The disembodied laughter from Pillar of Earth when he’d seen her injuries haunted her. Sometimes, in the deepest part of the night, she cried uncontrollably, especially since the day she found out CJ had been rushed to the hospital.
Mommie insisted she wasn’t ready for Harley to return home. Daddy answered whenever she called, but he was so distant. Her brothers wanted nothing to do with her. Mattie checked on her, but everyone else saw her as a non-entity. Even Ryan.
Aunt Zoann knew Harley had willfully ignored her during the bathroom incident. She wasn’t happy with her. Other than making sure Harley did her chores and her homework and checking to see if there was anything that needed her attention from school, Aunt Zoann ignored her, too. So did Uncle Val. She almost wished they would confront her about kissing Ryan. At least then, she’d know they cared.
Maybe, it was all karma. Maybe, she was getting so much bad because she wasn’t good.
CJ shifted on the bed, drawing Harley’s attention. His inky hair appeared even darker against his white pillowcase. Long eyelashes fanned his cheeks. He had a straight nose, full lips, and a perfect jaw. Every time she saw him, it seemed as if his features were more chiseled.
Suddenly so tired, she crawled next to him and curled her body into his. She wanted to be his so badly. She dreamed of them sharing another kiss. Despite how much everything went off the rails, she’d never regret sharing her first kiss with him.
He turned again, but this time, he opened his eyes. Blinked. Looked at her, then blinked again. He rolled away from her and ran his fingers through his hair.
“Hey, CJ.”
He scooted out of bed and got to his feet.
She sat up. “H-how are you feeling?” she asked, off-balance because he wouldn’t talk to her. She wanted to sob in misery and tell him about Pillar of Earth and Nardo. “I-I tried to visit you in the hospital, but Aunt Meggie wouldn’t allow anyone to see you,” she said, testing the waters.
Maybe, he’d feel a sense of outrage over his mother’s behavior.
“That was my mom’s prerogative, Harley.”
“I didn’t mean anything by my words,” she backtracked.
He shrugged, then glanced at the clock. Walking to his nightstand, he picked up his cell phone and looked at something before setting it down again. “No one’s home. How’d you get in?”
“You were asleep, so how do you know who’s here?”
“My sister and brothers went to school. Dad had a meeting. Diesel had work, and Mom had an errand to run for me. If she was back, she would’ve come to my room. Or sent me a text if she found me asleep.”
“The code to the gate hasn’t changed, so I let myself in and came to your room. I wanted to see you.”
“It’s always about whatyouwant,” he said bitterly.
“I’m sorry—”
“Don’t you stand in this fucking room and say those fucking words to me. You’re nothing but a liar. Who else will you fuck and throw in my goddamn face?”
Instead of giving into her pain, she stiffened, folded her arms, and smirked. “Jealous?”
“Don’t fucking flatter yourself,” he said coldly. “I don’t want you. I wouldn’t touch you with another motherfucker’s cock.”
She gasped and burst into tears. “You’re cruel.”
“Get out.”
“No!” she wailed, rushing to him and throwing her arms around his neck. “No! Please. Forgive me. Please!”
Wrenching her arms from around his neck, he jerked away from her.
“Yeah, Harley, I fucking hate the thought of you with anyone else. It hurts a lot. But one day it won’t. I miss you so much. But one day I won’t. Until then, I want nothing to do with you. You’re mean and you’re selfish, and I deserve better than a girl who doesn’t give a fuck about anyone except herself. Not her dad, who’s devastated by her behavior. Not her mom, who’s all but ruined her marriage for her. Not her friends, who admired her calmness and her smarts. And not me. You wanted me to know you fucked Ryan and couldn’t even thank my sister for covering for you.” He stormed to his door and yanked it open. “Get the fuck out of my room and don’t ever fucking come back.”
Not long after Harley left, CJ received a text from his mother, summoning him to the club. He wasn’t sure what that meant, so he didn’t waste time in hauling ass there, hoping she’d found Bishop and the other three. Praying she’d saved their lives.
The walk through the forest removed some of the agitation left from Harley’s visit. The audacity of her! No matter how many times he told her what he wanted—just basic fucking decency—she fucked withhim and railroaded whoever the fuck allowed her fucked up behavior.
Halfway to the club, he halted, a near-blinding headache cutting through the base of his skull and spreading. He staggered forward, paused again, and drew in a deep breath. This was his first foray out of the house since his release from the hospital. Maybe, he wasn’t ready.
