“HEY,” PATRICK GREETS as he walks in carrying a Starbucks cup and holds it out to me. “Your friend Lexi said this is your favorite.”
I take the offered cup of deliciousness and quietly thank him.
He leans against the wall across from the bed and drags his hands down his tired face. “I gotta say, Harper, I never in a million years thought I’d meet you for the first time under these circumstances. I have a lot of questions, as I’m sure you do, too, but we’ll have to wait until my team and I get this wrapped up. Can we do that?”
I nod.
Patrick moves to the door and nods, and a very tall, muscular man steps in. Tattoos decorate both arms. His brown hair is shaved close to his scalp on the sides, a short Mohawk running along the middle. A thick, bushy beard covers his jaw and chin. His look screams biker, and I’d be a little scared if it weren’t for his kind blue eyes. He’s dressed similar to Jay’s bodyguards.
“Harper, this is Eddie. He’s going to ask you some questions. I know this is difficult, but I’ll be right here with you. I need you to tell him what you saw those men doing to your friends. Can you do that?”
“Yes.”
“SHE HAS A fractured skull, cheekbone, two bruised ribs on her left side, and one on her right. Her forearm has a small hairline fracture, and she has three broken fingers. She has some minor swelling in the brain, but I feel confident that there won’t be any permanent damage. Of course, we won’t know for sure until the swelling goes down and she wakes up. However, I am concerned by the deep bruising on her neck that there could be some long-term damage to her throat, mainly her vocal cords. Again, we won’t know for sure until the swelling goes down.”
It’s been hours since Mac gave us the update on Jay’s injuries and we finally got the whole story.
To make a long story short, Jay and Kali went to get the car and were jumped by Kali’s ex-boyfriend, a guy named Austin, and his friend, Tripp. In the middle of the attack, Harper walked up with Willow and Zoe in tow. Jay told Harper to run and she did. Jay fought back and managed to break free, but she only got a few feet before Austin tackled her to the ground and beat her up.
Evan and Grayson were walking out to the parking garage with Lexi, Em, and Mimi. Just as they stepped out the door, Harper came running toward them, screaming for help, dragging Willow and Zoe by the arms. Evan, Grayson, and Emerson took off in the direction of where the cars were parked.
Austin had Jay pinned to the ground by her throat and was punching her. Grayson said Jay wasn’t even fighting back, which means she was unconscious. That thought alone makes me sick to my stomach. Grayson beat the hell out of Austin, and Evan went after Tripp. The only positive in this whole situation is that those two fuckers are in custody.
I STARE DOWN at Willow, who’s sleeping in my arms like she has nearly every day since she was born. On a normal day, my little diva is armed with sass and ready to take on the world. But today her little heart was broken. Even as she sleeps, her expression is pained. It reminds me of the way Jay looked in her sleep after Uncle Marcus died.
The door opens and Harper peeks her head into the room.
“Hey,” she says, offering a small wave as she comes into the room.
“Hey.” I carefully shift Willow to the bed and stand.
Her eyes shift to Aiden, who’s stretched out on the other bed. “Hey, Aiden.”
“Hey, nerd.” Aiden smirks and Harper smiles.
“Aiden, go out to the waiting room for a minute and let me talk to Harper.”
Aiden groans as he rolls off the bed and heads for the door. He stops in front of Harper and wraps his arms around her. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
She hugs him back. “Thank you.”
When the door closes behind him, Harper turns to me. “I know we’re not in a good place right now, but I needed to see for myself that she’s okay.”
I rake my hands through my hair and clasp them behind my head. “She’s okay thanks to you. If something would’ve happened to her….” I shake my head. “Thank you, Harper.”
“It wasn’t me, Cole. It was Jay. The second that guy laid eyes on us, Jay lost it. She told me to run,” she cries, and I want to go to her, but I give her space and let her finish. “She was so scared, Cole. But she fought back. She got away. She was right behind me. And then….” She shakes her head and looks away.
“She’s going to be okay, Harper.”
“Will she?” She frowns, tilting her head.
“Yes. Mac said most of her injuries are superficial. We won’t know anything until she wakes up, but he said he expects her to make a full recovery.”
