scoffed and looked away.
“Don’t disregard that you matter, Harley.” She put her arms around him, resting her chin on his chest, and said, “I get it. Not everyone is good with words. Sometimes you have to go to the Mad House and just get it out of your system.”
He nodded. “It sucks being this angry.”
“No shit. I’ve been there too many times to count.”
“I hate that when I saw him, I wanted to beat the shit out of him, and at the same time . . .” He shifted his eyes away, swallowing hard.
“I know,” she said, saving him the discomfort of saying he missed Marshall and was glad he wasn’t lying dead in a ditch.
“It makes me even angrier at him that I feel that way.”
“I get that, too.”
His gaze softened, and he said, “I know you do. I should warn my family.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t warn them and instead just let them know he came by and you sent him away. Remember when your mom said she hoped one day Marshall would come back? She needs this, Harley, even if he digs himself a deeper hole. If he does, that’s on him. But your mom’s needs are different from yours, and I bet Delaney’s are, too. And the girls? They’re young and resilient. They’ll probably be psyched to have another uncle around.”
His jaw clenched, and he was silent for a minute. “And when he disappoints them and hurts them again and I’m left to pick up the pieces?”
“If that happens, then luckily, you’re really good at picking up pieces and putting people you love back together. And yeah, that sucks, but he’s family, and even if you don’t feel it at this moment, I know you. You love him. Somewhere deep inside, past the part that wants to beat the shit out of him is the part of you that wants to see him productive and happy. But you can’t if you never give him a chance to speak his mind. If he fucks up, he does. That’s life. But don’t make it your doing. You’re not a bad guy, Harley, but if you stand between him and your family, you might be seen as one.”
He exhaled a long breath and hugged her tight. “It’s probably better if I don’t call them tonight and just see what happens. I don’t trust myself not to lose it if he’s with them.” He pressed a kiss to the top of her head and rested his cheek there. “When did you become the wise one about relationships?”
“I didn’t. Maybe I’m wrong and he needs money, or maybe he’s here to try to win me back.”
He drew back, leveling her with a dark stare.
She flashed a big, cheesy grin.
“That wasn’t nice, Pipe.”
“No, it wasn’t. I guess I was more upset over the shit you said to me than I realized.” She caressed his face, hurting for him. “I’m sorry for saying that. But if you ever accuse me of being interested in another man again, I will have to kill you, and nobody would ever find your body at the Mad House.”
He arched a brow. “You’ve put some thought into that, huh?”
“A girl’s got to cover her bases.”
He touched his forehead to hers and closed his eyes. “I really am sorry.”
“I know, and I’m sorry for slapping you, but someone had to do it. Your words hurt, and I know mine did, too. I guess we need to work on that, but on the upside, we survived our first fight. We should take that as a win.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON Harley stood in his mother’s kitchen filling three glasses with iced tea, wondering how he was going to break the news about Marshall without getting angry. If not for Piper, his night would have been hell. She’d suggested they take the boat out to try to clear his head. They’d taken Jiggs with them and anchored the boat far from shore, where they lay beneath the stars talking about anything other than Marshall. Piper was good at distracting him, making him laugh and talking him off the ledge, but even with the gentle rocking of the boat, his girl in his arms, and his dog by his side, an hour later he was still agitated. They made their way back to the house, and Piper pulled a move that was so unexpected and unlike her, there was no way he could have remained enraged. She’d suggested they take a bubble bath, and then