is take it all back.
***
“What’ll it be?” I ask.
I do a double take, because the girl sitting at my bar looks damn familiar, but I can’t place from where. My mind is racing hoping to god I didn’t fuck her over somehow and she’s here to exact her revenge. I can’t take any more women pissed off at me.
It’s been a week since I’ve heard from Harlow.
I admit, I haven’t called her. I’m trying to give her her space. It’s been a week of torturous nights in this bar, glancing up every time the door opens to see if it’s her. Nights alone at home, wishing she was under me in my bed.
“A Lemon Gingertini,” the dark-haired girl says. She curls her hands neatly under her chin and watches me mix the ginger syrup. “Oh, could you go light on the ice, too?”
“Sure thing,” I say. Damn, I can’t place her face.
“And make sure to add a slice of ‘I’ll kick your ass myself if you fuck over my best friend again’?” Her sweet voice changes to venom-laced.
My eyes dart up. “Daisy, I’m guessing?”
I should have guessed Harlow’s friend would show up here soon. Girls are weird like that. Fiercely protective to some, ready to stab you in the back with others. Daisy must be a true friend to Harlow to be sitting here. I respect that. Harlow needs and deserves it.
“Gunner Hunt. I knew it was a mistake to tell Harlow that I saw you in here. She was doing just fine without you, but stupid me and my best friend duties. I ran home and told her, hoping you wouldn’t make an ass out of yourself and make her life hard again. But you did. And do you know who pays the price for that?” She points a manicured finger at herself. “Me.”
“Excuse me?” I slide her drink toward her.
She takes a long sip and shakes her head. “You made me look bad, here. You hurt her, and it’s all because I told her where you were. If I didn’t do that, she’d be just fine right now. Not crying her damn eyes out over how wrong she was about you. So, thanks for that.”
She opens her purse to pay for the drink, I’m assuming.
“Don’t, please, it’s on the house,” I say.
“Damn right it is. It’s the least you could do,” Daisy scoffs and puts her purse down. “You may be the sexiest thing in town—apart from me that is,” Daisy says with a wicked grin. “But Harlow deserves someone who respects her, Gunner. She deserves someone who wants to take care of her—”
“I do. I do want to take care of her,” I say.
I’ve never meant anything more in my entire life.
Daisy slams the glass on the bar. “Right. You call it taking care of, I call it grounds for a restraining order. We aren’t kids anymore, Gunner. Grown men throwing punches every time someone looks at their girl? So high school. Get over yourself. Harlow is hot as hell and she deserves to be looked at.”
“I was just trying to protect her.” I hold the edge of the bar to keep steady, remembering the crazy way that night spiraled out of control.
“I think you need to reevaluate what you think Harlow actually needs from you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Daisy twirls her straw in her drink. “Do you ever ask yourself what Harlow sees in you?”
“Every damn day,” I say, truthfully.
“And what is it that you see in her? I mean, apart from the obvious.”
I think back to the first time I realized I couldn’t be without Harlow. The day I got that damn tattoo. Harlow had gone to New York for some dance thing for a week. It was a single week, but it was pure torture. Every day without her around stretched out into eternity. I knew that once she came back, I never wanted to be away from her again. I wanted a life with Harlow in it.
I wanted that big ass heart and that laugh that bounced off the walls, so much bigger than she was. I wanted those soft hands running through my hair while we watched movies on her bed. I wanted the rush of her running out of her dad’s house and into my arms after everyone had gone to sleep. I wanted it all.
Forever.
It was the first time I’d considered a future at all—not just with a girl, but any kind of meaningful future. Harlow made me feel all