Harper shakes her head and returns her gaze to me. “Not all of her injuries are superficial.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about what they did to her.”
My stomach twists and bile rises in my throat. “Like what?” I ask through gritted teeth.
“One of them was holding her and the other one was touching her.”
“Fuck!” I shout. Willow jerks in her sleep but luckily doesn’t wake.
Harper winces and turns for the door. “I’m gonna go. Will you tell Willow I came to see her?”
“Harper, don’t leave.” I take a step toward her. “Please.”
“Don’t.” She holds up her hand and I don’t know why she bothers. I do what I want.
I cup her face in my hands. “Please, Harper, hear me out.” She closes her eyes, tears streaming down her face. “I’ve been a dick this past week and I’m sorry. Nothing happened with Claire. I had an opportunity to hurt you and I took it. It was dick move, and then Claire gave me hell for it. I realized if some guy treated Willow the way I’ve treated you, I would’ve strung him up by his nuts by now.”
Harper snorts a laugh.
“I love you, Harper. You know that, right?”
She nods. “I love you, too.”
I drop my hands. “Why do I feel like there’s a ‘but’ coming?”
She crosses her arms over her chest, drops her head, and shrugs. “Sometimes love isn’t enough.” She’s using my own words against me.
“Our love is.” Two can play this game.
“I just need time. Too much has happened. I need to figure some things out. My best friend almost died today. Then my dad shows up after eighteen years….” She shakes her head. “I want to spend time with him, get to know him. I want to be there for my best friend when she needs me.”
“I understand.” I breathe out a soft laugh. “I still can’t believe your dad is Patrick Avery and the Averys are your grandparents. But the answer is no.”
She looks up at me, her brows pinched together in confusion. “No?”
“I’ll back off so you can spend time with your dad, but I’m not letting you go. I need you in my life, and so does Willow.”
She drops her head again, bringing her hands to cover her face and begins sobbing.
I wrap my arms around her again, pulling her to my chest. “I love you, Harper.”
“Fuck off, Mackenzie.”
There she is.
IT’S WELL AFTER midnight by the time Patrick pulls out of the parking lot of the medical center. There are hundreds of reporters camped out on the sidewalk standing under bright lights.
Turns out sweet little Kali Brooks is actually Kalista Rosewood, the daughter of a gazillionaire who owns a winery in Northern California.
Patrick looks over at me. “I need to go by and see my parents, and I’d like for you to come with me.”
I nod, knowing there’s no way I could be alone right now. “Do you think we could stop at Jay’s house first? I’d like to change clothes, and I have something I want to show you.”
Patrick nods and heads in the direction of Jay’s house without asking for directions. Reporters linger outside the gates at the front of her neighborhood. It’s crazy how quickly they find out information.
Patrick waits for me in the foyer while I go upstairs and take a quick shower. I peel my jeans off and let out a hiss as I slide them past my knees. I hadn’t felt the pain when I fell earlier, but I definitely feel it now.
After my shower, I pull on a pair of thick black leggings and an oversized, long-sleeved gray tee with a white tank underneath. I twist my damp hair into a braid and slip my feet into a pair of black Tori Burch flats. Jay bought them for me for Christmas, raving about how comfortable they were and that everyone should own a pair.
I grab the journal from the top drawer of my nightstand and head downstairs.
PATRICK TOLD ME that Max had sent him an email informing him that he had a daughter. He even sent pictures. I’m not sure how Max got pictures of me but my guess is he got them from Emerson. Patrick was working on a case, ironically it involved the two men who beat up Jay and Kali.
One of the men was Kali’s ex-boyfriend. He was abusive to her so she moved to Heritage to get away from him.
“Why are you fidgeting?” Patrick chuckles from the driver seat. “You know my parents.”
“I’m afraid they’re going to be upset with me for not telling them who I was.”
He blows out a breath. “They’ll be upset. But they won’t be upset with you.”
He pulls into the circular, brick driveway in front of a beautiful one-story traditional home with a well-manicured lawn.
Patrick turns the ignition off and shifts to face me.
