Page 12

RAE

Harmon was the best. She’d sprang into action the second arrived back at her place that morning.

It was already evening, and they were still at it. They were devising a plan to woo her man that Harmon had dubbed, How to Catch a Virus. Not the best name ever, but the name didn’t matter as much as the advice and support.

Oh, and the whiteboard.

Yep, bitch brought out a whiteboard with color coded dry-erase markers.

provided Virus’s likes and dislikes as she knew them anyway, and Harmon was coming up with the plan. They needed a male perspective, so they’d called Barker what felt like ages ago.

got up and grabbed them another beer each. “Where the hell is Barker with the takeout? I’m starving.”

“Who the hell knows? He sounded a little off when I called him earlier.”

“He’s been a little off for a while now, or at least with me.” It was the first time had voiced a concern over Barker’s behavior. She’d really overlooked a lot since they’d tried and failed to date each other. She felt responsible for the awkwardness between them and so she shrugged off his comments and opinions.

However, he had taken it to a whole new level since she’d come back to Provo. He was absolutely amazing with Adam, and Adam adored him. Chances were, would’ve let their friendship slowly die if it hadn’t been for Adam.

She also felt she owed him a bit of loyalty. He was a steady friend during her most unsteady of times, but they needed to have a talk.

was done with forcing a fit where one didn’t exist. She’d have a calm and rational talk with him about boundaries and respect, especially where Virus was concerned. She understood he was protective because he witnessed her heartbreak last time up close, however it was happening and if he wanted to remain her friend, he had to accept Virus, too. At least he’d apologized for earlier, so when the talk came, she believed he’d handle it okay.

In her mind, he’d be happy for them both as soon as he realized that Virus wasn’t the same person he knew back then. Hell, none of them were.

“Yeah, so how about this?”

The dry-erase marker squeaked against the surface of the whiteboard.

Above step one of the How to Catch a Virus plan, she wrote …

STEP 0.5–Friendtervention. Hug it out, eat pizza, drink beer. Repeat as needed then proceed to step 1.

“Perfect.”

When Barker barged in the door, they were both still hopeful it would work out perfectly. One look at his face, and that hope died.

“Oh my god, Barker. What happened? Are you okay?” She jumped up and asked as he practically threw the bags of takeout across the table.

“Did you fuck him, ? Tell me you didn’t fuck him.”

“Whoa. Slow down.”

He was seething. The anger rolling off him was palpable. In all the years they’d known each other, she had never seen him like that. Hell, she would’ve sworn he never got mad- mad , but this was beyond that. He was livid. Then his words hit her.

“Why are … where did … that’s none of your business.” She crossed her arms. Why would she even need to explain herself to him?

It was clear from this display of volatility that their friendship was coming to an end. And she’d be damned if she’d allow what she was witnessing around Adam.

She watched as the anger was overtaken by a stricken look. “Oh god, you did. You let him put his filthy hands on you.” He raked his hand through his hair and started pacing and mumbling to himself. She felt Harmon at her back. She did not recognize the man before her.

“You barely let me kiss you, like you were too good for me, but you let that Bastard stick his dick in you.”

She reared back as if she’d been struck. This was not the Barker who fed her ice cream and listened to her cry. Who held her hair back when she went way too hard at the bar, or the honorary uncle who was so gentle and sweet with Adam. No, that was not the same person at all.

Harmon grabbed her hand from behind and whispered. “, he is scaring the shit out of me. I’m gonna call 9-1-1.”

agreed but looked back at the counter next to where he paced … to where both their phones sat.

He pinned them both with a look and glanced to see what they were looking at, as if he read their minds.

“Barker, will you please just calm down and we can talk about this? We’ve been friends a long time so we can get through this.”

It was complete and utter bullshit. Their friendship was so fucking over, but she needed to de-escalate the situation.

