“I ain’t saying all that,” my mother placated with a twinkle in her eye. “You got some act right in you, I never have to get too?—”
“Mom, dad.”
They snapped back to attention like they forgot I was in the house, and a snort of laughter broke through the rest of my jaded mood.
I was looking at the source of my tender heart and playful disposition right here. They were the reason I craved peace and stability because they had spent my whole life modeling that.
It was because of them I wholeheartedly believed life was easier together than apart from my loves.
I had to work in a few, but after that I needed to go home and apologize to Rico. And I needed to figure out how to be Harley’s rock instead of pushing her away the way I had with Rico this morning.
I didn’t know how I was going to do it, but the other option wasn’t one I was accepting.
I spentthe rest of the morning with my parents before working a half day at the spa. When I stepped out to head home I had to do a double take when Rico was the first person I saw.
“Why are you here?”
His lips quirked. “I just met with my dad. Figured I’d wait for you before walking home.”
“You didn’t drive?”
“Nah, I needed the walk to clear my head on the way over here.” He looked at the sidewalk. “And I wanted Harlow to have the truck if she wanted to go somewhere…”
Without having to ask me for the key.
His posture said it even though his words hadn’t. He knew she was avoiding us and blamed himself for it.
“About this morning?—”
“We good,” he promised, looking up at me with his head still slightly bowed. “Everybody on edge right now and me walking off didn’t help shit.”
“I shouldn’t have come at you like that. I wasn’t thinking. I was?—”
“Hurt,” he finished for me. “I get you, Soul. I always get you.”
He closed the space between us and grabbed me by the back of my neck.
“I love you and I love us. We’ll figure out the rest.”
His lips covered mine, claiming and comforting. I kissed him back until I lost track of time and forgot where we were.
And after I broke the kiss, Rico didn’t let me get far. He kept his hand around my neck and his lips a whisper away from mine. That heady feeling, that sense of home I always felt around him, came rushing in, washing away the rest of my doubt.
“Let’s go home. I need to tell you what my dad said.”
Interlude
Me:
Sweetheart
You were gone all day, come have dinner with us
I leave for the bar in half an hour. Can I see you before then
It’s seven o’clock, sweetheart. Have you eaten anything today?
Harlow, I’m worried about you