“I think they might,” I admit. “Some stuff happened this school year, and Emerson warned me that they would be upset that things were happening to their own granddaughter.”
“What kind of stuff?”
“I was having trouble with a couple of girls. One of them was jealous because I was dating Cole.”
Patrick shakes his head and chuckles. “I can’t believe my daughter is dating Max’s son.” He full-on laughs. “I guess I’m a little too late to forbid you from dating.”
I breathe out a soft laugh. “Yeah.”
Patrick pauses with a smile on his face. “Okay. I guess we can save the ‘boys’ talk for another day.”
“Or never,” I add.
He laughs again as we make our way to the front door. “If you say so.”
The front door swings open. “Patrick.” Ms. Patty throws her arms around my dad and sobs.
“Hey, Mom. It’s okay.” Patrick returns her hug, then pulls away and looks at me over his shoulder. “Say hi to Harper, Mom.”
Ms. Patty moves her head to the side. “Oh, Harper, I didn’t see you there.” She wraps her arms around me. “How are you doing?”
“I’m okay, I guess. Considering the circumstances.”
“Of course, sweetie. You’ve been through a lot today. Come into the living room and sit down.” She gestures behind her, then turns to Patrick. “I’ll be right back with coffee. Your father will be out in a minute. He’s been on the phone with Mac on and off all night.”
Principal David Avery, my grandfather, walks into the living room. He’s less intimidating in a pair of sweatpants and a faded blue University T-shirt.
Patrick stands to hug his father and they clap each other on the back. “How’re Leslie and the boys?”
I still. I’d forgotten about Patrick’s family. I have two younger half-brothers and a stepmother.
Patrick offers me an apologetic look.
What is he sorry for?
“Harper,” Principal Avery cheers as he reaches for me. “How are you doing? This must be so hard on you.” He looks over at Patrick. “Harper and Jayla are my special girls. Both in the top 5 percent in their class.”
Patrick smiles proudly. “Dad, I need to talk to you and Mom. Mom!” Patrick calls out to Ms. Patty. “Can you come out here, please?”
Ms. Patty rushes into the living room carrying a tray of coffee mugs, creamer, and sugar packets and sets it on the coffee table.
She’s so sweet.
“Sit down, please.” He drops onto the edge of the sofa beside me and leans with his forearms resting on his thighs. “About six months ago, I got a message from Max telling me that I had a daughter I should meet. He didn’t go into specifics but he sent me a few pictures.”
I pull the letter from between the pages of the journal and pass it to him. “This journal was my mother’s. After she died, my sister got a hold of it and the letter. I found the journal when I was packing up Jade’s things. She moved us here and enrolled me in your school, after our mom died, because she wanted me to be closer to you.”
Ms. Patty gasps and brings her hand to her mouth. Principal Avery’s eyes immediately shift to me and I avert my gaze. “Why didn’t you say anything, Harper?”
I shrug, brushing away a piece of invisible lint from my leggings. “I didn’t know how.”
“She told me in the car that she was afraid you’d be upset with her.”
“We’re not upset with you,” Ms. Patty says. “It’s just… you should’ve said something. Especially when those girls—”
“Patty.” Principal Avery give a slight shake of his head and then turns to me. “I already knew,” he admits. “Max told me.”
Figures.
“David, why didn’t you tell me?” Ms. Patty asks.
He looks over at her and rolls his eyes. “Because you wear your heart on your sleeve, Patty. The second you laid eyes on her she’d know that we knew.”
Ms. Patty shrugs, unapologetically.
Principal Avery returns his attention to me. “Don’t be upset with Max. He was only concerned about those girls giving you hard time.”
Patrick tilts his head with a slightly irritated expression. “What did they do to you?”
I give a slight shrug. “Nothing really. Just stupid girl drama. It didn’t bother me until they got physical.”
He swings his gaze to his father. “I hope you handled it.”
Principal Avery chuckles. “I didn’t have to. Emerson is not a woman you want to piss off, especially if you hurt her girls.”
I can’t help but smile at that. Remembering she’d said the same thing that day at the hospital.
I’m one of her girls.