Page 43 of The Pursuit of Happiness (Satan’s Angels #2)

Harvey doesn’t laugh. He doesn’t smile. He just focuses on Brody who is seated on his lap.

To those who don’t know him, he may seem like a rude piece of shit who hates everyone but Brody, and while that is a totally true claim, I know that part of Harvey’s intensity is caused by Rogan’s presence.

Brody told him what was going on all those weeks ago and I think that it was no coincidence that Harvey showed up at the same time as Rogan.

Selene probably warned him and he probably went all alpha male and wanted to make sure he was around to defend Brody from Rogan breathing the same air as her.

Ivory sits next to Nate and Miles sits on her other side. I sit, curled up in Sly’s lap and Rogan is seated on my previously vacated stool, the couch a little too cramped.

“When we beat you guys at the Muse Awards, make sure to wear waterproof mascara because you’re all pretty, but not pretty enough for tear stains,” Nate teases as he props his feet up on the glass coffee table and shovels pretzels into his mouth.

I want to roll my eyes at his stupidity, but I just watch as Ivory reacts for Brody and I, the little New Yorker in her coming out, “First of all, motherfucker, yes we are all very pretty,” she preens, tossing her hair over her slim shoulder, “And second, make sure you wear waterproof makeup of your own because the only people who are leaving the Muses crying, are going to be the four of you.” She points a pink, perfectly manicured finger in Nate’s face and he attempts to bite it but she draws her finger back before he can, laughing at his stupidity.

Through all the chaos, I nearly forgot the Muse Awards were coming.

They’re a couple of months away. It’s amazing how my mind went from only thinking about the Muse Awards to not thinking about them at all.

The award doesn’t seem important anymore.

I couldn’t care less if we win or not. I already feel like I’ve won.

I look up to find Sly immersed in the bickering between Nate and Ivory.

I watch him before he notices me looking and smile at how genuinely happy he looks, surrounded by all of our friends.

When he finds me watching, he kisses my cheek quickly and I grin so wide my cheeks hurt.

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THUNDERSTRIKE IS LEAVING THE studio about two hours later with plenty of images posted on social media. #Slaria is still the most trending hashtag on social media right now and the pictures only made the fans go crazier.

As they leave, Rogan taps me on the shoulder and asks, “Can I talk to you for a second?”

Sly watches from across the room where he is with Nate and Miles and he takes a step forward to intervene, his features suddenly rigid, but I shake my head at him as if to say, It’s fine. I’ve got this.

“Sure,” I agree. I follow Rogan to a more secluded corner and I can feel the eyes of everyone in the room on us, though they try to continue whatever conversations they were having so as not to cause any unwarranted awkwardness.

Rogan tucks his hands in his pockets and doesn’t lift his gaze from his feet, “I just wanted to apologize for how I acted. I’m sure Sly told you the truth, which is that I was jealous and that was why I acted how I did.

” He looks up, his deep green eyes on mine and continues, “It wasn’t an excuse to be so rude to you or your friends and I just wanted to say I’m sorry. ”

I let the sincerity of his words sink in and I offer him a gracious smile, “Thank you, Rogan. I respect you owning your shit. It takes a lot of strength to do something like that and to admit that you were wrong. I appreciate it.”

He gives me a relieved look, “Thank you.” He takes a deep breath before he asks, slightly uncomfortable, “Do you think we could try being friends?”

I nod, “Of course.”

Rogan nods, grinning, “Thank you, Aria.”

“You’re welcome, Rogan,” I grin back.

Everyone leaves except for Brody, Ivory, Harvey, and Sly.

We’re all getting our own items together so that we can all go home.

I’m putting my guitar back in the case when I see a shadow looming from behind me.

I turn to find Harvey hovering over me. I look around to find everyone completely oblivious and raise a brow at Harvey.

He squats to his knees so that our faces are only about five inches apart and he asks, his voice low, “Did you really buy that apology?”

I know he’s talking about Rogan. Harvey never inserts himself into other people’s business unless it involves Brody in some way, so I’m confused as to why he’s acting so out of character now.

I’m also wondering why he’s asking me when nobody else is watching or listening. “I thought it was sincere.”

Harvey shakes his head at me in disappointment, “That man is full of shit. I’d watch my back if I were you.”

My brows rise in shock. What did Harvey see that I didn’t? “What do you mean?”

Harvey looks over his shoulder again to make sure there are no listening ears, “In the military they taught us how to interrogate people. They taught us the signs to look for, the psychological signals to read. I watched him talk to you and I’m telling you, he’s full of shit.”

I shake my head in complete shock. Harvey continues, “His body language was a dead giveaway. I’m not saying he’s out to kill you, but I’m just saying you should watch your back.”

I nod, absorbing the entirety of his words, “Thank you.”

He dips his chin at me, “You’re important to Brody.” That’s the only explanation needed. We all know if I wasn’t important to Brody, Harvey wouldn’t give two shits about me.

He rises from his position and walks across the room to his girlfriend.

I turn and focus on fastening the clasps on my case, my hands suddenly trembling as I trace over Harvey’s words.

On one hand, I trust his opinion. Harvey is a smart man with a lot of experience and has no reason to misguide me.

On the other, I truly felt Rogan was being sincere.