day. He’s moved on, and I’m glad he has found someone who makes him happy.”
Waylynn laughed. “Oh, my gosh. Harley, if you think Mallory makes him as happy as you did, you are wrong. I think it’s more physical. They like having sex. A lot.”
Paxton, Amelia, and Corina all looked at Waylynn. “Waylynn!”
Laughing, I grabbed a tissue and blew my nose.
“It’s okay, y’all. I’m not naïve. I know they’re sleeping together. I need to move on. It’s just…hard…ya know?” I forced the tears back down.
“We’re going out tonight,” Amelia declared.
Waylynn held up her hands. “Well, hold on. Some of us have kids we have to deal with.”
“Oh, speaking of, Waylynn, congratulations on the baby,” I replied, a little bit of melancholy in my voice that I tried to tamp down.
She gave me a breathtaking smile. “Thanks, Harley. She’s an absolute joy.”
Amelia went on. “We can make this happen! I’m sure Steed and Jonathon wouldn’t mind if we hit Cord’s Place for a couple of hours. We need to get Harley back in the game of dating. If Tripp can do it, so can Harley.”
The other three looked at her, unsure that this was such a good idea.
I snarled. “Date the guys here in town?”
“Hey, we’ve had a few hot ones move in. You should see the new fire chief. He’s smokin’ hot!” Waylynn said with a laugh. “See what I did there?”
We all chuckled. It felt good to have my friends back, and to make a new one. A little bit of weight lifted off my chest.
“Yes, I see what you did there,” I replied with a chuckle as I wiped at my still-damp eyes.
“Okay, it’s settled,” Amelia announced while clapping her hands. “Y’all get your kiddos taken care of and then let’s meet at Harley’s place at seven. Early night for all of us.”
I chewed on my lip. “I don’t know.”
Taking my hand in hers, Corina smiled. “Tripp won’t be there. He and Mallory are never there. The bar scene isn’t Mallory’s thing. You won’t even see him, I promise!”
“But the hot fire chief will be there for sure,” Waylynn said with an evil laugh.
“How do you know that?” I asked.
She merely winked. “Trust me.”
I had a feeling I was going to have a terrible night, or the best night I’d had in a long, long time.
As they all started piling out of the exam room, Corina looked back over her shoulder. She was the last one out of the group I thought would ever utter the words she said next. “Wear something sexy! And make it red. With your hair and tan skin, it will make your boobs and A-S-S pop!”
My mouth dropped as my eyes widened.
As if two Parker women were not enough in this town…now there were two more.
“Good Lord, be with me tonight. I have a feeling I’m going to need you to take the wheel.”
“Well, look what the cat dragged in,” Trevor mused while pushing a beer my way.
With an eye roll, I sat on the barstool. “Yeah, it’s been awhile.”
“You get in a fight with Mallory?” he asked, a hint of a smile playing at his lips.
“That’s an understatement,” I scoffed.
About that time Cord walked up. “What’s up, big brother? Mallory get a babysitter for the night?”
I had to laugh. Mallory hated coming to Cord’s Place. She didn’t like to dance, and she didn’t like to go out to bars, period. About the only things she liked to do were fuck and shop. The first one I enjoyed, the second not so much.
“No, we sort of got in a fight.”
He lifted his brows. “About?”
“Her lack of ever wanting to do anything. All she wants to do is sit home and watch movies. She uses Laney for an excuse and I’m growing tired of it. Then, there is the on-call fucking. When she’s in the mood I’m supposed to drop everything.”