“Friends? Fucking friends? I never wanted to be your friend . I wanted so much more with you, . I would’ve given you everything. Fuck, he always got everything, and I got nothing. What the fuck is so special about Darrin anyway, hmm? He may have fucked you last night for old time’s sake or whatever, but he already had another one all over him today.” She must’ve been unable to control her expression as tears threatened to spill because Barker smiled and went for the throat.

“Oh.” He chuckled threateningly. “Sweet na?ve , oh yeah. Saw them with my own two eyes, and right in front of Adam too. Why don’t you ask him about Carrie and what her tongue does? It must’ve been pretty special because she was practically in his lap and whatever she was doing to him under the table spilled his drink. So why don’t you ask Adam when you see him? He’ll tell you the same thing.”

The tears that had been waiting sprang from her eyes. Barker may be bat shit crazy in the moment, but he wouldn’t lie about that, especially involving Adam because the kid had zero guile and didn’t know how to lie.

She refused to give in to doubts about Virus so soon after promising herself she would trust him. It was hard, but she would trust, but verify, the first chance she got. Using her free hand, she thumbed away her tears as Harmon spoke. Her voice was shaky.

“Barker, you need to leave and don’t come back.”

The look he gave her was murderous, before he turned his attention back to .

“Really, ? After everything I did to have you, you’re going to let her send me away while you welcome him back into your bed, after he fucked your sister?”

“Yes. Leave. Now.”

“I’m going because I can’t bear to look at you right now. You wanna shack up with him and play the happy little family with his bastard, go ahead. But mark my words, Sunny, that’ll never last. Someone will come along and end that little dream.”

With those menacing words, he turned and stomped toward the door. Right before he slammed it behind him, he spoke. “Remember, ask him about Carrie and her magic tongue. I’ll see you and Adam soon, .”

Then he slammed the door. When they heard his car start, they both scrambled to the door to lock the deadbolt and peek to see him drive away.

“Fuck,” said as she shakily slid down the door to land on her ass. Harmon joined her on the floor and just held her.

“Yeah, fuck,” Harmon agreed.

Once they both stopped shaking, they made their way back to the kitchen. Harmon handed her phone and grabbed the eraser.

She watched her erase step 0.5. “Well, that’s toast,” she joked, but could tell Harmon was just as shaken up by what happened as she was. But that was Harmon. She handles things like a champ. A lot of people thought she was cold and unfeeling, but that was the furthest thing from the truth. Harmon felt things deep, deeper than most, and she just compartmentalized in a way most people couldn’t.

Harmon turned and motioned to the phone in her hand. “Call him.”

“Harmon, I think seduction can wait.”

“First off, no it can’t, but second, that’s not why I said to call him.”

“Ah, Carrie and her magic tongue, right? As curious as I am, I don’t want to start our relationship off with suspicions and accusations. That’s what landed us here in the first place, remember?” She set the phone down and picked up her half-drunk beer.

“Dear god, woman. You are focused on the wrong things. I mean, call him and tell him you lost a friend today and shit got weird. Maybe invite him over or go see him. Not for seduction and hanky-panky, but for support and comfort, besides building the type of bond between you two that was lacking the first go around. And, in case Barker really meant his words as a threat. Especially since his anger seems to stem from his past with Virus, not yours. He deserves to know. If for no other reason than to know he’s not good for Adam since he had an apparent run-in with them already. And also, to maybe get the tea. You can’t tell me you haven’t been dying to know what happened between them.”

Harmon wasn’t wrong, and if they were starting over, they needed to start differently. That meant clinging to each other, confiding in each other instead of other people. To be each other’s best friend.

“Hey, Sunshine. Miss me already?”

His voice soothed her with just five words. It was right to make that call, for her too.

“You know it,” she teased. “I had something I wanted to?—”

“Is that Auntie ? Let me talk to her,” Adam said excitedly. She wanted to protest, but Virus already had her on speaker.

“Hey, buddy. Are you having fun with Daddy?”

“Yeah. We got pancakes.”

“Yum, sounds delicious.”

“They were, and Uncle Barks came by while I was eating and I met a girl named Carrie but she wasn’t as pretty as you.” Adam spoke in a long, excited drawn-out run-on sentence. was sure he was still going, but she heard nothing after Carrie.

