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Fuck. She was here.
Noah had told me she was sick, so I was hoping to avoid running into her. Apparently, she’d been ‘glutened.’
Whatever the fuck that meant.
Shouldering the door, I climbed out, prepared to face my fate. At least I didn’t have to go in there. They would sign Scottie over to me at the door, so I didn’t even have to see her.
Almost three days had passed since I’d woken up alone in bed. Three days for me to get over myself. To get over her.
But it wasn’t working.
Jenni had texted me last night, and I’d made up some bullshit excuse. I didn’t owe her anything; what we had going wasn’t like that. But I didn’t want to spend the night with her. I wanted—
No.
Fuck that.
My dick might have wanted to go a second round with Harper, but I didn’t want her.
I didn’t want—or need—anyone.
Shoving all thoughts of her out of my head, I entered the center and made my way down the hall to join the line of parents waiting to get their kids. I couldn’t see Scottie, but it looked like they were doing some kind of group activity. Harper sat on a chair outside the circle, her arm wrapped around her stomach. She didn’t look so good; her skin was pallid, her expression weary.
Was she still sick?
The thought didn’t sit well with me. But it was none of my business.
The group leader stood and clapped her hands, beaming at the kids who stared back at her with a mix of expressions ranging from bored to confused to utterly entranced.
The room became a hive of activity as the kids all grabbed their coats and backpacks and lined up behind the desk at the door. Scottie didn’t head for the line, though. He made a beeline for Harper. She got up, but I didn’t miss the sharp intake of breath as she moved sluggishly beside him.
Kids and their parents bustled in the hall as I moved up the line, keeping one eye on her and my brother. I could just make out the words, ‘I’ll be fine’ form on her lips, but Scottie looked less than convinced, his brows drawn tight in contemplation.
Of all the people to form an attachment with, it had to be her.
The one girl under my skin.
A girl who had no right to be there.
We were like chalk and cheese.
Oil and water.
Fire and ice.
My mouth twitched at that last one. She’d fucking branded herself onto my soul the other night. There was no other explanation. And I needed to figure out a way to erase her mark, and soon.
“Scottie,” the volunteer at the desk called. “Your brother is here.”
He glanced over but quickly turned back to Harper. She frowned at whatever he was saying and shook her head.
Jesus. What now?
He fisted his hands at his sides before swinging around and marching over to me. Little brother was agitated, and I knew I needed to get him out of there before things went to shit.
“Hey, bud,” I kept my voice light. Easy breezy. “How was group?”
“Okay.” He refused to look at me.
