“AFTER LAST NIGHT’S revelations, nothing can shock me,” Mia declares.
I raise my brows and pull my lips to one side. She’ll be eating those words, because this one’s a doozy.
Mia pushes off the doorframe and brushes past me, heading for the kitchen. “I’m gonna need coffee before this conversation goes any further.”
I follow her into the kitchen and take a seat on one of the stools at the granite countertop that separates the kitchen from the living room. “I’ll take a cup, too, please.”
Whiskers hops up on the counter and purrs as he nudges his head against my hand. “Hey, buddy.” I reach out to scratch behind his ear but he snubs me, turning with his tail in the air and giving me a clear shot of his butthole. “Ugh.” I push his backside away from my face. “What’s his deal?”
“I think he’s telling you he thinks you’re an asshole.” She smirks and slides a cup of coffee across the counter.
I roll my eyes. “Did you tell Liam anything about me? I’m sure he was curious.”
“Just that you were the sister of a friend who passed away and that you used to live here.”
“Did you tell him that I work at Mac’s?”
She rolls her eyes upward as if she’s trying to recall. “Actually, no. There wasn’t a whole lot of talking going on.” She rolls her lips between her teeth to hold back a laugh.
Relieved, I snort and look down at my cup.
“Harper,” Mia urges.
I blow out a breath. “I go to school with Cole Mackenzie. He’s a senior, too. His dad owns Mac’s and his brother Dylan is one of my managers. Cole doesn’t know me or anything about me, or he didn’t until recently, but I knew of him because of his popularity and football status.” Not to mention he’s super-hot, but that’s not something I need to share with Mia. “Being on the yearbook committee, it’s my job to know who he is. We were introduced for the first time a few weeks ago while I was serving his family lunch. That same day, I also met Cole’s cousin Jayla. She had just moved here from California, which was the whole reason for the family lunch—”
“You’re babbling,” Mia interrupts.
“I’m not. I promise it’s relevant. Just let me finish.” I circle the rim of the coffee cup with my index finger. “Jay is also a senior this year. She’s been homeschooled for the past eleven years, so this is her first year attending a real high school and she’s careful who she surrounds herself with. Recently, she and I have become friends. Believe it or not, she’s the first real friend I’ve had since I started at Heritage Bay. And here’s where it gets complicated.” I blow out another breath. “While you, Holly, and I were packing up my apartment, I found a journal hidden inside a shoebox in Jade’s closet. I thought it was Jade’s at first, but it belonged to my mother. In the back of the journal, I found a copy of the patient information sheet belonging to Willow’s father.”
Mia jerks upright and gasps, wide-eyed. “Please don’t tell me it’s Liam,” she pleas softly.
I shake my head. “No. It’s Cole.”
Mia just stands there speechless, staring at me.
“Mia?” I wave in front of her face.
“Oh my God,” she breathes out. “He’s just a kid.” Her eyes dart to me as the pieces begin to fall into place. “You’re working for his family.”
I nod. “You can’t say anything to anyone, especially Liam. Please, Mia.”
“I won’t.” She waves me off. “I don’t know him like that anyway.”
“Or Dr. Mackenzie,” I add.
She narrows her eyes. “Is that why you’re working at Mac’s?”
I shrug a shoulder. “Yes and no. I applied there, hoping by chance I’d get to see Willow, but they weren’t hiring at the time. I pretty much gave up on waiting for the Mackenzies to contact me or trying to find ways to see Willow by the end of last summer. I let it go. I got a job at JC’s and started dating Josh. He made me happy, and it made the pain of losing my family easier to bear.”
“Does Josh know about your family?”
“He knows about my mom, but he doesn’t know about Jade or Willow. Remember, he thinks my name is Jade.”
“Harper, this is crazy. You have to tell him the truth. I may not agree with his lifestyle, but the man doesn’t deserve your lies. You’re underage. Do you know how much trouble he could get into for shacking up with an underage girl?”
“I know. I’m gonna tell him soon.” I promise.
“Have you seen Willow since you started working at Mac’s?”
My smile is instant. “Yes. She’s so beautiful and funny. She calls me Ahpee.”
Mia’s eyes well up with tears, and I know she’s thinking about Jade. Which also reminds me…
“What about Holly?”
“I’ll talk to Holly. But, Harper, you need to come clean to everyone or this is going to blow up in your face, and I’m not sure I’ll be able to help you.”
IT’S A GOOD thing I keep my uniform shirts in my locker, because I didn’t have time to go home and change before my shift today. To tell you the truth, I was afraid to go home after last night.
After my shower this morning, I finally checked my phone to find over a dozen missed calls and texts from Josh.
And several voice mails.
