Page 77 of Salvage Him

Fifteen

Harrison

Brooklyn had been gonefor a couple of weeks now. I thought about her daily and not because I was in her house. The place didn't quite look like her or feel like her, but it had elements of the real her in it. Not much different from Brooklynherself.

The first week, I called and texted once a day. She didn’t answer. It gutted me, but gave a clearmessage.

She wasn’t ready to dealwithme.

I didn’t give up; Imovedon.

I thought I would get the chance to meet the real her; I caught glimpses of it when she was here, but now, I wasn't so sure. It hurt to think I would never see that side of her again. I fucking hated it, but I needed tomoveon.

"Hey." Lost in my own thoughts, I didn't hear Sethapproach.

I stopped working the bookshelves in the guest room and turned, and stared but didn'tspeak.

"I'm sorry." He loweredhishead.

As much as I wanted to punch him in the face, I couldn't. He was inappropriate, annoying, and infuriating, but he was myfriend.

I threw himabone.

"Don't worry about it." I hit him on the shoulder and turned back tomywork.

"Oh, Harrison." He wrapped me in a bear hug from behind. "Please forgive me. Please.Please."

I scrambled to push him off, but the little shit wasstrong.

"Okay. You're forgiven; now, letmego."

He gave me one lastsqueeze.

I turned, placed a hand on his chest, and pushedhimback.

"Stay," I said as if commandingadog.

He placed his hands in his pockets andgrinned.

"So we’re boysagain?"

"Yeah, we're fine. I know how much you hate it when we fight." I rolledmyeyes.

"I do. But if my apology didn't work, I had a surprise for you tonight atCrush."

"I'm not in the mood." I turned back to theshelves.

"Come on, man." Seth hopped up on the counter. "I know you're heartbroken, but snap out of it and get back to being the dominant mother-fucking hero that you playsowell."

My eyesnarrowed.

Seth had this theory abouttheus.

We were Doms, but we are also superheroes. I was the hero do-gooder likeCaptain Americabut could turn intoHulkif provoked; I was pure anger with a heart. Seth was the smartass genius likeIron Manbut also the charming diplomatic one likeAgent Coulson. Justin wasThorbecause of his strength and leadership. Professor Stewart wasVisionbecause he saw it all. He was all about the greater good, but he was wiser and more powerful than all of us puttogether.

What did that make Brooklyn? She'd look hot dressed up likeNatasha Romanova, butBlack Widowdidn't quite describe my sweetBrooklyn.

"I can't go back there." I returned my focus to theshelves.