Page 55

We stayed by the lake until the sun died and it was impossible to stay any longer.

The day was perfect, and it felt as if everything could go back to normal. Harlyn said he was mine again, and in my book that meant the world sat right on its axis.

We talked about everything. He shared much with me and didn’t hold back this time. Light was shed on his relationship with Blithe, and I can see why he loves him so much. Har told me more about Cami, until the tears opened, and he had to change the subject.

Pillar was the subject of the day. Harlyn adores him and it only makes me love him more. He says people won’t think he’s ready, but I promised we could do it together and he smiled so big for me my core liquefied.

I was finally educated on his relationship with Lane, but that doesn’t mean I like him. Turns out he’s Har’s boss since he’s getting into working behind a screen. He seems to love it and the fact that he can afford more than he used to. Not that he’ll need to worry about that any longer.

Rex is just a friend, which is a relief. Doesn’t mean I won’t advise him to keep his fucking hands to himself. It was worth saying out loud because I had the privilege of watching Harlyn giggle and it was just the cutest thing.

I told him a lot about me as well. My relationship with each brother, my father and what it was like to grow up here. Not near as interesting or dark as his story, but he hung on to my every word as if it were just as significant.

Harlyn must have told me he loved me a hundred times today. It’s as if the words had been sitting on the back of his tongue forever and couldn’t wait to be freed. I love it and I’m living for it.

Hand in hand we approach the house together, but I stop us before we can reach the door.

“What is it Flower?”

My eyes roam over him, the love of my life. My heart and all, with the dying sunlight beyond him providing a sparkle.

“I was serious, you know? I want to marry you Harlyn.”

Biting the inside of my lip as I watch too many emotions come and go across his beautiful face.

He settles on a look that resembles what I could only describe as gut wrenching and it confuses me.

“Did I say something wrong?”

I ask, hands cupping his cheeks.

“No, it’s all perfect. This day, you, us. Fuck Creek, I’d marry you anywhere.”

Harlyn can hardly tell a lie, the truth is in his eyes and nobody on planet earth could offer me anything close to his forgiveness and love.

Smiling, I place a quick kiss on his lips. “I love you baby.”

“Stop it! Before I start sobbing. Let’s go.”

Laughing, I steer us toward the door to let us in and we are greeted with shouts the second I do.

Harlyn lets go of my hand immediately and calls out for Pillar. I leave him to it and set off toward the commotion.

When I reach the living room my father is losing his mind it seems. He’s destroying shit and howling.

Joining my brothers, we watch on stunned by his actions. Never have we seen him so much as get violent unless the job demanded it. Somethings wrong.

“Father.”

Res tries but it’s no use. “Dad!”

He shouts.

Our father spins in place almost surprised to see us here. “He’s gone.”

He wheezes.

“Who? Who’s gone?”

Ressyn asks.

Pulling at the hair on top his head, his dead eyes close painfully, and our jaws drop when tears leak from them. “Kairen”

He chokes out.

“What the fuck do you mean, he’s gone?”

Rain demands.

“I mean, he called last night, and I didn’t answer. In the voicemail he left there was a struggle that sounded intense and now he isn’t answering. I’ve asked the drivers if they’ve taken him anywhere and they haven’t. He won’t answer his phone, nobody knows where he is, he’s just fucking gone!” He cries.

“Okay, okay, we’ll figure this out. There’s no need to pan-”

“He never fucking listens!”

I observe, stunned as Jennix Hue cries, screams, and shows more emotion than I thought him physically imaginable.

I think about all of the signs that were right in front of our faces all this time and my eyes widen with realization.

“Are you two together?”

I blurt, before I can stop it.

Every head in the room whips in my direction. Mostly furrowed brows and nose scrunches. But when I look at Rain, all of the pieces fall into place when his jaw ticks with anger.

“What the fu...”

Res doesn't finish his sentence, coming to the same conclusion.