When an empty cab pulls up, I send a photo of the license plates and record the number of the taxi, sending that to Alex as well. My phone starts to ring again, Alex’s name blazing across the screen, I continue to ignore it. He’s only going to try and convince me that what I’m doing is stupid. And he may be right, but at this very second I feel that it’s the best for all of us. At least now there’s a trail of information to go on if something does happen to me between here and their place.
As I turn around and look back at the hospital before I climb into the cab, my eyes catch on the balcony I’d stood on earlier. Declan is there, watching me as I climb into the cab. I can’t make out his expression from here, but he’s certainly not doing anything to stop me, so that’s as good as him agreeing, right? I almost lift my hand up to wave goodbye, but I stop myself at the last minute. No point in inviting trouble… any more than I already have.
I climb into the cab and give the driver Alex and Shane’s address. I know they’re not home because they flew to Louisiana with Jace, but they told me I was welcome to borrow one of their cars if I needed it. I’m going to use it to get back out to the Summers’ estate and pack up my things, then I’ll return it on the way to the airport. That way, I’ll be in control of my own movements for a while. If I have to keep using cabs or Ubers, I’m going to try and be smart about it, but I definitely feel more comfortable being the one behind the wheel. Not knowing who my stalker is has raised too many questions about how close this person might be to me at any given time. The more I can be on my own and in control, the better.
With that decision made, I run through what else needs to be taken care of. I need to ask Josh to look after DS and Jenny until I can get a flight home for them. They may have to wait until Max is finished with the movie, but at least I know they’ll be looked after while they’re there. I want to also stick my head in on Princess and check on her for Declan. I'm sure he never thought he’d be away from her this long. It’s the least I can do while I’m there, and I'll send him a text.
The hospital falls away behind me as traffic rushes by, and I pull out my phone to make a very difficult phone call.
* * *
Holden
As the words rasp out of my sore throat, my family swarms me, Nana and Jacinta's tears of relief drawing an arrow through my heart. All of them carefully give me hugs, Oliver’s with a touch of desperation, and the feeling of his arms around me again, both familiar and also kind of strange, makes a thought hit me with startling clarity. Somehow, even though we haven’t been intimate with each other in so long, there’s still something about him that just feels like home.I’ve been such a fucking idiot. What have I been doing all these years?
“What happened? How did I get here?” I try to sit up, but shooting pain in my head and shoulder have me stopping instantly. Moving my head slowly, I look down and find my shoulder bandaged and my arm immobilized against my chest.What the fuck?
“What do you remember?” Dad asks gently, and I think carefully about the answer. My head is pounding, but I manage to remember we were all out riding. We had gotten to the water jump on the cross country course, and I remember it being my turn, but after that, nothing. Dad nods when I share that, so I’m guessing whatever happened to my head is probably responsible.
In a combined effort, my family tells me everything that happened after that.Holy crap, I was shot.My heart races as I realize how easily it could have been Harlow or Dad as they were both behind me.
Before I can press them about it further, the doctor comes in, moving them out of his way so he can do his checks. I’m trying to pay attention to his questions, I really am, but my eyes are looking for the one person who I haven't seen yet. Before I can mention it, Hope comes bustling into the room, tears streaming down her face, and I’m distracted. The sight of her is almost as meaningful as being in Oli’s arms. I love my siblings, my dad, and my grandparents, but those two have a different yet still special place in my heart.
Finally, a few minutes later, Hope is settled and the doctor is done. While the hospital wants me to stay a bit for observation, the general consensus is that I’ll be fine, thank god. The tension in the room drops, and it’s like a huge sigh of relief escapes my family all at the same time. Once he leaves, I finally get a chance to ask the question.
“Where’s Harlow?” Everyone looks around the room in surprise, like they hadn't even realized she was gone.
“Oh, she was going for coffee when I saw her outside the room,” Hope reassures me, not letting go of my hand, but my eyes are locked on Declan when he slips out of the room.
Nana paces and looks at Poppy and Dad. “On her own? She shouldn't be alone now! We don't know who could be waiting.” Poppy wraps his arms around his wife while Dad pats her hand.
“Don't worry, Delcan’s gone after her,” he reassures her. He must have seen him slip out as well.
Jacinta snorts. “Yeah, bullshit, I bet she’s gone. It’s what I would do to keep you all safe.” But I can tell by the way she bites her lip that she’s as worried as everyone else. Nana’s face pales even more and everyone scowls at Jacinta, but she shrugs unapologetically. “What? I’m coming to the realization that Harlow and I are more alike than I thought.”