“Babe, I know I fucked up and I’m sorry. You know I would never hurt you. I don’t want Tiffany. I want you and only you. Please don’t leave me, Jade. Give me a chance. I promise it won’t happen again. Come home. I love you.”
The texts were more of the same: I’m sorry. I love you. Please come home.
I haven’t returned his calls or replied to any of the dozens of texts. I don’t know what to say. Seeing the way he looked at that woman, the same way he looked at me, it broke something in me.
Not my heart.
But my trust.
Because of all the pain and heartbreak I’ve experienced over the years, I’ve learned how to prevent myself from getting hurt. My body and my heart go into survival mode. I become numb to the pain. It’s the only way I’m able to cope, the only way I can move on.
I’ll always love Josh because in a way, he saved me from living my life in doom and gloom. But I’m in survival mode now, and I have to move on.
I just wish it were that easy.
Things are going to get very messy.
I can feel it down in my core.
“HARPER,” JAY CALLS out excitedly. I look up to see Zach carrying her piggyback through the bar, followed by Jay’s mom, Emerson, and Bass. Jay has one arm around Zach’s neck and the other stretched in the air, making the universal rock sign, and her tongue pinched between her teeth. I snort a laugh. She’s wearing an LA Heat T-shirt and a backward baseball cap, and Zach is wearing a Tampa Bay Thunder shirt and a backward cap.
Max closed off the bar this afternoon for a private party after the baseball game between the Tampa Bay Thunder and the LA Heat.
Earlier, Max filled me in on the history between the Mackenzies and the Parkers and the friendship between his younger brother, Liam Mackenzie, and Cam Parker, who pitches for the Tampa Bay Thunder. Liam and Cam have been best friends since they were kids and have lived and breathed baseball since they were old enough to play. Cam and Liam both played for the LA Heat until this season, when Cam signed with the Thunder.
Cam is also Zach Easton’s uncle.
What a crazy web these two families weave.
“Oh my God, Harper, you missed it.” Jay laughs and drops to her feet. “We kicked their asses.”
“You beat us by two runs,” Zach corrects, smacking her on the butt.
Jay returns a backhand to his stomach. “We still won. I have to pee.” She pops up on her toes and smacks a kiss on Zach’s cheek before she takes off for the bathroom.
“She’s wound up today.” I laugh. “Let me get you something to drink. Powerade?” Zach gives me a questioning look. “It’s my job to know these things,” I add.
He nods and smiles. “Yeah. Jay likes that sparkling water in the blue bottle.”
“Yep, with lots of ice and a lime wedge. Got it.” I shoot him a wink and head over to the bar to get their drinks.
Cheers erupt as Cam Parker walks into the bar carrying Liam Mackenzie bridal style with a handful of their teammates trailing in behind them. I burst out laughing.
“That’s their new thing,” a male voice says beside me just as something brushes against my arm. I look over to see Cole leaning against the bar, his face just inches from mine. When did he get here? “They used to be on the same team until this season. Now that they’re rivals, the loser has to carry the winner over the threshold.” He chuckles.
“That’s funny,” I say through a laugh. I take advantage of his closeness to study his features. He’s beautiful. Damn near perfect. I take in his bright green eyes, same as Willow’s. My gaze moves down to his neck and I notice he’s wearing the same leather necklace as Dylan, with a guitar pick and angel wings. Now I’m even more curious as to what that means.
I turn my attention back to the best friends just as Cam sets Liam on his feet. The two hug and slap each other on the back. Jay runs over and hugs Cam, then jumps on Liam’s back.
Cole huffs out a laugh, reminding me he’s still there. “She’s the only person Liam loves more than himself,” he says, regarding Jay.
“It looks like it.”
Why is he being so nice to me all of a sudden?
The double doors leading to the bar swing open and my heart stops when in walks Mia, Holly, and LA Heat pitcher Tyge Reynolds.
What I didn’t tell Mia this morning, was that Liam Mackenzie, Tyge Reynolds, Cam Parker, and many other athletes are among the list of ‘rich men’ I served drinks to.
One would think after working at JC’s, I’d be used to being surrounded by a bunch of gorgeous men. But there is so much alpha-male packed in this bar, I’m starting to sweat.
“Harper!” Jay calls out.
“Excuse me,” I say to Cole before making my way over to her.
Jay drops to her feet and curls her arms around Liam’s waist. “Harper, this is my uncle Liam.” I’d met Liam Mackenzie many times at JC’s, but this is the first time I’ve met him up close and in the daylight. He’s just as beautiful as the rest of the Mackenzies: tall, dark hair, green eyes, not to mention the sexy ass I got a glimpse of this morning on his way out the door. Jay gestures to Cam. “And this is Cam, Liam’s boyfriend,” she jokes, and Liam barks out a laugh.
