Page 15

Harlee

Yes, I had been right, that following morning, I had felt like t-total shit for how I’d acted.

I’d also woken up to text messages from the Griggs siblings, as well as Misty and Frank.

Not to mention my mother asking me to call her.

So, I took care of that one first.

She answered on the fourth ring, breathless, rushing around, “I’m so sorry, sweetie. If I’d known he’d act like that, I never would have pushed you to go on a date with him.”

“It’s fine, Mama. Don’t worry about it.” I said.

“I’m really sorry. And well, your dad got mad at me, too. Said I’d been missing the way Carter Griggs is with you. Called me a fool. He was right.”

After a few more words were exchanged, I asked, “Did you know that Victor is married?”

She gasped. And then she said, “Just you wait until he comes back into the diner.”

And Sunday morning, I had received a video of my dad, tossing Victor out on his ass, all the while saying, “No man disrespects my daughter.”

It had been epic.

Apparently, a day and a half was enough for the Griggs family to let me be and to process everything.

Because Misty, Frank, Garrick, Ethan, Melanie, Alec, Talia, and Dominik pulled into my driveway at two o’clock that afternoon.

At the sight of them, I shook my head and then opened the front door.

They all walked in giving me shoulder squeezes or kisses on the cheeks, but when it was Talia’s turn, she said, “You and me, back porch.”

I smiled at her family, “Make yourselves at home. Be back.”

As soon as I closed the back door, Talia turned to face me and said, “I didn’t mean to ever make you feel as though you were never good enough for Carter. I think what I was trying to do was to show you what was right in front of you.”

“But why would you act like you didn’t mind it, and then other times, it bothered you... The times Carter and I spent time together.”

“It didn’t. Honestly. I don’t know what was up my own ass. I honestly can’t think of anyone more perfect for my brother than you. He can be gruff and hard, but ever since the two of you got close, I’ve noticed a change in him. You bring him peace. If that makes any sense.”

I took in her words and knew exactly what she meant. Over the years, sometimes, I had seen him just going through the motions from day to day.

Talia had been watching my face as I took in her words and thought about what she said.

Then she said, “Can I ask you something?”

I nodded.

“How long?” she asked.

I was confused.

With a furrow in my brow, I asked, “How long what?”

“How long have you been in love with him?” she asked.

I didn’t bother to deny it.

“Since I was seven,” I told her.

She gasped, “And you never told me?”

I shook my head, “Knew you before I knew your brother. You had my loyalty.”

“And if last night never happened? What were you going to do for the rest of your life?”

I didn’t even hesitate with my answer, “I had two different solutions. The first was moving away. The second, adopting a lot of cats and pouring the unused love I had stored, and giving it all to them.”

She laughed but quickly stopped. “You're serious?”

I nodded.

“Well, now I feel like a bitch for asking you to promise me that all those years ago.” She said.

I chuckled, “No. Not a bitch. You just wanted someone who was in your corner and not trying to be a part of your brother’s so-called corner,” I said and waggled my brows.

She shook her head, “Okay, I can imagine they will send someone out here to get us in a few minutes. But unless it isn’t clear, I’m cool with you and Carter. Truly. I just need him to know that I was here first.”

I laughed as I stepped forward and hugged her back, “Love you, Tals.”

She squeezed me in return and said, “Love you, Harls.”

Then we stepped apart and walked back into my house.

The moment we entered my living room, Talia sat down beside Garrick and said, “Now, let me see this flipping video.” Then she held her hand out to Garrick.

Garrick shook his head and then handed his phone to Talia.

Everyone was quiet while Talia watched the video, but we all heard the audio.

Frank was smiling.

Misty was beaming and whispered, “That’s my boy.”

Once the video was over, Talia looked at me, “Blame whatever you need on me. But have that conversation. Okay? Meant every word I said earlier.”

I nodded.

Alec shook his head, “Still can’t believe I never noticed it.”

Garrick opened his mouth, but it was Misty who cut him off, “If you hadn’t had your dick up some skanky women, you would have.”

Silence.

And then laughter.

“Damn, Mom,” Garrick said as he shook his head.

“What is a dick?” Melanie asked.

Ethan narrowed his eyes at his mother, and the way Misty’s face reddened, that started a whole other round of laughter.

“You expecting company?” Frank asked.

I shook my head, “No, Mom and Dad are at the diner. Y’all are here. Maybe Everly?”

Frank looked out the window and grinned.

I narrowed my eyes at that grin, “What’s that grin for?”

He smirked, “My boy certainly doesn’t dally.”

