"I was gonna put some steaks on. Dinner, then I’ll pin you against the floor? Sound good?"
I press my forehead against the door. Sounds perfect.
"Ace."
"What's the matter, darlin'? Are you okay?" The worry in his voice is clear.
I inhale slowly. "I'm going to have to rain-check tonight. Something came up with work. I can't. Tomorrow night, though?"
He sighs. "It's alright, baby. I get it. I can come to yours."
"No," I snap.
A pause.
"Harper. Tell me what's going on."
"Hudson turned up at my house, Ace."
His sharp intake of breath cuts through the phone.
"He's stayin' with you? At your parents' house?"
"No. But we're going out. My dad invited him to the bar before I could stop it. He texted me yesterday, but I didn’t reply, and here he fucking is."
He laughs. Not the warm kind. "Goldie, did you call me to tell me you're blowing me off to go for drinks with your fake fiancé?"
I rest my hand over my chest. It hurts. Everything about this hurts.
"I'm not handling this well, am I?" I whisper.
"You told me the truth. I appreciate that, Harper. More than you know." His voice softens. "And I know you're coming back to me, alright? It's fine."
"I have to keep this case, Ace. He threatened to take it back and my link to Gianna. I think he knows more about your family than he’s letting on, too."
"He fucking threatened you?” he spits, not disguising the fury.
I take a breath. “Not threatened like that. It’s okay, Ace. I’m okay.”
“This ain’t okay, Goldie. No one makes you feel like that. You hear me?”
Tears sting in my eyes. “I know, Acey. I love you. You know that, right?”
He half laughs. “Not as much as I love you.”
"I'll see you tomorrow?" I ask, praying he says yes. That we can go back to what we started before I had to fly home for the weekend.
"I mean… I guess I could clear my schedule for the love of my life, yeah."
I giggle, a blush spreading up my neck.
"I'll send you a picture of my ass if you want? Keep you going?"
He chuckles. "Ass and tits, baby. I deserve it for this one."
"Deal, Acey. Deal."
"Call me when you're home? Or better yet, sneak into my bed." He says.
