AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Mr. Fixer Upper strikes again, I see?” Jasper leans back in his seat and laughs at me.
“I don’t…That’s not…” I hedge, folding my arms across my chest. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Harry’s eyes go rolling. “Whatever, man.”
“You’re a shit liar.” Jasper snorts.
“So what exactly is going on with you and Karli anyway?” Davis asks suspiciously. “Last we left off, you agreed that you’d keep your distance.”
Harry laughs gleefully. “Did you see the girl? She’s exactly Mason’s type. The tattoos. The sassy vibe. Poor guy never stood a chance.”
Cash tilts his head. “True. And I could see the attraction between them. It was stinking up the whole room.”
“Yeah, she’s crazy beautiful…” I sigh, sounding way dreamier than intended.
“But…crazy like you like ‘em?” Harry dares to ask. “I thought you said you weren’t looking to rebound with another broken girl.”
“You guys don’t know Karli!” I spit out protectively, quick to defend her honor. When heads turn in our direction, I’m reminded to lower my voice. “She’s nothing like my ex. Karli is taking responsibility for her shit, she has self-awareness, and she isn’t trying to put the blame on someone else. She’s different from Zara. So fucking different. She just needs a little…help.”
“But what aboutafteryou ‘help’ her?” Davis asks. “Are you going to get bored?”
I frown, staring out over the bar, eyes unfocused. Then I shake my head.
“I know how it probably looks, but Karli is more than just a project to me. She’s more than a broken woman to fix. I…” The words coming out of my own mouth startle me. “Fuck. I love her.”
The guys blink, exchanging subtle looks with each other.
But I said what I said.
And—holy fucking shit—I…I think I mean it.
35
KARLI
When I get to Layla’s house, Daphne answers the door with the baby on her hip.
My suspicion meter dings. What the fuck did Razor do now?
“Hey, what’s going on?” I ask, toeing off my shoes on the front mat.
Daphne’s eyes go wide and she leans in to spill the tea. But just then Layla ambles into the living room with her hair wrapped inside a wet towel.
“Hey, Karls,” she says brightly, giving me a quick hug.
“Where’s Razor?” I glance around.
In the background, Daphne’s lips thin into a flat line, but she says nothing.
Layla twists her lips to the side and her eyes dart away from mine. She tries to sound nonchalant. “Bowling league, I think he said.”
“Bowling league?” I question. “Since when is Razor in a bowling league?”
She shrugs. “Who the hell knows? Anyway, Daphne showed up, and I got my shower for the week, so bring on the girl time.” My bestie collapses on the couch, folding her legs under her.
This is bullshit. Why is Layla accepting this mess? How many times is Razor just going to abandon her, leaving all the responsibilities on her shoulders? Doesn’t she know she deserves better? What’s it going to take to wake her up?
I know Layla senses my dismay. I’m sure it’s written all over my face. She shifts her eyes from me, quick to change the subject. “Daphne’s hiding from Porn-Stache Guy today. Is that what we’re calling him?”
