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“Am I running an open house today,” I mutter, heading for the door, opening it with force and my tenses when I see Harry standing there.

He looks up at me, and I brace myself for his anger, his hurt, his pain. But instead he steps towards me, wrapping his arms around me. “I’m sorry.” His broken words hit me in the chest.

“You don’t have anything to be sorry about, I—” He cuts me off pulling back, his face looking war torn and broken.

“Yeah, I fucking do. I took my anger and my fear out on you. I was wrong. But I want to thank you. She told me what you did for her. How you took care of her after what happened to Cassidy. I’m glad she had you. I’m glad I have you.” His nostrils flare and he clears his throat.

All I manage is a nod of acknowledgment. We’ve been through so much together, too much to have anything break us, and though I didn’t need his apology, it means everything that he gave me one anyway.

“So, you look like shit. What’s eating your ass?” he teases, fist pumping me in the chest and I let out a sigh of relief. We are back to us.

“Fancy breakfast? I have a house full.”

Chapter Forty Eight

Gabriella

Life has returned to some sort of normality. After Ali’s court case, Brad flew out to LA to sign off on the new club they are opening and stayed out there. It’s been over a month, and as much as I have missed him, it was the space we both desperately needed. It’s given me time to think, to rebuild myself. Brad’s words hit hard. What happened to me wasn’t my fault. I was taken advantage of and while I’m not quite ready to confront my parents about it, that revelation has helped heal a part of me that I didn’t know needed healing, and I have him to thank for that.

I’ve only had to see Patrick twice in the last month. He has his interview next week and after a conversation with my dad, it sounds like he will land his dream role and then we can end this entire mess.

I whirl the blender, and the sound fills the kitchen. I’ve been for my morning run and I feel ready for the day. Tonight, the magazine Ali works for is having a campaign launch party.

Butterflies flutter in my belly when I think of Brad and if he will be there tonight. Harry mentioned he was coming back to the city sometime this week. Not only do I want to see him for my own selfish reasons, I need to talk to him about their accounts.

The guys noticed money has been missing, and I’ve been going through their paperwork and accounts. I need access to some more information before I can piece it all together, and Harry said Brad was also looking into it.

I turn off the blender, twisting the jug out and turn around to pour it out when Ali stands across the island eating the fruit out of the container I’ve used to make my smoothie.

I scream. “Jesus, Ali, you scared me.”

She chuckles. “Sorry, your blender woke us. We really need to get you a quieter one.”

I quirk an eyebrow. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t think you would be able to hear it over all the noise you guys have been making this morning.” My tone is sarcastic.

She grins and pops a strawberry into her mouth. “Oh, you heard that,” she smirks.

“The whole building heard it,” I deadpan.

I continue pouring my smoothie into my glass, stick a straw in and stir.

“Look, I’m so happy for you both, really I am, but could you maybe stay at his tonight or a hotel? I’ll pay.”

“Sure.” Her tone is confused. I worry I’ve offended her, so I continue.

“I just can’t listen to another night of you making that noise when he’s doing god knows what to you.”

She scrunches up her nose. “What noise?”

“You know, the noise.” I eye her.

“No, you’re going to have to help me out here, little G,” she says, folding her arms.

“It’s a kind of wooooo noise and then a little aaahhhh at the end, but your voice goes really deep, like it’s verging on painful.”

“Oh.” She grins. “That noise.”

“Yeah, that noise.”