18
Harlow
LoveHarley: You guys are never going to believe what happened to me today
TeenDad2: HARLEYYY! Let me guess… someone bounced you out of the bouncer convention?
TeenDad2: Oh no, wait! You’re way too good to be bounced out of anywhere, so I’m changing my guess to you had to bounce someone out. Or maybe there was a bouncing contest, and you won? That’d be cool.
KnotMyProblem: TD, you have to be the most adorably gullible person I’ve ever met. Harley doesn’t work as a bouncer—he obviously works for the mob.
TeenDad2: No one in the mob smiles so much
KnotMyProblem: EXACTLY
KnotMyProblem: It’s all a clever cover story for when he’s incognito. Super sweet Single Dad during the day, hardened criminal by night. I bet his fabled teenage daughter is actually just a mountain of cocaine.
Harlow rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t stop himself from grinning. Knot was a good guy, and by now, Harlow knew better than to take him seriously.
LoveHarley: omg Knot, really?
KnotMyProblem: Just saying that everyone else has showed pictures of their kids. Hell, xV shared photos of Mal’s frickin’ placentas. Where’s yours?
An image of a placenta populated in the chat. Harlow clamped a hand over his mouth to keep his laughter contained.
KnotMyProblem: AHH!
KnotMyProblem: GWYNN YOU SAD, SORRY MAN
KnotMyProblem: WHY DOES IT LOOK LIKE AN ALIEN
TeenDad2: You know, Knot has a sort-of point. You’re so secretive about your life and your family, Harley.
KnotMyProblem: WHY IS NO ONE ELSE BOTHERED BY THIS?
TeenDad2: I’m not pressuring you to talk, but if you ever want to, we’re all here for you. :)
xVerity: I leave the chat for five minutes…
TeenDad2: It’s okay, xV. Harley and I have this handled.
xVerity: Oh, Harley, hey. How is the bouncer convention going?
KnotMyProblem: You guys, it’s NOT a bouncer convention.
TeenDad2: Knot, you’re so shouty tonight. Do you need a time out?
Gwynning: I was summoned by a certain… neonatal keyword. Looks like I came in at a good time. Hey, guys.
xVerity: Hey, Gwynn.
TeenDad2: Harley was going to tell us about what happened to him today. Let’s give him some time to talk.
Harlow looked away from the screen of his phone across the darkened living room. It had been a long day. After figuring out what they were going to do about their teenage charges, he’d parted ways with Simon and his brothers to take care of smaller matters. Evie’s upcoming appearances needed to be canceled, their luggage needed to be collected from the hotel they’d checked into and discreetly brought to the apartment, and future travel plans and accommodations had to be dealt with. Harlow had also called the police in order to make sure no searches were being conducted—that he had the situation under control. Under most circumstances, Harlow would have entrusted those tasks to Evie’s personal assistant, but the delicacy of the situation required his personal touch.
Nothing shut down a persnickety event organizer faster than the steel-voiced father of a missing teen. The fact that the teen in question had, in fact, been found wasn’t addressed. There were some truths the world didn’t need to know.
LoveHarley: I had to go somewhere new for work today, somewhere residential, and no one told me in advance who was going to be there. Imagine my surprise when I figured out that the guy who lives where I was visiting was someone I’ve been working with for years. I’d never had a chance to see his face before today, since we always communicated through call or text. It was the strangest thing.
