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Cassia heads inside with Finn after casting me a worried, warning glance. I linger on the porch and Harrison stays out here too.
Finn doesn’t seem to notice how Harrison remains outside with me, happy to show Cassia around, which makes me think Harrison hasn’t mentioned to him why this might turn physical.
Whatever. Harrison’s news to share.
This is the first time I’ve seen Baker since finding out he slept with my sister. Remnants of adrenaline buzz in my veins. Maybe I should have punched Nelson the second he stepped toward me. It would have been a hell of a lot more effective than talking him out of starting shit, and it might be easier to keep from using my fists now.
Harrison exhales, facing me as soon as the door shuts. “Go for it, Adams. I know you’ve been dying to deck me for years.”
I don’t move. Don’t correct him, because he’s right.
But I’m not going to punch him, no matter how satisfying it would be to. It won’t change anything that happened. Won’t help Sydney. “My fuckingsister, Baker?”
Harrison flinches. “I know.”
“No, you don’t. She was supposed to go to London this semester. Did she tell you that? She was supposed to have this whole life, which youfucked upwhen youfucked her.”
“I made a mistake. You’ve made mistakes before.”
“This isn’t aboutmymistakes, which you’ve always been happy to point out. This is aboutyourmistake.”
“I’m taking responsibility, Adams. Whatever Sydney wants, I’m willing to do.”
“What shewantsis not having to deal with this.”
“If she decided to end the pregnancy, I would have supported that decision.”
I snort. “Yeah, I’m sure you would have. Easy for you to say, when you don’t have to make the choiceorlive with the consequences.”
Harrison exhales. “What do you want me to say, Holden? Do I wish it had never happened? Yeah. But it did, and I’m trying to make the best of it. My life is going to change too. Not as much as Sydney’s, I get that. Nothing I can do about that either. All I can do is be there for her, and that’s exactly what I’ve been doing. She hasn’t exactly been open to a lot of support.”
I picture Sydney in the bagel shop, defiant about not telling her friends about the pregnancy. On this, I believe Harrison. I’m sure she’s embarrassed. Scared. Before they hooked up, I’m not sure if they’d ever exchanged a single word. Not the most solid of foundations.
“Keep trying.”
“I will,” he tells me. “I get she’s your sister. But that’s my kid. I take it seriously.”
I sigh, suddenly exhausted. “I know. I’m a little on edge.” It’s the closest to an apology I’ll come. “We just ran into Jimmy Nelson.”
Harrison’s eyebrows rise. He’s heard the same stories I have. “Where?”
“In town. We stopped for dinner. Then Cassia wanted to climb the water tower.”
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah. I handled it.”
“Good.”
I punch his shoulder. “Come on. I could use a drink.”
The party is in full swing when I step inside into the living room. I spot Cassia standing by the couch, talking with Finn and Brooks.
I catch her eye and point toward the kitchen, indicating I’m going to grab a drink. She already has a cup in hand.
Cassia nods.
Harrison follows me into the cavernous kitchen. It’s fancy, all shiny appliances and marble countertops. I’ve never gotten involved with any of the Greek life at Richmond, but the college definitely doesn’t take any of it as seriously as Finn’s frat does. It’s one of the nicest houses I’ve ever been inside.
