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"No," I said, stopping him. "You stay. This is your party. I'm leaving."
He huffed out a laugh. "That's not happening." Sliding his hand into mine, he pulled me toward the door. "You want to leave? Then we are leaving together." He didn't give me a chance to argue. I didn't want to ruin his day, but I couldn't stay there anymore. I couldn't stay and listen to the parents doting on their children.
Part of me was glad he was leaving with me, but a major part of me wished I could have a minute to process all everything that happened today without Christian questioning me. I knew he meant well and only wanted to protect me, but I needed a little space.
Chapter 45
Christian
The sun was close to setting as I stared out the kitchen window, watching Harper, who was lost in her thought, swinging on the old wooden swing and staring aimlessly into the distance.
Harper hadn't said a single word the entire ride home. She was visibly upset, and I knew the moment I saw Link's mom walk out of the bathroom shortly after Harper that it had everything to do with her father. It took every part of my being not to go all psycho boyfriend and tear into Link's mom, but that wouldn't help right now.
Harper hadn't moved from that spot on the swing since we'd gotten home. She'd wanted to be alone, and I respected her wishes even though I hated it. She'd come in when she was ready and hopefully explain what the hell happened.
"What's up with Harper?" Aiden pushed through the front door to the pool house. "Maverick said you left in a hurry, and it seemed like Harper was upset."
Aiden was the only one who knew anything about what was going on with Harper's family, and only because we all lived together, and it would be hard to hide it from him.
"I'm not sure what happened, but Link's mom came out of the bathroom behind Harper today," I twisted around to face him. He leaned over the island, balancing himself on his forearms. His black hat turned backward on his head. "I have no idea what happened or why she was so upset, and she doesn't want to talk to me."
"Have you talked to Link yet?" he asked, cocking an eyebrow.
"No." I sighed, shaking my head. "It's not my place."
"Christian." He scowled, pushing up with his hands. "I get it; Harper is one of us now, but you and Link go way back, and if he finds out about this from someone else, he's gonna be pissed." Aiden leaned forward, his gaze locked on mine. "You're risking a long-time friendship over this."
"I don't care." I crossed my arms over my chest. "If she wants time to process all this, that's her decision."
"Link cares about Harper, too," Aiden reminded me. "We all do. He'd put his life in danger to protect her. He's not going to be mad about this."
"It could destroy his family," I gritted out. "You don't know how he'll take that news." I dropped my arms to my side, curling my hands around the edge of the counter I was leaning against. "This is Harper's life. It's not my place."
He shook his head. "This is wrong." He shrugged. "And Harper is wrong for coming in between you and your family because Link is your family."
My jaw clenched, teeth gritted, and my nostrils flared as my knuckles went white, clenching the counter tighter. If Aiden weren't my brother, I'd split his face open for saying anything about Harper. I didn't know whether I was right or wrong because it didn't matter. Harper had no one. She had no one she could count on but us, and it was her decision if she wanted to tell Link. Whether Aiden believed it or not, Link would understand that. Maybe not to begin with, but eventually.
The front door pushed open, and I relaxed, expecting Harper to step through, but Maverick and Bash did.
"Someone going to tell us what the fuck is going on," Bash asked, throwing the door shut. I shrugged, shaking my head. "What happened today?"
"Nothing," I muttered.
"Why is Harper leaving the Valley by herself?" Maverick asked, throwing his thumb over his shoulder.
My face fell flat as I whipped around, my gaze snapping to the empty swing.
"Where did you see her?" I hissed, raising up my gaze and darting around the yard, looking for her. They had to be wrong. It couldn't have been her, but she's not out there. "Did you talk to her?"
"She was headed out of the Valley," Maverick said, shrugging. A wave of panic washed over me, threatening to swallow me whole. "We stopped, but she kept walking."
"She seemed upset," Bash added.
"This doesn't make sense." I scowled, pushing past them as fear built in my chest, my heart pounding as I searched the property. Everyone followed. "Why would she leave? She knows Noah, and the entire Southside is looking for her."
"Maybe she heard you arguing about her." Bash shrugged. My eyes snapped up, meeting his. My heart squeezed at the thought of her hearing Aiden and knowing exactly how she would take it. "We could hear you outside."
"I'll get the truck," Aiden said, pushing past me. "She couldn't have gotten far. We'll find her."
