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Right?
Harlow gives me a nod she means to look assured, but I see the worry on her face. “I know, you’re a big boy. If we get married, I at least want the honesty my parents never had. I don’t want secrets or animosity or regret between us.”
“Of course.” Other players have fallen for a pretty face and a nice rack and ended up in hell because their bride was a heartless bitch looking out for her bottom line, but that’s not Harlow.
“I mean, when you find a new lover, I’d rather you tell me than be blindsided.”
When, not if. After her father and Simon, I can see why she’d think that her husband finding a mistress would be inevitable. “If we get married, Harlow, there won’t be anyone else for me.”
“Okay. Sure.” She gives me a negligent shrug. Clearly, she doesn’t believe me.
I take her hand. “I’m serious. To me, a marriage is between two people, not us and whoever flips my switch at the moment.”
Harlow simply stares, looking as if she’s trying to decide whether I’m a really good liar.
“I promise. We can make this work.”
“Maybe we can since it’s only for a year.”
A year won’t be long enough. I’m going to make sure it’s not enough for her, either. “Just say yes. You’ll see.”
She doesn’t answer, and silence falls between us. I’m looking for a way to fill it when the doorbell rings.
“That was fast,” I remark as we both stand.
“Finish eating, “she says. “I’ll get it.”
When she opens the door, it’s not Maxon and Keeley standing in the threshold, but Britta and Griff, hand in hand.
“Hey. What’s going on? I didn’t know you were coming over.”
“Maxon texted and told us to meet him here. He said something was up,” Griff said grimly. “We were only a few minutes away.”
“If it’s about Evan, Maxon hasn’t updated me. Then again, I didn’t know anything in the first place.” Harlow turns away to shut the door.
“We didn’t mean to leave you out,” Griff assures her. “I’m sorry.”
Harlow whirls on him. “Then don’t do it again, okay?”
“Absolutely.”
“If I had known you had no idea, I would have honored the girl code and told you,” Britta promises.
That makes Harlow crack a smile, then hug her sister-in-law. “Thanks. Good to know I havesomeoneon my side.”
When Griff grimaces, I step into the awkward silence. “Hey, you guys. Come in. Can I get you anything?”
“We just came from a big dinner,” Griff says. “Britta’s mom is spending some grandma time with Jamie so we could have a date. Did Maxon say how long he’d be?”
“No.” Harlow leads everyone to the family room adjacent to the kitchen.
“Eat the rest of your food,” I murmur in her ear.
She shakes her head and picks up her plate. “I’m good.”
“We didn’t mean to disturb your dinner,” Britta says apologetically.
“It’s fine. Sit. Please.” Her smile tells me having family around will soothe her, so as much as I’d rather be alone with Harlow, she needs this.
