Great, now it’s three on one. I glance at Sydney. “Where do you sit in all of this, Syd?”
“Oh, no.” She holds her hands up. “Don’t bring me into it. I’m Switzerland.”
“But aren’t you on the side of love?” I ask. “Because that’s what I want with her. This isn’t about a body in my bed. I could get that anywhere. She’s different.”
Her eyes soften, as I knew they would because she’s still hopped up on love juice from her new relationship. “Once you show that with your actions rather than your words, I’ll support your crusade for love, but at the moment, you’re still the same guy who, only a few weeks ago, said that a relationship wasn’t in the cards for him yet.”
“Because I hadn’t mether,” I huff, frustrated that none of them seem to see my point. “I get where you’re coming from, and I’ll prove my sincerity to you and Seth. He won’t stand in the way of love if he knows our feelings are genuine.”
Gabe gives me a weird look, and I reflect on my words and realize I just said more about my feelings than I have in a long time. Maybe ever.
“Bro, you’re toast,” Jase mutters, and for once, I have to agree with him. Especially when I glance in the direction of the bathrooms and spot Harley talking to Karson fucking Hayes, AKA Jase’s nemesis, and Lena’s ex, in addition to being the biggest asshole on the Vegas MMA scene.
He says something to her, and she shakes her head, but he lays a hand on her arm anyway. She snatches the limb from him and starts to sidestep, but he blocks her path. Dark fury consumes me as I zero in on her expression. She wants nothing to do with him, but he won’t leave her be. In two seconds flat, I’m on my feet and striding across the room toward them, with Jase and Gabe at my back. However annoyed they may be at me, neither of them want Karson Hayes anywhere near a woman, kickass battle princess or not. In this, they’ve got my six.
Arriving at Harley’s side, I slide an arm around her waist and settle my hand on her hip. Karson’s cold blue stare flicks down to my hand, then returns to my face.
“Hi, asshole,” I say.
He jerks his chin. “This your girl? You should keep a tighter leash on her. She’s a flirt.”
Taking a deep breath, I suppress the flames of anger burning in my gut. We all know he’s lying. A flirt is the last thing Harley is, and arguing the point isn’t going to get us anywhere. To my surprise, she hasn’t shaken me off yet, although she’s not exactly leaning into me either. She just stands there, shoulders tense, glare strong enough to vaporize any man with a conscience. Of course, a conscience is just one of many things Karson lacks.
“She’s not my girl,” I reply. “She’s her own person. You might have a hard time understanding that seeing as your head is stuck so far up your ass, but if you pull it out for a bit, you’d find that she could pulverize you without any help from me.”
Harley stiffens, and it occurs to me she might be mad I’ve intervened. Too late to take it back now though.
Karson snorts, and his gaze drifts sideways, as though he’s just noticed that we outnumber him and he has no backup. “Yeah, right.”
“You wanna try me and find out?” she asks, raising her fists.
His lip curls and he looks like he’s about to say something derogatory. For the sake of not making a scene, I cut him off. “It’ll be less embarrassing for all of us if you just leave her alone.”
“If you think…” he begins, but trails off when a blonde appears behind him and grabs his arm. She has wide blue eyes, full pink lips, and the kind of thick curves a lot of guys find sexy. Not Karson though. Who is this girl?
“Let it go, K,” she says, tugging at his arm, a hint of fear in her expression.
He gives Harley a nasty scowl, then follows the girl away.
“Is that his girlfriend?” Harley asks. “Because someone should tell her what a creep she’s dating.”
“That’s Camile,” Jase replies. “His twin sister.”
Gabe and I both turn to stare at him.
“Twin?” I echo in disbelief. “Why is this the first I’m hearing of it?”
He shrugs. “She keeps out of the limelight. I think she’s shy. I only know about her because of Lena. Karson isn’t one to share attention.”
“You got that right.”
Gabe and Jase start back in the direction of their seats, but I pause. “You okay, Harls?”
“I’m fine.”
“Good.” I turn away, not wanting to crowd her, and follow my brothers, hoping she’ll be close behind. But when I sink into my seat and finally look over my shoulder, she hasn’t moved. My heart sinks. Did I just lose my chance with her?
Harley
