Page 86 of Tanner

He runs a hand through his hair and then down the side of his face. “Enough already. I get it; you’re mad. I shouldn’t have messed around with Nicole.”

“You’re damn right you shouldn’t have.” She raises her arm and steps forward.

“I’ve waited long enough. When you left, I let you do whatever it was you needed to do. You were mad. So, I let you be mad. Then, you made out with this guy to get me jealous. It worked. You’ve got my attention.”

“I told you weeks ago, I never wanted to see you again.” Her words aren’t finished before he pushes off the wall and takes a step toward her.

“You’ve made your point. I fucked up, but I’m done waiting. You need to come home now.”

“No, Aaron.”

His eyes narrow. “Ditch this loser and come home.”

“I’m not yours anymore.”

He looks like he was just told his puppy died. I almost feel sorry for the guy. If I didn’t know the true story, I’d say he was a complete wreck over losing Harper. I get it. I’d be a mess, too, if she left me, but there’s one huge difference. This douchebag deserves everything he has coming.

“He’s a fucking baby!” he sneers.

My jaw twitches. I glance in her direction to make sure she’s okay. Her slight nod tells me she’s fine, so I hold her tighter, trying to give her the strength she needs. Or to hold myself back. Harper can handle herself to an extent. If that fucker comes too close, I’ll lay him out.

“This man is none of your business,” she spits back. “You need to leave before I call the cops.”

“You think this punk isn’t going to fuck someone else, too? It’s what guys do.” He tries to act nonchalant, and it pisses me off.

I step in front of Harper and glare down at him. “No, Aaron, that’s not what men do. Especially when they’re in love.”

“Ha!” He laughs out loud. “Are you seriously telling me you’re in love with her? You don’t even know her.”

“I know she wakes up every morning and stretches three times, once with her arms in the air and then on each side. She loves pinot noir, and her least favorite Friends episode is the one ‘where Rachel and Joey kiss because it’s too forced, and Rachel was always meant for Ross.’ Her words, not mine. I know she teaches fifth grade because her fifth grade teacher is the one who inspired her to be a teacher. The students in her inner-city public school mean as much to her as if they were her own children. I know she loves with her whole heart—so deeply that she let an asshole sleep around behind her back and didn’t question him because, in her world, your word is your bond. I also know the difference between you and me.”

Aaron gets right up in my face. “Besides the amount of money we make?”

I laugh. “I know how to love a woman for who she is and not who I want her to be.”

My words go way over his head.

“How much do they pay at American Eagle these days? Isn’t that where all the kids work? With her teaching salary, you guys will live on April’s couch forever.”

Unfortunately, there’s only one way to April’s door, and that’s right past him. I take Harper’s hand and pull her toward the apartment. This scum isn’t worth our time.

“She wanted me,” he calls out. “Don’t forget that. Just because I didn’t think she was a good enough fuck to satisfy me doesn’t mean I don’t love her.”

Oh, fuck no.

I reach my hand back and swing as hard as I can, smacking him directly across his nose. He instantly covers his face, yelping in pain, before coming at me with rage written all over his face. I swing with my other hand before planting a left hook directly to his stomach. He falls back against the wall.

I glance over to Harper, whose mouth is open wide, and her face is white as a ghost.

I look back at the sorry sack of shit. “Stay away from my girl. And get the fuck out of her apartment building. Believe it or not, they pay really fucking well at American Eagle, and I have attorneys that will eat you alive if you come within ten feet of her. You hear me?”

Aaron wipes his nose with the back of his hand and smears the blood on his shirt. “She’s not worth it.”

I raise my fist again at his comment, causing him to jerk away and scurry down the hall.

April’s door opens, and she stands there with a shocked expression. “I was watching through the peephole. He came here earlier, and I told him about Tanner to piss him off. He left for a while but came back about a half hour ago. I texted you to let you know he was here.”

Harper looks down at her phone. She probably didn’t have service while we were on the train.