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It’s why he threw himself into work and scheduled appearances at as many conventions as he could. He, like Harley, also chose to run. Except he wasn’t running from people who despised him, but from a woman who loved him too much.
“It’s been so long I thought I forgot how, but this trip… it showed me I still got it.”
He laughed, relief washing over him like the perfect wave on a hot day. For so long, he carried Mom’s happiness on his shoulders, and now, maybe he’d finally have the strength to carry his own. His attention landed on Harley and all he could think was that the timing couldn’t be anymore right. “That’s great. Now go back to having fun.”
“You’re just trying to get me off the phone so you can go have sex.”
“Goodbye, Mom.”
“I love you, baby.”
“Love you too.” Garrett hung up and climbed into his bed, gathering Harley in his arms. “I hope it’s okay I sprung that on you. The whole meeting my mom thing is kind of a big deal. I shouldn’t have put you on the spot like that.”
“It’s fine. Honestly.” She ran her finger up and down his arm. “I’m always the girl guys keep on the side like I’m some dirty little secret, and I’m always the last to realize. So I’d love to meet your mom.”
He suddenly felt guilty for every woman he kept at arm's length, knowing he’d never actually settle down with them but strung them along. Though he always made it abundantly clear, he wasn’t the long-term boyfriend type. The guilt still tugged.
He put his finger under her chin and urged her to look at him. “You’re not a dirty little secret, Harley. Those guys were just idiots who had no idea what they had in front of them. Lucky for me, I’m not an idiot.”
“Isn’t this crazy, though? I mean, you’re my boss. We only just met.”
“My parents got married after four weeks together. My mom said when you meet the right person, you just know. I always thought she was fucking nuts, believing in fairytales, living outside of reality because my dad wasn’t alive to tell me otherwise, but maybe she’s not nuts. Maybe she knew what she was talking about.”
He exhaled, his gaze landing on the comforter beside him.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Just realizing the depth of my mom’s grief. I never fully understood it, but now…”
“Now you can.” She kissed his shoulder, filling him with a sense of calm.
“It’s weird, but yeah.” Since the minute he understood the concept of dating, he swore to himself he would never fall in love. He’d never get swept up in the ugly emotions and allow himself to invest his entire well-being into another person. He watched how it destroyed his mom, and he refused to be her.
He never understood when she said that even if she could go back in time and not meet his dad, she wouldn’t. The love they had, even for a short time, was too precious to her to not experience. He thought she was foolish. Thought she was out of her damn mind. And never in a million years did he think he would one day willingly open himself up completely to someone else.
But when he looked into Harley’s eyes, he didn’t just see her; he saw his future as clear as the straight lines of her tattoos.
“So,” Harley said, and he turned into her arms. “How about those cosplay pictures?”
***
They had come into the house so fast and immediately jumped into bed Harley didn’t have a chance to look around. Now that she was on the couch, snuggled into one of his t-shirts and her legs on his lap, she glanced around the room.
A bookshelf sat in the far corner, stacked to the brim with thick hardcovers. She recognized a few of the titles from her cosplay research.
“Have you always been a reader?”
He ran his hand up her calf, and she wiggled from the tickling sensation. “Pretty much. It was my way to escape reality, get lost in a completely different world, and pretend I wasn’t the kid with the dead dad and a mom whose happiness relied on my own.”
“That must have been hard.”
“Wasn’t exactly easy, but books helped. When I wasn’t reading, I was getting into trouble, but then Vinny stepped in and straightened me out.” He gripped her waist and yanked her onto his lap. “Now, enough about me. Tell me something about you.”
“I already told you everything.”
“I want to know something you don’t tell people. Something you keep to yourself.”
She inhaled, running her fingers along his bare chest before letting her breath out. “I guess I started cosplaying for the same reasons you started reading. I was older, but I still was trying to escape reality and get lost in a different world. I could be whoever I wanted to be when I went into costume and character. If I wanted to be someone who was confident, then I was. It’s how I found my confidence, actually. Until… well, you know.”