“Here little man, play this and let me talk to Auntie . You can tell her about the rest later.”

“Sunny.” She could tell she was off speaker as the background noise faded. “Honey, listen, I can explain. It’s not like it sounded, I promise. I didn’t introduce him to her. She was at the diner and sat down and?—”

“Virus?” she interrupted his spiel. She realized the old her would’ve needed his explanation to reassure her. That was not the relationship she wanted with Virus. Her accusing, him explaining, and somehow neither was satisfied with the outcome.

It was killing her not to hear every detail and obsess over it, but trust started with small acts. With a steadying breath, she spoke.

“I don’t need your explanation. If you say she’s just someone from the diner, then I believe you.”

“Really?” He sounded so relieved and happy. She hated to spoil the mood, but she’d have to. That’s why she called after all. “That means so much to me, Sunny. I fucking love you, but in the spirit of full disclosure, she was someone I had a one-time thing with months ago, and I had no idea she’d started working at the diner.”

His words made her cringe. The thought of him with another woman, one she might run into at that, wasn’t palatable at all, but that was a worry for another time.

“And your honesty means just as much to me. Seeing as how Barker mentioned it, I can’t lie and say I wasn’t curious, but new leaf and all that.” She gave a humorless laugh.

“Yeah, don’t get me started on that son of a bitch.” He lowered his voice, sounding as if he was covering the phone and his mouth with his hand.

Such a dad move.

“I don’t want to tell you who you can and can’t be friends with, but …” The sound changed again, and she heard a door close. “Damn it, . Why him?—”

“Virus?”

“No, . Don’t Virus me, I can’t do this. I can’t let it go. You don’t know him like I do, and I can’t, won’t?—”

“VIRUS! Take a breath and listen.”

“You’re not going to change my mind on him, . It’s nonnegotiable.”

She wanted to be annoyed with his high handedness, but he was right, and to be honest, it felt kinda nice.

“He’s actually the reason I called.” Her voice broke and it all finally hit her.

“Shit, . What happened? Are you all right?” She heard the door whoosh open through the phone and a small flurry of activity while she tried to recompose herself. When she heard the car door close, she realized he was rushing to her side.

“I’m fine, Virus. Just a little shaken up.”

“You don’t fucking sound fine,” he shouted so loud she pulled the phone from her ear.

“Virus, where’s Adam?”

“He’s in the truck and I’m pacing here trying to calm down because I don’t know what the fuck is going on.”

“Virus, calm down. I’m fine. Barker was here and we had words. Enough so Harmon and I felt you needed to know, especially since Adam loves him so much. He never laid hands on either of us, but it’s safe to say the friendship is over.”

“What the fuck? There’s something you’re not saying.” She heard the car door slam and an engine start. “I’m on my way, sweetheart. You’ll tell me every single detail and then … then … he’ll pay.”

“Virus, no. We can talk about it tonight at dinner. Enjoy some time with Adam and I’ll see you two around seven, okay?”

“Fine.” His voice didn’t hide the fact that he wasn’t happy at all about it. “But I want every word and your promise that you’ll let me handle it.”

“Handle it? There’s nothing?—”

“, your promise.”

“Fine.” She mirrored his reluctant compliance. “But I want to know what happened between you two that drove you apart.”

“Fine.”

That word seemed to sum up the conversation.

After a prolonged silence where neither spoke, they just sat together on the phone in their feelings.

“?”

“Yeah.”

They both sounded exhausted.

“I love you.”

She smiled in spite of the situation.

“I love you too.”

“Don’t make me wait too long with this seduction plan of yours or I’m taking over, and babe, I guarantee you ain’t ready for my plan.”

His voice still held concern and anger and all the intense emotions that were pervasive over the course of the call, but that wicked playfulness laced with cockiness crept in.

Flutters started in her stomach and traveled south. He was right; she was not ready for his seduction plan.

Damn.