“Oh, you got jokes, little girl.” Liam bends at the knee and Jay squeals as he throws her over his shoulder. “Nice to meet you, Harper.” He smiles and nods before he strides toward Zach.
“Do you know my nephew Zach?” Cam asks, pointing to Zach leaning against the bar beside Cole, laughing at Liam who still has Jay stretched over his shoulder.
Cam Parker is equally gorgeous in the daylight, with brown hair, bright blue eyes, and a spattering of scruff lining his jaw.
I smile. “Yes. We go to school together.” Cam nods, then turns to Tyge, Mia, and Holly. “This is Tyge, and I haven’t yet been introduced to these beautiful ladies.”
“Hi, I’m Mia,” Mia says.
“Holly.” She smiles.
“Nice to meet you, ladies.” Cam nods. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna go say what’s up to Zach.”
“I’m coming with,” Tyge says as he starts to walk off, but turns at the last minute and says to Mia and Holly, “You two coming?”
“We’ll be right there,” Holly tells him with a flirty smile. He walks off, leaving the three of us alone.
I pull out my notepad from my back pocket and pretend to take their orders. “Thank you guys for not saying anything. What do you want to drink?”
Mia gives me a strange look.
I bug my eyes out at her. “We’re not supposed to know each other,” I remind her.
“Oh.” Mia nods. “I’ll just take a water.”
“Me, too,” Holly adds.
I shove the notepad in my pocket and look over my shoulder to see the group has moved to a table. “I’ll get your waters and bring them to your table. Then meet me in the bathroom.”
“SUP, COLEY,” LIAM says, dropping down in the empty chair beside me, stretching out his long legs, and crossing his arms over his chest. A brunette with long wavy hair pulled through the opening of a LA Heat cap takes the empty one beside him. Her eyes are a weird shade of blue, almost purple. She’s gorgeous. Not that I’d expect anything less from Liam. It doesn’t escape my notice that she’s wearing an LA Heat jersey with Liam’s number on the front. I snort a soft laugh and shake my head.
Typical Liam. What a tool.
“What’s up, dickhead?” I smirk and reach across the table, offering her my charming smile. “I’m Cole.”
She takes my hand and returns a smile. “Mia.”
“Mia’s a nurse,” Liam informs me, wiggling his eyebrows.
Mia rolls her eyes and jerks a thumb to the blonde beside her. “This is my friend Holly.”
She looks familiar. “Do I know you?” I ask.
She nods. “I work in Dr. Graham’s office.”
Zach pulls up a chair from a nearby table and sits down beside me.
“Where’s Cam?” I ask. “He off licking his wounds?”
Liam laughs.
Zach snickers. “No, he’s in the back talking to Emerson about some PR stuff.” Sure, he is.
Am I the only one who sees that Cam has the biggest hard-on for Emerson?
Harper approaches our table to drop two waters off to Mia and Holly.
“Where’s the restroom?” Mia asks Harper as she and Holly both stand from the table.
Using her pen, Harper points to a set of double doors. “Just go through those doors and turn left. It’s the last door on the left.” The girls walk off and Harper turns back to the table. “Can I get you guys anything?”
“I’ll take another Jack and Coke,” Tyge says, holding up his half-empty glass. “What’s your name again?”
“Harper.”
Liam looks up at Harper and furrows his brow. “Harper, you look familiar. I feel like I know you from somewhere.”
Harper offers a quick smile. “No, I’m pretty sure I’d remember if we’d met before.” She shifts nervously on her feet. Liam can come off a bit intimidating if you don’t know him. Kind of like my dad and, well, pretty much everyone in my family, except maybe my mom and Jay.
“I’ll take a Jack and Coke, too, please,” Liam says with a nod. “Thank you, Harper.” He winks.
I wait until she’s out of earshot before I say, “She’s too young for you.”
Tyge laughs and holds up his hands. “Hey, even a blind man can appreciate a pretty girl with a great ass. Right, Liam?” He wiggles his eyebrows. “And she’s a redhead,” he adds, whistling through his teeth. “You know what they say about redheads?”
“Yeah, but which is better.” Liam looks over at me with a grin. “Redheads or blueheads?”
Ah, Nikki Fox.
I throw my head back and laugh. “Shut up, jackass. Who told you? Jay?”
Liam shrugs and smiles. “So you like this girl?” He jerks his head toward Harper.
“No,” I say at the same time as Zach says, “Yes.”
“Sure,” Tyge drawls. “You’ve been watching her every move like a hawk.” He laughs. “You better snatch her up before someone else does.”
“You two are ones to talk.” I gesture to the two empty seats where Mia and Holly sat. “Those two are not cleat chasers or diamond dolls. I saw the hope written all over their faces.” I push back from the table and stand, ready to go check on Willow, who’s napping in my dad’s office. “Good luck with that.”