Page 19 of Pining for Pierce
I shudder against the thought that Harley may not mind that idea.
Surely not…
She’s not like that. Not my Harley.
“She’s not your Harley,” I whisper to myself, shaking my head as I step off the sidewalk, my head bent.
Even as I walk across the street, I’m sorely tempted to re-trace my steps, go straight into MD’s and pull her out of there. It’s what Ben would do. I can picture the scene quite easily. But as I put the key in the lock and open the door to my apartment, I know I can’t do anything of the sort. Not because Harley would hate me. She would. I have no doubt about it. But the reason formy restraint is that I’m not Ben, and my motives would be very different from those of my oldest friend. Very different indeed.
What I don’t know is why it’s taken me so long to work that out.
I turn over and check the time on my phone.
Seven-fifteen.
I guess it could be worse.
I gave up trying to sleep about three hours ago, although I know I must have slept earlier, because I had a dream. Actually, it was more like a nightmare than a dream. In it, I pictured Harley and Kaiden in bed together. He was taking her, and being quite rough about it, although she was loving every second, coming hard and screaming his name. That was bad enough, but what followed was worse, because in the next scene, she was the onlooker, watching him with another woman, doing exactly the same things, with tears rolling down her cheeks, asking him why. He didn’t answer. The look on his face said he didn’t think he needed to, but the heartache in her voice woke me with a start and I sat up, feeling desolate, wanting to hold her and tell her it would all be okay. I could make it okay
Except I can’t, can I? Because in the real world, she doesn’t need me.
It was a horrible feeling, and one that’s kept me awake ever since.
Because it isn’t true.
Harley needs me. Even if she doesn’t know it.
I throw back the covers and get out of bed, wandering to the bathroom, where I shower, trying not to think about where Harley might have spent the night in the real world… or what Kaiden might have already done to her that can’t be undone.
“No!” I say out loud, my voice echoing around the tiled room as I slam my hand against the wall and shut off the water,stepping out and wrapping a towel around my hips before I quickly brush my teeth.
Once that’s done, I head for the kitchen, fixing myself a coffee, which I take with me into the bedroom, getting dressed in jeans and a t-shirt.
Harley may not need me, or she may not think she needs me, but there’s something that needs to be said. And it won’t wait.
I slip on my shoes and grab my phone and keys before running down the stairs and out the door.
It’s a warm morning, and I walk along Main Street toward the doctor’s office. Harley won’t be there yet, but I don’t mind waiting, and when I get there, I lean against the wall beside the door, feeling the sun on my face, and hoping that’s a good omen. I don’t believe in things like that, but I need all the help I can get, keeping my fingers crossed that she’ll arrive in her car, and not courtesy of Kaiden’s BMW.
I only have to wait about fifteen minutes before Doctor Dodds arrives, walking across from Cedar Street, and tilting his head as he approaches.
“Can I help?” he says.
“No, thanks. I’m waiting for Harley.”
He nods his head. “Do you wanna come inside?”
“I’m fine out here.”
“Okay.”
He goes in, leaving me in peace, and I let out a sigh of relief that it wasn’t Doc Singleton. He’d have had a lot more questions, I’m sure, and I lean back against the wall again, just as Harley’s car appears. The sheriff’s office and library may be in front of the doctor’s clinic, but the angle of the buildings means I can see her car as she makes the turn off of Main Street. Then she disappears from my sight, just briefly, before I see her again, pulling into the parking lot. She glances over, her eyes fixedon me for a moment, until she has to concentrate on parking, which she does, in a space on the far side.
I push myself off of the wall and wander over, reaching her just as she gets out of her car.
“Are you here to see me?” she asks, looking up at me.
“Yes.”
