Forbidden Harmony (Harmony Falls #3) - Elizabeth Kelly Page 0,129
phone.
* * *
Addison, don’t do this. He doesn’t want to see you.
She ignored her inner voice as she slipped her shoes on. Okay, so Preacher had been very obviously avoiding her since the weird text she got from him last night. So, yeah, maybe driving over to his tattoo shop was a mistake, but what else was she supposed to do?
She opened her messages and stared at the text from Preacher.
Something’s come up, I can’t make it tonight.
She hadn’t heard from him since. She’d only managed a few hours last night before she’d texted him. Just a casual, hey, no problem, hope your day was okay, message that she obsessed over for half an hour before sending.
This morning when she still hadn’t heard from him, she’d texted him again, another brilliant and casually worded, good morning, hope your night went okay, are you free for dinner, message that he’d seen but not answered.
Girl, he’s ghosting you. Are you really going to be so pathetic and go to his shop when it’s obvious that he’s over you?
She hesitated with her purse in her hand. Maybe she shouldn’t go. It was barely twenty-four hours since he texted her. Maybe he’d just had a bad day. Maybe he just needed some alone time. Being the clingy, needy girlfriend would not be a good look. Preacher would be annoyed as hell by that.
Girlfriend?
She blew her breath out in a frustrated rush. Okay, maybe not girlfriend, but they had to be something more than just fuck buddies, right? He spent his time off with her, stayed overnight in her bed, they’d eaten out together where anyone in the town could see them. Hell, he was letting her borrow his car. That was more than just a casual thing. It had to be.
Besides, this didn’t feel like a ghosting thing. Something was wrong, something had happened to upset him, and asking him if he was okay wasn’t being clingy or needy. It was being thoughtful and kind.
She opened the door, letting out a soft shriek when she saw Harrison standing in the doorway with his hand raised to knock. She staggered back, glaring at him when he stepped into her apartment.
“What are you doing here, Harrison?”
“I came to talk,” he said.
“I’m on my way out,” she said. “And I have nothing left to say to you.”
“Are you going to see Preacher?”
“That’s none of your business,” she said.
“You need to get over this Preacher thing,” he said. “Look, I made a mistake all right? I know I did. I should never have been involved with Crystal, but it’s over now, and I know that it’s you I want. So, let’s get married, babe. Let’s start our lives together.”
“Are you seriously that arrogant?” she said. “We’re finished, Harrison. I want nothing to do with you. You’re a horrible person. You’re selfish and cruel, and the way you treat other people who you think are below you is awful. I’m glad we’re not together anymore. I hated that I ever put up with your behaviour.”
His laugh was bitter and angry. “Is that why you fucked Preacher, Addison? Because you knew it would piss me off?”
“It’s none of your business why I slept with him, and Preacher is a way better man than you’ll ever be.”
“I told Preacher that you only slept with him because I said to sleep with a random guy. He knows you only did it to get back at me.”
“You asshole.” She wanted to shove him in the chest and stuck her hands behind her back instead. “What is wrong with you?”
“What? Does the truth hurt? Admit it, Addie. You only slept with him because you knew he wanted you and you thought it would be the perfect way to get back at me. Sleeping with someone like him, lowering yourself like that, you knew I’d hate it. You’re right, you know. I do hate it. I hate that you let any part of that loser touch you. But you know what? I’m willing to forgive you because that’s how much I love you.”
The laughter came spilling out of her, loud and harsh and unstoppable. “Are you fucking kidding me? Preacher is twice the man you are. He’s kind and sweet and generous and everything you’re not. I have sex with him because he is amazing in bed and he can make me come. Every single time, Harrison. I finally know what good sex is, because of him.”