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I glared at him. “How can you say such athing?”
“Because I’m your friend. And if you want to have a future, you have to let go of the past.” He crossed his arms over his chest and rocked on his feet. “I know why you’re doing this. You’re punishingyourself.”
“Why would I do that? It’s ridiculous.” Iscowled.
“Is it? Didn’t we have our first drinks from your father’s liquor stash?” Ty moved around me so I had to lookathim.
I rubbed my eyes. “Yeah, Iguessso.”
“And in high school, when Drew had his first DWI, long before he was even allowed to legally drink, hadn’t he been coming from a barbecue at your house when your folks were out of town?” Ty blew out abreath.
“Maybe.” I stared off into the distance while Ty assaulted me with one memory, one regret afteranother.
“None of this is your fault.” He grabbed my shoulders and leaned into my face. “I’m sure Drew never told you this, and I never even considered you might think otherwise, but for fuck’s sake, Harry, you have to know you’re not toblame.”
“I never stopped him,” I mumbled. “I should’vestoppedhim.”
“How the hell would you stop him?” Ty shook his head. “He has made you a prisoner of his whims long enough. Stop being complicit with his behavior.” He turned around and I could tell he was assessing thesituation.
My shoulders slumped. I was afraid of what he was going to say, but I was tired, so very worn out from Drew’s antics. I’d been carrying this with me for so long, I had been practically crippled by it. I’d never let anyone close because I didn’t deserve to be happy. Only, then I met Laney and she made me think I was worthy. Now she was gone and it was my fault. “I should’ve fought harder for her. I should’ve stood uptoDrew.”
“It’s never too late. If love has taught me anything, it’s that love finds a way.” He grinned. “Yes, finding Kate has made me wax poetic. Whatofit?”
I snickered. “Who knew you had a sensitive side?” Then I shook my head. “So how do I find my way? How do I fix allofthis?”
“Well, first I’m calling 911. They’ll send the police and an ambulance. Then I’m calling Kate. She has people for everything.” He clapped a hand on my shoulder. “Then you better get ready to make some grand gesture, if you really want Laney inyourlife.”
My cheeks burned and I nodded. “Ireallydo.”
“Okay, then go get ready. Love isn’t for pussies.” He shoved me downthehall.
I paused and rolled my eyes. “That’s more like it. Less poetic, butcompletelyreal.”
21
Laney
We finally seemedto have come to an understanding. By the time we’d finished the wine, eaten the strawberries, and made out in the hot tub, I was feeling a bitsleepy.
“Caught you yawning,” Harry murmured into my hair as he tucked me against his side. “Come on. Tomorrow promises to be a long day. Let’s get to bed.” Then he stood and held out his hands so he could help me from thehottub.
I took them and reveled in his strong touch as he helped haul me from the water. “Thank you.” I grinned. In fact, I’d been so happy for the past few hours, my face actually hurt. This man was so much more than he seemed, so much more than heleton.
Harry held up my robe and I slid it onto my shoulders. Then he threw my towel over one shoulder and his towel over the other. He wrapped an arm around my waist and we wandered toward the bedrooms. My heart began to pound in my chest. What if he wanted to share a bed? What if he didn’t? I tortured myself the entire way down the hall. We stopped in between our rooms. I bit my cheek and gazed up at himexpectantly.
“Hi,” he whispered. Then he pulled me intohisarms.
This was it. This was the moment. Harry knewittoo.
“Tonight has been perfect,” heannounced.
“I think so.” I laid my chin on his chest and smiled upathim.
Harry pressed his lips to my forehead. “I’d love to share a bed with you. I’d love to fall asleep cuddled together like kittens and wake up wrapped in happiness, but I wanna do this right. I want to do this righter than I’ve ever done anything before. That means I refuse to hop into bed with you tonight.” He sighed and my shoulders drooped. “This isn’t a commentary on the degree of attraction I feel for you. If it was based on that, I’d be carrying you to bedrightnow.”
Dating wasn’t my area. I’d had little experience in this department. I stared down at the floor a moment before I stepped back and proudly looked him in the eye. “Listen, there’s something you should knowaboutme.”
He reached out and laced his fingers through mine. “Is this the sex talk before we actuallyhavesex?”
