I’d seen for myself was something I never thought I’d experience.
Eva waved the waitress over. “Our coffees are cold. Can we please have a fresh round?”
The waitress smiled. “Sure, I’ll be back soon.” She removed our cups and left our table.
It was the strangest lunch I’d had in my entire life. What had started out as a reason to see more of Eva had turned on its head and given me what I really needed—more time with Jade.
But I was far from out of the woods. Ryder was still an integral part of this, and I pushed down the uneasy feeling that sooner or later I’d have to face him, too. It was easy to apologize to my sister—after all, I’d always loved her. But Ryder? He was part of the problem and part of the reason I carried hatred and vengeance in my heart.
I’d lived with rage for so long that it had become part of my DNA. Who I was as a person had been shaped by events beyond my control—I was possibly so damaged that I was beyond saving. I wasn’t sure if I could ever let go on my own.
I need Eva. I needed her to save me.
Before the waitress returned with the coffee, I had an overwhelming urge to get out of there. It was as if the walls were closing in on me. My chest tightened as I pushed back my chair and with a quick goodbye, I turned on my heels and left as fast as my legs would carry me.
Chapter 6 — Eva
Harrison never failed to surprise me. He was shutting me out, and it hurt more than I cared to admit.
“Damn it, Harrison,” I cursed under my breath as I watched Jade’s face pale. All the good he’d done was close to being wiped out with his sudden departure. I could fucking strangle him.
His darkness had won. Again.
“I’m sorry, honey.” I pushed my dessert away and rubbed my temples. Harrison gave me whiplash with his change of moods. As soon as I thought he’d made a breakthrough, he disappointed the fuck out of me by reverting back to the old Harrison.
“It’s okay. I’m kinda used to it by now.” Jade placed her hand over mine. “I have no choice but to live with it because he’s my family. And since I’ve moved out of the house, it doesn’t affect me as badly any more. But you . . . Eva, you don’t need to put up with his shit. If Ryder found out, he’d be mad as hell.”
“Ryder doesn’t need to know.” I studied my nails while I organized my thoughts. “I’m a big girl, Jade. I appreciate your concern, but somehow I’m in this whether I like it or not. I’m . . . fuck, I think I’ve fallen for your brother, and I don’t know how to handle it.”
Jade sucked in a breath. “Don’t get hurt, Eva. Harrison is damaged, and he’s just going to break your heart. I don’t want that to happen to you, even if I love my brother.”
I spoke my thoughts out loud. “It may be too late already.”
I’m screwed. So fucking screwed.
“I care about you. Be careful.”
“I know, and that means a lot to me. Without you and Ryder to keep me sane, I’d have given up on Harrison a long time ago.”
Jade managed a smile. “How does that work?”
I laughed, although it sounded hollow. “Harrison needs help more than any one of us. You and Ryder have one another. I have both of you. Harrison . . . well, he only has himself. I’ve never met a man as complex and damaged as him, and that’s what first drew me to him. I’ve always had this strange urge to try to help fix broken people. So far I haven’t had much luck with him, and I’m starting to wonder if I’m wasting my time.”
“Oh, Eva. I’m so sorry. Harrison is lucky that you come to his defense in spite of everything.”
Finishing the last of my coffee, I signaled the waitress for the check. I was tired, and I wanted to go home. I was over shopping and over trying to understand men.
“I’m okay, don’t worry. Listen, honey, you must be really tired. I know how exhausted I am. So how about we go home?”
“Yeah, I’m totally drained. Harrison is so damn intense. But I have a better idea. Let’s go for a manicure and pedicure. I can’t reach my feet these days, and