“The first time Hawk warned me off was at the barbecue.I thought he was half-joking, but when I was looking for you on Hunter’s death day, he was extra hostile.I didn’t pay it much attention because of what day it was.He told me to leave you alone.Made some comment about Noelle which I can’t honestly remember because I was hell-bent on getting to you and didn’t care about anything else.”
“A week or so later, he warned me not to hurt you.Then, after seeing fucking Natalia throw herself at me at the fundraiser, he warned me off entirely.Obviously, I didn’t listen.I was clear with him about my intentions every time.Even asked Max to vouch for me.For whatever reason, he couldn’t let it go until I told you I had a passing interest in Noelle.”
I angled my head toward him slightly.“But you didn’t,” I said softly.
He answered just as softly, “Can you blame me?”
I turned and looked at him with narrowed eyes, my arms held out beside me.“Was it worth it?To keep that from me just so I wouldn’t get mad?”
His eyebrows rose and his head jutted forward.“Mad?You think I was worried about you getting mad?Be as mad as you want.Yell, scream, throw something.I don’t care.I was worried you would think you were second best.And I was right.”He sighed and ran his hands through his messy hair.“I hoped that by the time you found out you’d feel clear through to the center of your perfect soul what you mean to me.And that it wouldn’t matter.”
“It matters,” I retorted.
He crossed his arms and stood firm.“Only if you let it, Harley.Believe the lies you tell yourself or be happy in the truth.I can’t make you choose.”
I wrapped my arms around myself tightly.
What to believe?
“Let’s go to bed.”
My eyes snapped angrily to meet his.
“Don’t worry, Harley,” he responded drily.“I know that’s off the table.”He closed his eyes, his face pained.“Let’s just, please, sleep.I need to hold you.I can’t get the look on your face in the kitchen out of my head.”
In bed, my back so tightly packed against his chest I couldn’t tell where he ended and I began, I blinked into the darkness.
“Daire?”
“Yes, little one?”
“Does your mom know about Noelle?”
“No.”
“When did you first tell her about me?”
He answered with a smile in his voice.“When you called me a sanctimonious arse.”He paused.“I was furious at the Christmas party because of the way Paul treated you.And when I saw you at Max’s, it was all I could think about.”
“But you were interested in Noelle at that point.”
“I was.”I felt him nod.“And I was still furious.Funny, I wasn’t angry with Noelle and Hawkley’s situation.But Paul?I wanted to pound him into the ground.”
I wiggled closer.
He chuckled.“You like that.Might as well hand in your feminist card right now.”
“Two things can be true at the same time,” I answered smugly.
His voice lowered with a promise.“I’ll always fight for you, Harley.I’ll always fight for us.”
“I was so afraid something like this would happen.It didn’t seem possible that I might be your first choice.When I reached the point of no return, I told you I wasn’t the girl for you.”
“Can’t leave you alone when you’re the point to everything.”
“Smooth.Very smooth,” I teased lightly, beginning to feel better about my place with him.
“It’s true.”