At his words, I inhaled a deep breath. He wasn’t supposed to be back home for another three weeks.

What in the world?

Suddenly, the sound of a vehicle door slamming caused me to jump, and then I watched as Garrick stood, strode over to the door, and opened it.

Carter came in then, bypassing Garrick without saying a word.

He also ignored everyone else as he strode over to where I was sitting, and then I watched as Carter knelt on the ground in front of me, took my hands in his, and said, “Will you bitch me out if I kick them all out?”

“No need. We’re going.” Frank said.

Feeling eyes on us, I looked over Carter’s head and saw Misty smile, “You’ve always been a part of this family, Harlee. Let my boy make an honest woman out of you, okay?”

At her words and what they meant, I felt my blush deepen.

Carter’s shoulders were shaking.

Frank pinched the bridge of his nose.

Garrick was the first to ask, “You know what that means, right?”

Talia waited for her to reply, along with Ethan, Alec, and Dominik.

“It means to make her his.” Then she sighed, “What did I just tell him to do?”

Garrick looked at Ethan, “Think you should cover her ears.”

Ethan nodded, then did just that.

Garrick looked at Misty and said, “Make an honest woman out of her, means to take her to bed that very moment and then marry her.”

Misty nodded, “Then y’all got what I meant.”

And with that, she walked out of my house, Frank walking in her wake with a smirk on his face.

“How she manages to shock all of us is beyond me,” Talia said.

I looked back down at Carter, who only had eyes for me, and when we heard the door close, he said, “Been driving for twenty hours. Told the boss I had something important to take care of. I did all that for you. Because I couldn’t go another minute with you thinking you weren’t good enough for me.”

I narrowed my eyes, “Sweet, but don’t you ever do that again. You need to stop and rest.”

He narrowed his eyes right back, “I stopped, I wouldn’t have been resting. Your words have played on repeat in my head.”

Getting his point, I asked, “So, what did you want to talk about?”

“Don’t think you can cute your way out of this. I want to know on what planet you thought I was out of your league?”

I sighed, knowing he wasn’t going to let up until I answered him; therefore, I gestured up and down his body, “Everything about you is so far out of my league it’s not even funny.”

He nodded, “Get that. But why?”

When I kept my lips pressed closed, he shook his head, “Love your stubborn side sometimes. Okay, I’ll tell you why I thought you were out of my league and why you deserved better.”

I opened my mouth to say that I wasn’t, but he kept talking, shooting me a look.

“You're twenty-four years old, Harlee Belle. You’ve still got your whole life ahead of you. Swear to Christ, when you smile, it’s like having the sun bear down on you for years. With just a fucking smile.”

I nodded, “So, you're saying I burn you. That’s nice to know.”

He chuckled, “Smart ass.”

“I’m thirty-seven, Harlee. I’ve lived my life. If you decided you wanted to spread your wings and fly, because there’s a great big world out there, I would have stood there and waved you away.”

Then I shared one of my truths, “Why would I want to see all that’s out there, when I had everything, I ever needed right here?”

He was silent, and then he said, “What all do you need?”

“You in my life in any capacity I could have you.”

He winked, “Well, since I want the same thing, what do you say, we both set our feelings of being unworthy to the side, and make a go of this?”

“And how would we make a go of this?” I asked him.

“Well, haven’t been on a date in well over six years, but I’m guessing that’s our first step. Then we just take it from there. That okay with you?”

I nodded, “Just to clarify, we’re going to make a go of this, in a monogamous relationship?”

He nodded, “Yeah. Just the thought of you with anyone else has me seeing red.”

I nodded because I felt the same way.

Then he lifted my hands that were still clasped in his, and pressed a kiss to my knuckles, then he said, “Okay, get up, let’s go.”

I tilted my head, “Go where?”

“Got my shot with you, not wasting it.” He said as he stood there, waiting.

“Carter, you’ve been driving for twenty hours straight. You need to get some sleep,” I said.

He nodded, “I will. After our date.”

“Carter,” I said.

He smirked, “Normally, that would work, but not this time, let’s go.”

I sighed, “Do I need to change?”

I gestured to the oversized t-shirt and leggings I had on.

He shook his head, “Nope. Look beautiful already. Don’t need you to make yourself even more beautiful and have others see you. I’ll be too slow in kicking their ass.”

At his words, I giggled, then I stood and said, “Okay, but just so you know, I’m not some cheap date.”

He grinned, “I got us covered.”

I shook my head, then placed mine in his as he helped me up.