At this admission, everyone’s eyebrows rise in shock, but then a pleased smile crosses Dad’s face and he pulls Jacinta into a hug. “I'm so proud of you. Thank you.” The look that crosses Jacinta’s face is nothing short of awe-struck relief. I know the recent distance between her and Dad has been hard for her; she was always his little princess, and even though she fiercely loves all of her brothers, her connection with Dad is borderline sacred to her. Between him needing space from her to keep his cool and her godsend of a therapist, it looks like my sister is finally making some progress.Thank god for all our sakes.
Declan slips back into the room in the midst of that warm moment, raising an eyebrow as he looks at all of us. “She’s gone. I watched her hop into a cab and leave. I don't know for sure, but it’s a good guess she’s headed to Shane and Alex’s to get a lift home. God knows she probably considers that place more comforting than our home.”
“But they're not there.” Nana frowns again. “They’ve escorted one of our new designers back home to help him pack up his things.”
“Then I’m sure the estate is the next likely destination. I’ll head over to the Neighpalm building and take the helicopter home. If she’s not there, we’ll worry about it then,” Declan reassures Nana, and she seems to wilt, looking exhausted all at once. “Dad, why don't you and Poppy take Nana back to the hotel for the night? Holden is fine, and there’s no point in you all hanging around.” After a few minutes of back and forth, all parties have agreed, with Jacinta and Hope having been talked into a late supper with the three of them. The ladies are all looking a bit worn out, whereas my brothers and I are usually better at keeping up a poker face when we need to, Oliver being the definite exception in this case.
Blowing everyone’s minds for the second time today, Jacinta refuses to leave the room until Declan promises to update her the moment he lays eyes on Harlow. That, even more than her earlier comment, reassures me that maybe we’re finally going to see some progress there. Once Jacinta decides someone is worthy of her care, she loves hard, and we’re just seeing the tip of the iceberg. When Jacinta’s truly ready to let Harlow in, Harlow’s going to need to prepare herself for a whole lot of sisterly affection in her life.Whether she wants it or not.
Once she’s got her assurances, they all give me a kiss goodbye and head out the door, leaving behind just my brothers. Despite promising Nana that they wouldn’t be far behind them, I know we’re about to have one of our family meetings, regrettably lacking our usual joint and liquor.
I struggle to sit up in bed, and Oliver jumps up to give me a hand, his fingers lingering on my body after he gets me into a sitting position and his eyes telling me so many things. But I have something to say, and everyone needs to hear it, though I don't let go of Oliver's hand. I know the two of us need to have another conversation, but that can wait until we’re on our own. While I’m finally feeling ready to talk to him about our complicated relationship, I’m not ready to have an audience for that talk.
“That conversation we had last night? The one about what Nana had to say... I’m all in. Life is too fucking short to worry about what anyone thinks, and Harlow is pretty much perfect for us, even with the attached stalker. I know that each and every one of you has had your own things with her, and I can see how attracted you are to her.” I meet each of their eyes, and none of them deny it, though I can see both Thomas and Declan are still struggling with it a bit.
“Never before have the six of us been interested in the same woman, so surely that means something. The thought that all of that could have been taken away because of some psycho... That I might not have been able to experience love and be loved like Nana and Poppy have is one hell of a kick in the ass. I’m done denying myself things, and the minute I’m out of this bed, I am going to woo the shit out of Harlow.” Oliver squeezes my hand in agreement. He’s unusually quiet, but I know it’s because he has things he wants to say to me.
“But what about Jacinta?” Jaxon sounds worried, but I don't think he needs to be.
“From what she’s said in the last hour alone, she seems to be coming around to Harlow as well,” Kai points out, looking smug as fuck. “We all know that’s huge. If she’s actually sharing those things with us in conversation, then it’s got to have hit her hard on the inside. She wouldn’t blurt out things like that by accident.” The tiniest dart of jealousy strikes at me then, knowing that Kai’s probably in the best situation with her out of all of us. He’s been on team “give Harlow a chance” from the beginning, and he has a major head start since he’s been the least of an asshole.
“Anyway, I just wanted to put that out there. I hope you’ll all come around to the idea because I don’t think it would work if we’re not all in. We need to do this together, so think about it, okay?”
