“I don’t give a rat’s ass about the picture and even less about that entitled bitches fricking purse.
When I found out about the thefts, I wanted to skin you alive for putting yourself at risk. The thought of you getting caught and ending up in Juvie just made me lose my shit. I was angry, and I did what I always do: shot my mouth off. It was wrong of me.”
I knew Phoenix had spent some time in the detention center after he’d been removed from the Jacksons.
“But what about Micah? If it wasn’t for me, he could have played football professionally.”
He gave me a lopsided smile and pushed a clump of dark hair from my face. “That’s doubtful; the guy can’t throw for shit.
Look, I know what I said, but I didn’t mean it. It was just hot air. What happened to Micah wasn’t your fault.”
I shrugged and drew back, tightening the belt on my robe. “Even so, I’m a criminal.”
“You’re not a criminal, Harper; you have a condition. One that is curable with the right level of support,” Nix explained, following me further into the room.
Sitting down on the bed, I looked up at him.
“I just wish I had told youbeforeyou found the picture. You must think I’m a complete freak,” I huffed, fidgeting with my nails.
Nix squatted in front of me and rested his hands on my knees. “You’re not a freak.”
Dropping my hands to my lap, I glanced at him. “I really am sorry. And for all the trouble I caused today.”
Nix shoved to his feet, annoyed again. “Stop saying sorry, damn it. If anyone should be asking for forgiveness, it should be me.” He paced away and then spun back. “I had no right to speak to you the way I did. I should have been more understanding instead of yelling at you like a complete ignorant dickhead.”
I pushed to my feet and placed my hands on his chest. “You were in shock.”
He took both my hands in his. “Yes, I was, but that’s no excuse. I turned my back on you when you were at your lowest,again. And now, I promise you, I will support you with your condition. We can speak to Ma and arrange to get you some professional help together.
When I found out you didn’t come home last night, I was terrified. The thought of losing you again, fuck Harper, I felt like I was dying inside.”
My heart squeezed in my chest. “You did?”
Nix wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me flush against his body, rocking me back and forth. His next words made my heart swell in my chest. “Yes, Harper. I can’t lose you.Ever.I love you.”
And once again, the world stopped spinning.
Drawing back, I peeked up at him, uncertain that I had heard him correctly. “You love me?”
“Fuck yeah. I think I always have.”
“But what about the other girls. Courtney?”
“They meantnothingto me. And I know that doesn’t make me sound like the nicest guy, but they were only a distraction.
And to set the record straight. I really did know it was you. That night in my room. I never thought you were Courtney.”
His confession was like the sweetest of sounds.
“I made you think that to put you off the scent. I had deep feelings for you, but I wasn’t ready to deal with all those emotions you stirred up in me. I still had shit to deal with after Ma gave me my file, then things just escalated. My dickish behavior was to keep you at arm's length, but I started to feel lost without you. And every time I hurt you, it hurt me too.”
“Well, whilst we’re sharing. I used Cash to make you jealous.”
He grinned and planted a kiss on my nose. “I know that, and it worked. I think that was the point where I realized if I didn’t do anything about us, someone else would beat me to it. Hudson warned me that it would happen, too.
I remember when I saw you with the Creed boy. You looked so happy, and I hated him for being the one to put a smile on your face. Something I had failed to do for years. Well, ever since I got kicked out of the Jacksons’ house.”
Phoenix paused and then drew his nose across my cheek and placed the softest of kisses on my lips. “I’m sorry for not being there, Harper. And to think I promised you that one day we would rise from the ashes together. I didn’t think it would look anything like today.”
