Page 25 of Antagonist

I ignore the conversation as my mind wills Harrison to turn around.

When he does, he’s taking a sip of Julius’s coffee. He closes his eyes, and a smile appears on his gorgeous face.

What?No, his stupid face. That’s it. He has a stupid face.

My traitor dick stirs when Harrison licks his lower lip to catch a bead of coffee.

His eyes meet mine again, but this time he doesn’t let go.

I want to know what he’s thinking, but once again, I can’t. Why can’t I read him?

There are too many people around. That’s what it is. If it was just the two of us, I’d know exactly what he’s not saying. I’d feel every single twitch of his brows, the way his soulful eyes darken. I’d know.

In another heartbeat, Harrison’s gaze goes to somewhere behind me, and this time his smile is big enough to light up the room.

“Did you hear that, Fletch?” Melodie asks, shaking my arm.

“Huh? What’s that?”

“Hall of Fame is headlining the summer music festival.”

“You’re shitting me?” A woman I don’t know leans closer to us.

“Who’s Hall of Fame?” I ask. I don’t mean to be rude, but I just want to look behind me to see who Harrison is smiling at.

“They’re only the hottest rock band ever,” the woman says. “Say what you want, but Mik Nilsson is to die for. When he’s playing the guitar…” She fans herself. “What those fingers could do to a girl…”

“Isn’t he gay?” another parent asks.

“The good ones usually are,” Melodie says.

“May I remind you all that you're happily married?” I say.

“Not me,” Theo says. “I’m free to gawk and fantasize all I want.”

They laugh, and since Harrison has clearly forgotten about me, I turn around to see who he is smiling at.

A beautiful woman with long dark hair and blue eyes has her sights on him. They clearly know each other because she walks over to him and hugs Harrison tight before taking a cup of coffee from him. When did he get an extra coffee? Did he give her his?

“Why are you so tense all of a sudden?” Melodie asks.

“I’m not. I need to step out for a moment.” I stand, making a lot more noise with my chair than I’d like.

The woman with Harrison looks my way.

“Oh, Stella’s here,” Theo says.

“Who?”

“Stella. She’s Megan’s mom. The new girl in class?”

Megan…as in Harrison's daughter.

8

HARRISON

“Sorry I’m late.We had a trauma patient come in, and then Megan wouldn’t let me leave until I promised we’ll go to Nona’s this week for pancakes,” Stella says, still catching her breath. “Oh my god, is that Bittersweet coffee?” She takes the cup from my hand and gulps most of it down.