“I am doing just fine on my own. You are the only hooked fish at the table. The rest of us are all still freeagents.”
“But you’re not a player. You’re not keeping track of the notches on your headboard,areyou?”
“Nope.” He frowns into the crowd. “I’ve been tarred, and feathered, and burned alive. I’ve more than learned my lesson when it comes to girls. Hold on loosely and all that other good crap. I’m glad things worked out great for you and Harper, though. Where is she? She cut you loosealready?”
Rush and Seth laugh as if it werefunny.
“Yup, that’s right. She’s lost her mind again anddumpedme.”
“Is that what you say when I’m not around?” That voice. I know it well. I’ve heard it in and out of my sleep, and I should. She’s been keeping my bed warm atnight.
I turn around and wince up at the most beautiful girl in the room—in the universe—before leaping out of my seat and doing my best to make things better withakiss.
She bubbles with a laugh. “Let me get Ava and Lucky. They’re finishing up a game of pool in the back.” She zips off and I fall intomyseat.
“Dude”—Eli shakes his head my way—“how did you get so lucky? That chick isunnaturallyhot.”
“It’s true,” Seth grunts as if he too ismystified.
“Look the other way, boys, because she istaken.”
Rush presses out a mournful laugh. “You haven’t stepped into your first class, and you already dominate the field and the girls. Good work, my man.” He socks me in the arm and makes it hurt justenough.
“All right”—Lawson smacks Rush as he and Lucky circle his side of the table—“nobody beats up my bro but me.” It feels nice hearing it from Lawson. Our families may have been slow to mesh together, but we’re strong as steel now, a bond unbreakable no matter who decides to stay married. Lawson is great. I couldn’t care about him any more if he wasblood.
Ava and Grant take the seats next to me, and Harper falls onto my lap right where I want her, right where shebelongs.
“I am the lucky one around here.” I press a kiss to her cheek and linger. Every last square inch of this woman is soperfectlysoft.
“I’m Lucky.” Lucky smirks over at the two of us. “But for the sake of semantics, I’ll admit you’re prettyluckytoo.”
The waitress comes by with a round of drinks, and it’s Laney Capwell. “It’s on the house”—she gives a quick wink to Harper and me—“as a thank you for helping me find my dream home.” She leans in. “I just knew you two would work things out! And thanks to you, Baya and Bryson are already in escrow with the house down the street. Any time you want, all-you-can-eat fries areonme.”
“I think I love you!” Harper says as she bubbles with laughter. “And I love him for sure.” She gives my ear a quick nip as Laneytakesoff.
Lawson leans in and lifts his glass, and we do the same. “To another semester. May it be better thanthelast.”
“Hear,hear!” I touch my glass to Harper’s. “Italreadyis.”
I look out at my sea of friends, at this sea of love, and I know we’re all damn lucky to have one another. And with Harper in my life, I’ll be feeling the love from hereonout.
* * *
The night wanes,and Harper convinces me it’s time to split by way of those heated kisses she’s dripping down my neck. Just as we hit the door, a familiar brunette with a face I see in the mirrorstompsin.
“Trix.” I pull her in and offer a spontaneous hug. “I’ve missed you.” There. That’s the truth. Our little experiment of spending more time apart has failed miserably and left me miserable in turn as well. “I still need your nagging, annoying, lovable as hell presence in my life, and I can finallyadmitit.”
Trixie and Harper share a laugh and it warms my heart, and just as quickly breaks it because Trix hasn’t quite warmed up toheryet.
“I’m sorry.” Trixie shrugs as she looks to Harper. “I was mean and nasty, but I love my brother. He’s the other half of me.” She bites down on her lip the way she does when she’s about to cry, and I panic for a moment. As history has proven, whenever one of us cries, the other is not far off. It’s biology, genetics, or lousy timing—take your pick. “I guess it kills me that he sort of looks at youthatway.”
Crap. She’s got me. It’s true. “Hey—in no way are you being replaced. I love you. And just because I have room in my heart for one more person doesn’tchangethat.”
“Wow,” she marvels, blinking back tears. “Who died and made you the kingofmush?”
“So, we’re good?” Harper gives Trixie’s sleeve a quick tug. Her eyes are glittering withtearstoo.
“Yes.” Trixie makes a face. “You know, I never really liked Janelle. I don’t know why, but we never clicked. Maybe you and I can hang out sometime—without the giant toad following us around. I’m in Cutler Tower, so maybe you could meet me at Hallowed Grounds once in a while? I’ll tell you all those deep, dark secrets Knox is too ashamed toletout.”
