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“Will you come see us?” Molly asked.
“Yeah. Definitely. I just need to sleep this off, okay?” I kissed her forehead and then ruffled Billy’s hair. “You guys be good for your mom, okay? And be careful on that arm.”
They both nodded.
I went to my car, ignoring Zack’s attempt to stop me and ask again if I was okay.
He jogged outside after me and stopped by my car. I grudgingly rolled the window down for him as I turned the engine over. “I just need some sleep.”
“It’s about Harper, right? You said something stupid, I’m guessing. And I know you’re not going to tell me what you said but take my advice. If fucking it up with her has you this pissy, then she’s worth making an effort for. Just suck up your pride and apologize for whatever you did.”
“I hired her. That’s all.”
Zack didn’t buy my lie. “Just think about it. Apologize for being a dumbass and you’ll feel better. Trust me, I’ve been there a few dozen times.”
“I’ll talk to you later.” I rolled up the window and pulled out of the driveway, kicking up dirt and rocks behind me as I clutched the steering wheel like I was about to choke the thing.
And fuck. I had a very bad feeling I wasn’t about to drive home.
19
HARPER
I was trying very hard to be excited about my new job. I even baked myself a “Congratulations on the new job!” cake. Eating over a quarter of it by myself with a generous side of rocky road ice cream was possibly a mistake, especially since I was mildly lactose intolerant. But screw it. I was supposed to be celebrating.
Instead, I’d ended up watching John Wick shoot about three thousand guys because they killed his dog. It felt therapeutic, and I didn’t feel like psychoanalyzing myself to determine why.
A knock came at my door just after nine. I was in pajamas with no bra and wearing an old ratty Teletubbies t-shirt I’d somehow acquired as a kid. It still fit and was so worn that it was just about the comfiest thing I owned. I expected to find Farrah, Lin, or maybe both at my door. I’d vented about my experience to them and figured they were coming to cheer me up.
“Thanks for–” I trailed off when I opened the door and saw a tall, broad shape in the hall. Greyson had on a gray t-shirt and dark jeans that hugged his gorgeous frame. His hair was messy and his eyes looked a little tired, but he flashed that charming smile he kept in reserve when our gazes met.
I saw he was holding a six pack of beers, which he lifted up to me. “I come in peace. I was thinking I could formally apologize once we’re both a little tipsy.”
I worked my lips to the side. I’d been so angry with him just a moment ago, but it was very hard to stay mad when he looked at me like that. God, I was so weak.
“I’ll listen,” I said carefully. “But I make no promises of forgiveness.”
“That’s fair.” Greyson stepped inside and pulled the door shut behind him. I forgot to back up and give him space, so we were both mere inches apart until I had to crane my neck to look up at him. I took a hard swallow, laughed a little nervously, then backed up. “Come on in. I was just finishing a movie.”
He glanced at the TV and chuckled. “I didn’t take you for the type. I was imagining you as more of a Christmas rom com year-round kind of girl.”
I put a hand on my hip, easily falling into the teasing and flirtation with him. It was like my anger was frost on the grass and his presence was the rising of the sun. I could practically feel the annoyance and frustration I’d been simmering in just moments ago evaporating into harmless steam. Maybe it was just that he’d come to apologize. I wasn’t sure I ever had a guy make an effort to say he was sorry for being a jerk, even if it was a simple gesture. “Christmas rom coms all year?” I asked defiantly. “I’ll have you know, I firmly shut off the Christmas movies by July and don’t put them back on until September at the earliest. I have standards.”
He popped the caps off two of the beer bottles, smiling sexily at me in a way that made my insides feel like they were being microwaved. “You have standards,” he agreed, handing a beer to me.
I was more of a margarita and cheap wine kind of girl, but I took the beer and sipped it, trying not to screw up my face at the taste. Our eyes met as he took a drink of his, too.
